The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) by Marnie Perry

long time, the beginnings of tears at the back of her throat, she had to swallow several times to suppress them. She nodded, ‘thank you…Adela.’
    Adela’s smile was sad as Olivia opened the door and stood on the threshold for a moment, obviously afraid to venture out. She had taken one step when Adela took her arm firmly saying, ‘I would never forgive myself if I didn’t try one last time to get you to change your mind, so please, let me help you,’ Olivia began to shake her head. Adela rushed on, 'then please stay a while longer, at least one more night.’
    Olivia looked down at Adela’s fingers curled around her forearm. When she raised her eyes there was such a deep sadness and regret in them that Adela almost closed her eyes to block out the sight. Olivia said nothing but smiled a tender smile then turned and walked down the few steps to the path. Adela watched until the trees swallowed her up and she was lost from sight, then she shut the door leaned against it, closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for Olivia’s safety.
    Adela pushed away from the door and took a deep breath; she felt very depressed and needed a long walk to clear her head and think about last night and all that had happened. But first she would go to the shop and get some food, she had three more days here and what she had would not last.
    She left the house and walked through the woods to the town. The lady who ran the shop, Mrs. Hosewater, (Adela had congratulated herself for not roaring with laughter when she had first heard that name), greeted her enthusiastically as usual, ‘good morning, Ma’am, how can we help you this fine day?’ Mrs Hosewater always used the plural when asking this yet she ran the shop single handed. The postmaster, Mr. Stebbings, had told her that Mrs. Hosewater’s husband had died at least twenty years ago, but that she often spoke as though he was still around. Perhaps he was, but only Mrs. Hosewater could see him, Adela had said which caused Mr. Stebbings and the other customers to stare at her in confusion until Mr. Stebbings had smiled and said, “yes, that must be it, that’s very astute of you, Ma’am.’ She had laughed when she had left the store not really at them but at their willingness to give people the benefit of the doubt. She liked the people of this town, all of them.
    She returned Mrs. Hosewater’s greeting and gave her a list of things she required saying, ‘if you don’t have the compass don’t worry, I could perhaps get one in the next town.’
    Mrs. Hosewater looked very much put out at this and said somewhat imperiously, ‘I think we can accommodate you in that regard.’
    Adela fought desperately to suppress the laughter rising up in her and said plactingly, ‘I knew that if anyone could help me it would be you, Mrs. Hosewater.’
    Mrs. Hosewater almost preened and bestowed on Adela a wide toothed smile saying, ‘and you call me Rose, honey, all my friends do.’
    This time Adela’s fight with her laughter was almost fatal, she dug her nails into her palms until it hurt and said, ‘thank you…Rose, and please call me Adela.’
    Rose Hosewater beamed, ‘Adela, why ain’t that nice now.’
    Adela thanked her and asked, ‘can I call back later for those, I want to go to the post office and then to the book store.’
    Adela was Rose’s new found friend so said, ‘of course,  Adela, you run along and do your other chores and I’ll have these ready for you when you get back.’
    ‘Thank you, Mrs. Hose…I mean Rose.’
    Before she really embarrassed herself Adela left the shop and made her way to the post office. She chatted a while with Mr. Stebbings and the few other customers that were in there, then made her way to the clothes shop a few doors down to buy a new hat, preferably one similar to the one she had given to Olivia. Unfortunately they had nothing like it; in fact they had a very limited selection in hats. She ended up with one made of brown cloth with a