Confused, Roslynd looked at Mr. Haggleman and pointed towards the field where the scarecrow once waved at her. “It was there! I swear, Mr. Haggleman!”

“Oh, I guess your mind is playin’ tricks on ya, that’s all.”

The old truck bounced down the road as it passed the last restored fields and turned right at the Crossroads. Roslynd peered behind the vehicle through the side mirror and watched as a dust trail formed over the dirt road. She strained to see if the scarecrow popped back onto its post, but the only thing visible was a faint red glare from the taillights.

Mr. Haggleman nudged Roslynd’s arm. “How did a tree fall on your Pa? I mean, they’ve been lumberjackin’ for as long as I can remember.”

She turned and stared at the old farmer. There was something about his face. Roslynd shivered as her arms tingled. It felt as if a thousand ants marched from her shoulders to her fingertips. Mr. Haggleman never seemed like an adversary, but his presence frightened her. The moonlight cast its blue hue on his face causing the wrinkles to appear deeper than usual.

Roslynd scooted away from him. “You’d have to ask Josiah.”

She sighed and wiped her palms on her dress when she saw her house. Mrs. Branner must have lit one lantern because the kerosene supply dwindled as fast as the food. No one, not even the doctor, understood what caused the sickness to spread. Whatever made everyone ill also infected everything else in the surrounding area.

The truck’s brakes squeaked and ground to a stop next to the porch. Josiah opened the door and motioned for Roslynd to go inside. “Ma’s furious. She said you should’ve made it home before it got dark.”

Mr. Haggleman chuckled. “Tell your Ma that it’s my fault. I had to lock up the shop before I left. I’m runnin’ things until the Mavericks perk up—they’re sick, too.”

Mrs. Branner joined them outside with her hands on her hips. “She begged for a ride, huh? Sorry she bothered you.”

The farmer exited his truck and walked to the porch steps. “No. No bother. I was leavin’ anyways. So, how’s David?”

She held up a finger. “Get those groceries into the pantry and wait for me!” Mrs. Branner stepped onto the porch and pulled her shirt lower. Roslynd thought that was odd for her to do. “He’ll make it. Probably won’t chop any more wood this year, but his ribs and leg will heal.”

Roslynd placed the milk crate on the pantry floor and crept beside the window. She listened to her mother and wondered why she stayed outside with Mr. Haggleman alone. She knew Mrs. Branner wouldn’t do such a thing if her Pa were feeling better. And he wouldn’t let that happen. Mr. Branner told her that ladies should behave properly and not get caught in a precarious situation, especially at night.

Mr. Haggleman nodded as he sat on the porch. “Guess that explains what happened. Your daughter didn’t know the details.” He moved closer to Mrs. Branner. “Caroline, if you. If ya’ll need anything—anything at all, just send for me.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you, Bill. Now, to talk to that bonehead.”

“Okay. See you later.”

Roslynd tiptoed away from the window before her mother walked inside. The conversation was peculiar, and her gut told her it was wrong. She didn’t know why, but Mr. Haggleman seemed to have nefarious plans. Her skin crawled when his truck’s taillights bathed the white curtains with a red glow.

Mrs. Branner strutted towards Roslynd with crossed arms, leaned close to her face, and gritted her teeth. “Why on earth would you ask him to drive you home? He has more important things to do than cartin’ around a scared little girl!” She stepped back and pointed at her bedroom. “He doesn’t need you causin’ more trouble! Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I didn’t mean ta.”

Mrs. Branner shoved her fingers against Roslynd’s lips. “I don’t wanna hear no backtalk either. Go to bed. Just go!”

The iron-framed bed creaked when she fell across the worn mattress. She fidgeted throughout the night because feathers poked through her tattered sheets. Another restless night with more questions. Why won’t she let me see my Pa? Will Dr. Langston check on him? On and on, thoughts bombarded her.

Sunlight pierced through thin curtains nailed over the bedroom window. In a few minutes, Roslynd’s mother would wake and start barking orders, so she crept out of the house in her usual way. She hugged herself as a cool breeze drifted across the meadow. Dew drops made the grass look like an ice sheet covered the ground. Birds reported their morning lyrics to each other as she crossed the field towards the wooded trail.

She paused on the bridge and stared into the creek. Fish were plentiful before Harvest, MS, crumbled. Now, Soul Creek was nothing more than a trickle of water—not even a stream. She sighed as she crossed onto the trail. Roslynd had to pass the Crossroads to get to Dr. Langston’s practice, and she dreaded the possibility of seeing the scarecrow.

Ominous clouds formed over the fields as she came to the intersection. The post was there, but nothing waved to her. Thunder cracked overhead. She quickened her pace as lightning painted the sky yellow. Mavericks silhouetted the horizon, and then she stopped. Her breathing was shallower as a familiar tingle coursed through her body.

“Why are you in a hurry, child?”

Roslynd crossed her arms and shrieked. “Mathias! You coulda warned me!”

He laughed and gazed at the sky. “It appears trouble is on the way.”

“Trouble? What do you mean?”

“Remember when I said I had more to discuss?”

Roslynd nodded. Mathias floated closer to her. “Several things caused the sickness that infects this town. I’m sure you feel the strangeness. Greed, lies, betrayal, and other self-righteousness feed on the townspeople. Their paths blind them, making it hard for them to realize wickedness permeates their souls.”

She brushed a strand of brown hair from her eye. “That doesn’t cause them to die, right?”

“No, child. But these actions make them susceptible to diseases.” Mathias studied her face. “You shouldn’t fret, young one. You carry a pure heart. You desire nothing but good for people, so I chose you.”

Roslynd slumped her shoulders and examined the green fields. “What is the correct way to use my powers? I don’t want you to take them away from me. I. I want to help.”

Mathias smiled gently. “Child, just have pure intentions. Do not use what I bestowed upon you for personal gain. That is all.”

She thought about her father and looked at her cloaked friend. But before she spoke, he lifted his hand. “I must leave now. Be wary. Many will use your powers for evil. Also, guard your heart. Sorrowful revelations will present themselves, and you must be strong.”

Thunder cracked through the clouds as Mathias vanished. Tree limbs knocked against each other in the forest as she trudged toward Dr. Langston’s office. Mavericks appeared deserted, but she saw Mr. Haggleman’s outline through the dusty display windows. Someone stood beside him and moved their arms like they were arguing with the old farmer.

 It’s none of my business.

 Harvest Medical Clinic and Apothecary sat at the corner of Main Street and Turnage Avenue. A magnolia tree cast a shadow over the red brick building. Its splintered shudders reminded her of the decay throughout the town. Weeds crawled through the cracked concrete path to the front entrance and chipped black paint piled near a smashed glass door.

Roslynd pulled on the handle, but she saw a bar holding it closed. Then, she remembered a side entrance she and Millie Langston, the doc’s daughter, used during summer breaks. The wood looked as if people hacked it with a machete. It was slightly opened, and she thought someone must have propped it with a broken brick.

A small hallway led to a larger one, with two exam rooms on the left and the doctor’s room on the right. Leaves and grass piled against the walls, and intricate cobwebs wove across the doorframes. She wondered if the spider responsible for the artwork was named Charlotte.

She heard mumbling from Dr. Langston’s room, so she inched closer to listen. He talked aloud to himself about the pandemic, food shortages, and Millie. His daughter died soon after the governor placed Harvest under a strict quarantine law. State police patrolled the city and surrounding infected areas in their vehicles. They wore gas masks, and Roslynd thought they resembled aliens from faraway planets. Finally, after a month, Governor Gilbo allowed the residents to wander the county without restrictions.

“Who’s there? Answer me!”

Roslynd squatted next to the wall and gasped. “It’s me, Dr. Langston. Roslynd.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve pondered this disease for hours and can’t narrow down the cause. I’m frustrated. Local scofflaws vandalized my building, broke into the pharmacy, and stole several narcotics. Times are crazy now, and you can’t be too careful.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir. I came to ask if you could check on my Pa. A tree fell on him, and Josiah said he’s bad off.”

Dr. Langston shuffled through stacks of papers and mumbled to himself. Roslynd strained to hear what he said, but it didn’t sound English to her.

BANG!

Both dove for the floor as a second thud slammed against the window. A third noise crashed against the center of the glass, causing a small hole. Roslynd peeked over the desk and saw a bird as it pummeled through the glass. It skidded to a stop next to her knee. Blood oozed from its beak, and its wing hung on by a piece of what she thought was a tendon.

She grabbed the side of the desk and pulled herself to her feet. “W. What’s happening?”

“I haven’t a clue. I’ll stop by this evening. Go home. Quickly now!”

Roslynd responded with a slight nod, backed out of the office, and ran down the hallway. The side door rattled when she pulled it open. She stumbled and fell to the ground when she saw two dead blackbirds next to the building with their necks twisted backward. A smaller bird beside them squawked and flapped one wing for several minutes. Compassion overwhelmed her, so she scooped up the bird and covered it with both hands.

 Tears cleaned her dusty cheeks and fell on her knuckles. The bird wiggled, peeped, and faced Roslynd. She released her grip, and the bird hopped to her palm. An unspoken miracle bolted from her thoughts into the tiny creature. Her feathered friend fluttered to her shoulder and gave her a lighthearted peck on the nose before it flew away.

“Hey! What just happened?”

Roslynd glanced to her left. The physician locked eyes with her through the window. “How did you do that?” He held up a finger and vanished.

 No! He’s gonna ask how I healed the bird.

 She sprinted away from the clinic and towards the road. Panting and dazed, she stood and staggered to Main Street before coming to her senses. Her feet echoed down alleys as she ran towards the general store. She began crying when she saw Mr. Haggleman’s truck in the parking lot and hoped he was still inside. Out of breath, she stood a moment before entering the building. She heard Mrs. Branner’s voice.

“Bill, darling. We can’t keep this secret forever.