An Excerpt from Witch Catching

by Rebecca Williams

Prologue

Big Michael Baker stared down at the frail body of his beloved daughter. Nine months of struggle had led to twenty hours of agony. Now she lay here before him, almost bloodless, almost lifeless.

She hadn't wanted him with her, so he'd stayed in the hallway, gathering information from the midwives as they came and went, knowing she was in some kind of trouble when the antiseptic women stopped talking to him. Instead of telling him to ‘stop fretting', they raced past him, looks of worry plastered on their faces. Mick begged entry as soon as he could stop someone who would show him how to ‘scrub up'. Then he stepped through the doorway to hell.

His only daughter lay on a bed, surrounded by bright blood soaked swabs lying in kidney dishes and stained sterilized equipment. There must have been more than he saw now, or his only daughter wouldn't be so pale. The dark cascade of hair, that she had worn tumbling down her back for as long as he could remember, was now matted and tangled against her face. Small beads of perspiration covered her face and trickled down her neck. Thick hospital sheets were wet, Mick wasn't sure if it was sweat or blood.

Nasty looking needles were taped to the back of his daughter's hands, one was attached to a bag of dark blood and the other to some kind of clear liquid. Horrified by her state, Mick didn't stop to consider the reason they were both here. Not until a green clad woman bundled a washed and swaddled infant into his arms. Amazing that something so small could cause such consternation and pain.

Big Michael Baker, built like a truck driver and carpenter by trade, gently settled the infant more comfortably in his arms. Walking to the window of his daughter's room, he looked at the stars. He had named his daughter Cassiopiea, mythic mother of gods and subsequently, one of the most beautiful constellations in the sky. Brushing his hand over the hair which topped this babe, Michael prayed to every god and goddess he could name. He beseeched them in the name of his own ancestors, who had travelled the earth and shared in its secrets. Cassie was a child of the stars and a daughter of the universe, had she not suffered enough? Surely they wouldn't abandon her now.

Minutes passed in silent pleading.

Cassie's eyes fluttered open and a wavering smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “Hey, Dad, what did I get?”

Big Michael Baker, built like a truck driver, carpenter by day, philosopher at heart and gypsy by blood, stood at the side of his daughters bed, held her child in his arms and wept…