The Secret Healer(5)

“Where were they?”

“I searched and searched for them. Finally, overcome by dread, I ran down to the river. Marie liked the water. We always made sure that she didn’t get too close.”

Clara’s voice became hoarse. “I called and called for Marie, then for Jobst. I didn’t see either of them on the river. But then I saw the hole.”

“What kind of hole?” Madlen said, stroking her friend’s hand.

“A hole in the ice. The river was frozen over, but the ice wasn’t very strong, due to the strong current. Then I saw something.”

“Marie?”

Clara nodded, now sobbing. “And Jobst. Marie must have broken through the ice, and her father must have run to save her. They were both under the ice, and the current had dragged them close to shore. Jobst’s eyes were still open as he held Marie in his arms. He seemed to look at me through the ice.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I screamed until a neighbor finally came to help me. We broke through the ice, but it was too late.” Clara cried as she leaned on Madlen, still grief-stricken. It was a while before she could speak again. “I couldn’t bear to live alone in that cottage without them. So I moved away. But there’s never a day that goes by that I don’t think of them both.”

“I’m so terribly sorry,” Madlen said again. It was all she could think to say.

Clara shook her head. “Afterward, I drifted for a long time until I finally came to this village and had the feeling that I could stay.” She sniffed. “Do you know why?”

“No.”

Clara gave Madlen a tiny smile. “You had no mother, and I had no child. I thought that God had sent you to me so that we could bear our grief together.”

She fell again into bitter sobs. Clara had been just like a mother to her over the years. Madlen felt safe and secure in her presence. Clara taught her how to cook, how to sew, and the best way to manage the household. She’d been by Clara’s side for four years to help women in childbirth. And now she would be separated from Clara to marry some old pig? It drove them both to the depths of despair.

“What can I do?” Madlen asked.

Clara was about to respond when someone started pounding on the door. “Open up!” a deep, masculine voice threatened. Clara and Madlen looked at each other with fear in their eyes. The midwife finally rose from her chair, wiped the tears from her eyes, and went to the door as the pounding resumed.

“What is this all about?” Clara demanded as she opened the door to two men, their faces grim.

“Are you Clara, the midwife?”

Clara stood straight and tall. “I am.” Madlen noticed a slight tremor in her voice.

“You will appear tomorrow morning at ten o’clock for an interrogation.”

“Why?” Clara put her hands on her hips in indignation.

“You are responsible for the death of a baby.”

Madlen hurried to her friend’s side. “This doesn’t make any sense. Who?”

“The ferryman’s daughter. She claims you gave her herbs that led to a miscarriage.”

Clara went pale as she groped for Madlen’s hand.

“Let us in,” the constable said. “We need to find these herbs.”

Clara threw Madlen an anxious look. Subtly, her gaze moved over the jars of angelica, lovage, sage, and wormwood. Quickly, Madlen grabbed her abdomen and yelped.

“What’s the matter?” The constable looked past Clara and raised his eyebrows as Madlen held her stomach.

“Please, I’ve got woman’s problems. If Clara doesn’t help me immediately, I don’t know what will happen.” She limped over to the bed and fell facedown on it. The men gazed at each other nervously. Madlen yelped again, as if in excruciating pain.

“Take care of her,” the officer ordered Clara. “But we will be back, you can be sure of that.”

Clara nodded hurriedly and quickly locked the door. “Thanks,” she said to Madlen, completely drained and leaning back against the door she’d just closed.

“We need to hurry,” Madlen warned. “They mustn’t find anything here.” She pointed to the jars.

“You’re right.” Clara hurried over to the table. “The constables wouldn’t listen if I explained they only alleviate cramps and pains.” She looked at the herbs with regret. It had taken her days and weeks to collect, dry, and process them. It hurt her very soul to destroy them, but she had no other choice.

“The ferryman’s daughter?” Madlen looked at Clara. “But if you’ve helped her, why does she turn you in now?”

“I really don’t know, my darling. But that’s not important now. I have no other choice but to explain that I gave her nothing but a harmless brew. We can only pray to God that they believe me. Come on.” She grabbed some jars and small bowls filled with finely ground herbs before rolling them up in a large cloth. “Light the torch. It will be dark soon, and we must go deep into the forest.”