So I suppose young Miss Putnam did a brave thing in making confession that she wronged so many, and that twenty one died on her and the other girl’s lies—and of course, the behavior of we adults who stood by. I won’t discount that adults were in the thick of it as well.

By the way, Samuel Parris passed away peaceful and content in Sweringen, Ohio where he’d located his family and begun a new life, still preaching to the needy heathens there—his new congregation. We must trust that God has special plans for our Mr. Parris in the next life.

As for myself, I have much forgiveness to seek, and I do so each day here. I wish to apologize to you both for your terrible loses during those darks days. Had we all eyes to see more clearly then, had we purer hearts, the fire that took us over could not have been kindled.

Your friend in all sincerity,

Nathaniel Ingersoll

Jeremy came round and took Serena in his arms as she’d begun to sob with the memories of her mother’s last days, and how her father had died alone. Holding her tight and then tighter, Jeremy thought too of how his own mother and father had died in Salem so many years ago. He thought of the series of ministers whose families had died in that parish, and of how poor George Burroughs had ended his days. He thought of broken paths and crooked turns and gnarled branches, all the fingers of small streams and rivers that had brought him and Serena together here in Greenwich. Here in a life of peace with three children of their own to nourish and protect.

Together in the middle of the room, the lovers gently rocked into one another, until after a moment, they appeared as one.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert W. Walker is the author of more than forty published novels, beginning with SUB-ZERO in 1979. He has millions of books in print. You can visit him at www.robertwalkerbooks.com.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE INSTINCT THRILLERS featuring FBI forensic pathologist Dr. Jessica Coran

Killer Instinct

Fatal Instinct

Primal Instinct

Pure Instinct

Darkest Instinct

Extreme Instinct

Blind Instinct

Bitter Instinct

Unnatural Instinct

Grave Instinct

Absolute Instinct

THE EDGE THRILLERS featuring Detective Lucas Stonecoat

Cold Edge

Double Edge

Cutting Edge

Final Edge

THE GRANT THRILLERS featuring Medical Examiner Dean Grant

Floaters

Scalpers

Front Burners

Dying Breath

THE RANSOM MYSTERIES featuring 19th century detective Alastair Ransom

City for Ransom

Shadows in the White City

City of the Absent

THE DECOY THRILLERS featuring Chicago cop Ryne Lanarck

Hunting Lure

Blood Seers

Wind Slayers

Hand-to-Hand

THE BLOODSCREAMS SERIES featuring archeologist Abraham Stroud

Vampire Dreams

Werewolf’s Grief

Zombie Eyes


HORROR NOVELS

Dr. O

Disembodied

Aftershock

Brain Stem

Abaddon

The Serpent Fire

Flesh Wars (the sequel to The Serpent Fire)

Children of Salem

THRILLER NOVELS

Sub-Zero

PSI: Blue

Deja Blue

Cuba Blue (with Lyn Polkabla)

Dead On

Thrice Told Tales (short stories)

YOUNG ADULT

Daniel Webster Jackson & the Wrong Way Railroad

Gideon Tell & the Siege of Vicksburg

NON FICTION

Dead On Writing – Thirty Years of Writerly Advice