Read Online One Witch at a Time by Stacy DeKeyser - Free Book Online Page A

this again with ears,” he said, his voice dropping to a more normal volume. He bent down, placed his hands on his knees, and addressed Susanna Louisa. “Because it sounded to me, under my earflaps, like you said you were looking for the witch’s house.”
    Susanna nodded.
    Ludwig stood up straight, and his eyebrows disappeared under his shock of hair. “You don’t say. Hear that, Franz?”
    â€œHear what?” said Franz from under his hat.
    Ludwig waved dismissively at Franz, who returned to unloading and stacking the kindling. Ludwig’scheerful face had become solemn, and he regarded Rudi and Susanna Louisa in turn. “I can tell by your pitifully inadequate manner of dress that you’re not from here.”
    â€œWe’ve come from Brixen,” offered Susanna, to Rudi’s dismay.
    â€œBrixen?” blurted Ludwig. “What sort of business would two little weeds from Brixen have with our witch?”
    Rudi shifted uncomfortably. “I’d rather not say. It’s bad luck to talk of such things.”
    Ludwig snorted. “Your bad luck is only beginning.” He regarded Rudi with a squint. “Is there any way I can dissuade you from such a task?”
    â€œNo,” said Rudi. “Though, truthfully, I wish you could.”
    â€œSo do I,” said Ludwig, and Rudi fought the urge to let him try. But they were here. They might as well finish the task they had come for.
    â€œThe witch’s manor is there,” said Ludwig, nodding upslope. “At the top of the village.” An uneasy look passed across Ludwig’s face. “At least have a meal before you go. We don’t have much, but you must be dreadful starved, come all the way from Brixen.” He stepped to the heavy wooden door of the house and swung it open wide. “Agatha! We have company!”
    â€œComing, Papa!” came a voice from inside the house.
    A moment later, the voice’s owner stood in the doorway. Her red hair hung loose and shining around her shoulders, and though she was no longer wearing her heavy shearling coat, Rudi knew her at once.

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    â€œYou!” cried Susanna, pointing.
    Shocked recognition flashed in the red-haired girl’s face, but it disappeared just as quickly. “So I am!” she answered, lifting her chin. “I suppose you are you ?”
    Thus she managed to flummox Susanna Louisa, who stood—for once—at a loss for words.
    â€œMy daughter, Agatha,” said Ludwig, who was too busy stomping the snow from his boots to notice the tense exchange.
    Rudi’s mind swirled with a dozen thoughts and feelings, but they were all pushed aside by one word.
    Agatha.
    So that was her name.
    Of course the shearling girl lived in Petz, Rudi thought. It made sense. The beans had come from Petz, after all. Wouldn’t their bearer have come from here too?
    Remembering his manners, Rudi introduced himself and Susanna, whose mouth still hung open.
    â€œPleased to meet you,” said Agatha lightly, as if she had never laid eyes on either of them before this moment.
    But once her father pushed past them and into the house, she scowled fiercely at Rudi and Susanna, and urgently placed a finger to her lips.
    Now it was Rudi’s turn to be flummoxed. Why should their acquaintance be a secret? Was Agatha afraid of her father? Though Rudi had met him only a few moments before, he couldn’t imagine anyone being afraid of Ludwig.
    And yet Agatha’s expression was so pleading that Rudi decided to play along, for now. Once again he was struck by the same curiosity he’d felt when he’d seen her in the marketplace, looking lost and anxious. This girl had caused him all manner of trouble—she was the reason he and Susanna had been compelled to venture to Petz in the first place—and yet clearly there was more going on than Rudi knew.
    He wanted to find out.
    At that same moment Susanna Louisa found her voice.