The freshmen boys of Asher College have obsessed for weeks in anticipation of Phi Lambda Phi’s annual ‘Harvest Moon Panty Raid’ but Nick Wilder has other plans. He’s got his eye on one Phi Lamb in particular and he’s not about to screw it up by being like everyone else. But plans change and so must Nick if he’s going to get the girl of his dreams.

Chapter 11

The first few weeks were hell until he got used to the routine. Up at 530am for morning prayers. Bath after morning prayers … Godliness is next to cleanliness after all. Then their only true choice of the day – black frock or gray frock.“

“Nice rack.”

“Don’t be an ass, Nikki. I can return you to the Phi Lamb House courtyard at any time.”

Things weren’t as bad as Nick expected when Goody told him he was living inside the body of a 15-year-old girl in 17th century Massachusetts. The food was bad, the work back breaking, and the preaching non-stop. But Nick got to experience every day as a girl.

He watched Goody slide the long undershirt over her shoulders, then let it fall past her waist. The long petticoat pulled up past the undershirt, the whole thing covered with a simple frock. As for Goody’s beautiful brown locks, this was the only room where Nick could see them. Before leaving the room Goody tucked them inside a linen coif so not a single strand was shown.

“You’re cute, Goody. Add a little make up and you’d be the belle of the Puritan ball.”

“Makeup? Ha. Ha. Do you want me to burn on a stake?” Goody giggled like a 15-year-old.

Goody straightened her outfit and made a final inspection before leaving her bedroom.“Good morning, Father,” kissing him on the cheek.

“Good morning, Goody.”

Goody sat in her normal place at the table and began nibbling on a piece of bread.

“Your mother isn’t feeling well today. Once you finish morning chores, I need you to run to town and pick up a few things from the smithy. I’ve made a list.”

“Yes, Father.”

It had been over a month since they’d been allowed to leave the property other than church. Nick didn’t need to ask Goody if she was excited. He could feel it as they raced through morning chores. Then it was off at a sprint through the fields of neighbors, past the old mill-house, and into the town square. Her first stop was the church.

“Good afternoon, Reverend Cotton.”

“Good afternoon, Goody. What brings you to town today?”

“Father asked me to pick up some items from the smithy. We need to repair our fence.”

“It’s good to see him be so trusting of you. Will you be in town long?”

Goody gave the man a knowing smile. “It may take the smithy some time to craft my father’s needs.” Her turned her voice low. “I hope you aren’t mad at me.”

“Quiet foolish child.” The reverend's eyes flash anger before returning to their usual kindly demeanor. “You need not apologize to me. Forgiveness belongs to our lord and savior.”

“Yes, Reverend father.” Goody nodded, adding. “It’s like the Book says … if you forgive others their transgressions, our heavenly Father will forgive you.”

“Very good. I see you’ve been reading your scripture.” The man grinned. “You better run along now. I wouldn't want to keep the smithy waiting but if time allows, I will be happy to continue our discussion later.”

“Yes, sir.” Goody smiled at the man before running out of the room as fast as she entered.

Purity wasn’t a wealthy town, but by the looks of the gathering of the town’s square showed everyone worked hard and everyone took pride in its appearances. Of course the whipping post was a constant reminder to those who flouted social norms.
Goody handed the paper to the blacksmith. The man scanned the list, “This will take a few hours.”

Goody nodded, “Father expected as such. I will return later.”

The blacksmith nodded as Goody ran out the back door. She started towards the church then cut through a side street, snuck through the fields, staying off the common paths before circling the destination twice.

“Took you long enough.” Reverend Cotton had already removed his tunic. “Are you sure you weren’t followed?”

“No sir.” Goody said, still out of breath. “I did like you asked. Circled twice and everything.”

“Good.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody in a close hug, the man’s strength stealing her breath.

“I missed you.” Goody said as she held him tight, the man’s strong presence filling her with joy. Nick felt it too.

“I missed you as well. You’re truly a blessing, Goody Peters.” Reverend Cotton smiled, “Now … take off your cloak. Let me get a better look at you.”

“Yes, sir.” Goody said, obeying the man. When she took off her top, Nick saw her breasts pressing against the undershirt.

“My my, Goody. You have become a fine looking lass.” Reverend Cotton’s eyes never looked up. “How old are you now?”

“I turn sixteen in three months.”

“Of course. I should have remembered.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody’s undershirt over her head.

“It won’t be long now until men will call on your father from all over the county.”

“I doubt that very much.” Goody’s body shivered at the man’s touch. “The boys in town only care about Sarah Bradford and Patience Cooper.”

“Then they are truly fools. Goody Peters, I swear you are the prettiest girl for fifty miles around.”

“You think so, Reverend?” Nick felt his knees go weak.

“Call me Solomon when we are alone.” Reverend Cotton pulled Goody closer, placing a soft kiss on her lips, Nick feeling jolts of lightning.

“Yes, Solomon.”Solomon Cotton leaned forward, his hand pressing up the seams of Goody’s petticoat and climbing up her knee. Goody slapped his hand away. “I can't. You are married.”

Solomon’s eyes flashed hot. “You know my wife is quite ill. It’s only a matter of time until she is gone. I have promised we will wed you when that happens.”

Goody smiled, “I want nothing more.”

“God has filled me with such passion … I cannot wait.” Solomon’s hand moved up Goody’s knee another time.

Once more Goody pushed it away. “Is that not the devil's temptation? The Bible says the marriage bed shall be undefiled."

Solomon’s eyes flash in anger. “We have spoken of this many times. You forget the next verse. ‘Only God can judge the sexually immoral and adulterous’. Who do you think knows God’s will better? You or me?”

“You.”

The reverend said, “Have I not told you “Goody, do you remember in the Bible where it says “a woman cannot exercise authority over a man, as she is to remain quiet?”

Goody nodded.

“How many times do I need to tell you I care for you before you believe me? I love you more than words can express. I like to think you feel the same. All I ask is you do as I ask. If you cannot follow my guidance now, I cannot see how we can wed when my wife is gone.”
“No.” Goody said, ignoring the command she remain quiet. Tears filled her eyes.

“Do you want this?”

“Yes.” Goody said, her body began to tremble at the man’s touch.

"Then it is not a sin." The reverend’s hand moved up her dress a third time. “Lay quiet without complaint.”

A kiss on Goody’s breast sent shivers to her toes. Solomon said, “Who are we to deny God’s will?”

Nick had long since stopped trying to fight Goody’s movements. He was as captive of her memories as she. How many times had Goody relived these memories? How many times had she felt this pain?The entire memory lasted less than three minutes from beginning to end leaving Goody alone in the abandoned barn.

“He raped you.”

“I loved him. I thought he loved me too.”

An old woman stared up Goody’s dress. “How long since your last flow?”

“Three months.”

The woman squeezed Goody’s breast. “How does that feel?”

“It hurts but I’ve been sore for a long time.”

“You’ve grown big but you’re about to get bigger. You’re a fine looking woman, Goody Peters. It’s why the fine Reverend targeted you. You aren’t the first to fall for his charms.”

“Are you sure I’m pregnant?”

“I’m sure.” The old woman nodded, “I can gather herbs to help to restore your flow. A mixture of cedar bark, ginger, and pennyroyal should do the trick. It comes with some discomfort but will fix the problem.”

“I can’t, “Goody insisted. “God says, ‘Thou shall not kill.”

“It’s for the best, child.”

Goody exclaimed. “The Reverand loves me. I cannot harm our child.”

“Reverend Cotton says a lot of things. Not all are true.”

“He’s going to marry me … you’ll see …”

Dust hung in the stifling air, the quiet of the room interrupted by the occasional stamping of feet of the packed house. The trial started in August soon after the summer’s heat brought first tiding of a bitter fall. The charges, only whispers at first, grew louder as crops began to fail. A lone candle sat on the magistrate’s desk, its wax dripping fast despite the cooling temperature outside. Three men in black sat behind the prosecutor’s desk. Across from them sat a young girl.

“I have had long acquaintance with the family of Goody Peters’, and know them to be fine, upstanding members of our town. But we all know, repeated exposure to the devilish charms can cause a delirious effect in the most sturdy of the chosen.

I do not blame the Peters’ family for fleeing our company as the shame belongs to Miss Peters’ alone.The evidence we have shown against her is overwhelming. A dozen of our neighbors have testified how her body has swelled in unnatural ways this past year, and how she’s used her lustful ways to tempt menfolk with her devilish charms. She’s spread sickness and disease to our livestock as our crops bake in the fields. Even our children have fallen prey to this vile girl, and we’ve shown sworn testimony how on at least two occasions babies have cried her name before they grew cold. Meanwhile, in her own belly, the spawn of the devil grows stronger inside her poisoned womb every day.

Throughout this entire sad chapter, Miss Peters has exhibited no remorse for her crimes. She speaks in defiance and continues to spread lies.There is only one possible decision the court can make in this case. The verdict must be to choke this devil dead before his foul hold on our town can spread further.”

As soon as the man turned, the gallery exploded with the sound of cheers and hurled epitaphs.

The magistrate pounded on his desk. “Quiet! I will have quiet in this court!”

A look to the jury box showed twelve men nodding and bobbing their heads.

Goody looked down at the desk where her tears had formed a puddle.

Trees swayed in the distance as a small crowd formed in the early afternoon. The crowd grew little by little as the full moon made its slow climb into the night’s sky. Shouted cries arose when the magistrate arrived. The town’s bell rang out announcing to those not present the time of judgment had come. Vengeant cries grew louder and louder until they saw two men emerge with Goody in tow.

A loud woman’s voice cried out over the others. “Hang the witch!” Other voices shouted the same.

In Goody’s ear, a man repeated the same words. “It is not too late to repent my child.”

Tears and the dimming light made it impossible for Goody to tell one neighbor from the other, especially since their familiar faces had turned purple with rage. Goody got a better look at the crowd when the bailiff placed her on the gallows stone, as it allowed her to stand taller than any other in the square. This crowd looked nothing like the ones who came to town for Sunday service. Most had come straight from fields so their state of dress was sweat-filled and dirty.

Goody’s eyes moved from one to another and not finding a friend, she searched until she saw the shadow of a man near the back of the crowd as the magistrate’s loud voice boomed.

“A trial of peers has found this Goody Peters to be in collusion with Satan. Her sentence is to hang until her life be snuffed out.”

A loud cheer rose from the crowd as the hangman pulled the rope taut around her neck.The magistrate whispered in her ear, his voice sounding of remorse. “Speak thy final words child … I suggest you use them to save your eternal soul…”

Goody breathed deep. She’d done nothing wrong. Two innocent lives stood on the gallows though she’d long figured out no one in the crowd was willing to hear. She could feel the presence of friends nearby, though they all hid safe in the woods. They promised power beyond anything the fools in this crowd could understand.

Goody shouted. “Shame on this town. Shame on you all.” As she spoke the crowd grew silent. This was the moment they’d come to see.
She took a deep breath then began to recite words to give those hiding nearby the time needed to focus their spell and assist a young witch with their power:

"You called me a witch; all know this a lie
But in my despair, I gave it a try
A baby unborn, unmarked by sin,
Cursed by those present before life could begin

For thirty score hence, a curse I have sown,
For all in this meadow, whose guilt I have known
Thy crops rot in fields; thy wells will run dry,
Thy stock will soon sicken; and in agony they’ll die.
Thy wounds shall long fester, your pustules run deep,
And when you seek slumber you’ll never find sleep.

So draw on thy noose and play thy own part,
But understand this - my work will soon start.”

Nick felt the rage and darkness building in Goody’s breast as she stared into the crowd. Her eyes focused on the man hiding near the back of the crowd as light of the magic of her friends began to swirl around the gallows.

For a moment they floated in the air and in that instant they were free. A split second later, Nick felt his neck snap.