Read Into the Woods for Free Online Page A

hands, and he reminded himself: he only wanted her love potion. Nothing else.
    Declan quickly drank the water Matilda brought him. It was, indeed, quite good. He'd worked up quite a thirst, walking and talking with her. Still, it was a pleasure he should not plan on indulging in again.
    He handed her the empty jar with a soft thanks, added, "I'll see you Monday," and turned to make the trip back to town. He had a feeling this second half of the journey, without Matilda's uplifting company, was going to be much longer than the first.
    * * *
    Two days later, Matilda placed yet another ancient book on the table, adding it to the musty pile. Declan would be here tomorrow, looking for answers. Tomorrow!
    She had gathered more information than she'd ever thought to find out of these old books. Some of what she found was unusable but interesting. Some intrigued her but had at least one unavailable ingredient. And then there were the recipes for oils and lotions meant, obviously, for those already married. Matilda blushed whenever she read the explicit directions for the application of those potions.
    What did a man like Declan see in Vanessa Arrington, anyway? She was beautiful, yes, but surely a man like Declan would look for more than beauty in his "queen." Matilda wrinkled her nose. If he knew everything she did about the much sought-after Vanessa, he'd likely change his glowing opinion.
    She would never tell, of course.
    Sunday afternoons were usually quiet in her little cottage. It was her day of rest, and no one called on the town witch on Sunday—as if it would be blasphemy to do so. So, when a knock sounded on the door, she jumped in her seat and slammed the book shut on a particularly interesting, if somewhat lascivious, recipe.
    Her first thought was—Declan. He's so impatient, can't he wait one more day? But the soft chatter of young voices drifted to her before she opened the door, disproving her assumption.
    Outside, Hanson and Gretchen stood on either side of a woman Matilda had seen in town once or twice but never met. Plain yet far from ugly, almost as short as Matilda but much more buxom, dressed in a blue calico that had seen a lot of wear but was still attractive, Mrs. Hazelrig, the twins' new stepmother, met Matilda's questioning gaze unflinchingly. She was, Matilda knew in an instant, a strong woman.
    And yet she was clearly apprehensive.
    "Run! Run!" Gretchen squealed. The girl tried to escape, but her stepmother held her collar, and Hanson's, in a firm grip; one twin securely restrained in each hand. "I told you, she's a witch!"
    Matilda merely lifted her eyebrows as she awaited Mrs. Hazelrig's response.
    "Gretchen, there are no witches in Mississippi or anywhere else," the woman said sensibly, and then she lifted her eyes to Matilda. "Miss Candy, I must apologize for my stepchildren's behavior. They do tell outrageous stories, on occasion...."
    "We don't tell stories," Hanson protested. "At least I don't." Gretchen glared at him. "Usually," he added sheepishly.
    "I found a half-eaten plate of candy..." Mrs. Hazelrig began.
    "She's going to cook us in her big oven," Gretchen interrupted. "Run! Run!"
    Hanson jumped in. "She made me spit! She... she stole my spit!"
    Matilda took a deep breath, trying to keep up as the three spoke at once. Finally, she lifted a hand to silence them all. "One moment."
    She returned shortly with two large wicker baskets, then handed one to each of the children. "If you will pick the fully blooming red roses from my garden—the red ones only—I'll give you a plate of caramels and marzipan when you're done."
    Hanson nodded in acceptance, and Gretchen looked warily up at her stepmother, who released the children almost reluctantly. The twins ran away, rounding the corner and heading toward the flower garden.
    Matilda moved back and opened the door wide. "Come in," she said. "I'll make us a cup of tea while the children pick flowers."
    Mrs. Hazelrig accepted the invitation and