The Witch of Misty Hill

“Mom, mom!” Eloise Branford exclaimed, tugging at her mother’s pant leg while frantically pointing to the woods.

“Eloise, what is it? I’m a little busy right now.”

“Look! Look at the woods! Did you see that?”

“See what, honey?” Her mother replied curtly.

“The lady in the blue dress! I watched her walk into the woods!”

Her mother turned to her, exasperated.

“Has your sister been telling stories of the Witch again?” She knelt down and looked her daughter in the eyes. “That’s just a myth, sweetie. It’s not real. You probably saw a reflection in the window. Nothing to be scared of. Do you think I’d let a ghost bother my little pumpkin?”

“But mom, I really saw her. She turned towards me before she went into the forest, and looked me right in my eyes.” Eloise pleaded with her mother for a little faith. She was, after all, 7 years old, and the smartest girl in her class at Winters Elementary. She was the first kid in her class to read, she already knew how to decipher a clock, and tying her shoes? Please. She learned that at 5!

Because of this, Eloise was confident that she had not only just seen a ghost, but that ghost had also seen her.

“Well sweetie, no matter what it was, I promise you will be safe.” Her mother reassured. She wiped Eloise’s stray hairs from her face, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and went back to whatever boring adult task she was doing. 

Eloise sighed. This wasn’t the first time her mother was too busy to actually listen to her. There was always something going on that seemed more important than whatever she had to say. Well, it didn’t matter. She knew what she saw. She had seen the Witch of Misty Hill, just like her sister Evalyn, Eva for short, had told her.

Eva was 10, and had been around a lot longer than Eloise. Eloise was always begging her sister to tell her more stories.

“You have THREE MORE YEARS worth of stories than me, Eva! Please tell me a story. Please. Pleeeaaaase. PUH-LEASE EVA,” she would beg.

“Geez, Eloise, ALRIGHT. What kind of story do you want to hear?”

Eloise scrunched her eyebrows as she pursed her lips, pondering. Then, quick as a flash, excitement came over her.

“A SCARY story.”

After a moment’s consideration, Eva jumped up. She grabbed her favorite flashlight, the one she could make the light red or green or white, depending on her mood. She almost never let Eloise touch it, because little sisters ruin things sometimes. Eva switched off the overhead light, and flicked on the flashlight. It turned the room red, perfect for a spooky tale. This was so exciting, Eloise thought. This must be a good one. 

“I have the perfect scary story,” She sat back down, facing her little sister. “Let me tell you about our very own ghost, the Witch of Misty Hill.”

Our very own ghost? Eloise thought nervously. We have a ghost?  Eloise leaned in with her elbows on her knees, fists holding up her head. She didn’t want to miss a single detail.

“Once upon a time,” Eva started, “Our house was built by our great grandparents, John and Willa Branford. John was from here in Winters, but Willa was from the big city. All the girls in Winters loved John. He was the most popular guy in school. He was going steady with a girl in town, and many people believed they would get married. One day, Willa showed up in Winters. She stumbled upon John and BAM. He didn’t know it yet, but that night, John met his wife.”

Eloise hung on every word. She had never thought about the fact that she lived in a house that someone in her family built years ago, and even more, she had never considered the fact that her house could have a ghost. She felt tingles all up her arms and legs as her fair little hairs stood on end.

“John broke up with his girlfriend so he could be with Willa, and right after they graduated, they got married.” Eva continued. “Everyone in the town was confused at how this girl had stolen the heart of the most popular guy at Winters High. John’s angry ex-girlfriend started telling everyone that Willa was a witch, and she cast a spell on John to make him fall madly in love with her. This rumor grew and grew, and eventually John built Willa this house in the country to get them away from the town hatred. 

That was fine by Willa, she loved being away from the prying eyes of all those people who worried she was evil. And all John wanted to do was make his bride happy. People began to leave them alone, afraid that Willa would cast a spell on them.

John and Willa had many children, and those children led to us. When John died, Willa lived here alone, rarely coming into town. This obviously made the townspeople that much more suspicious about her, but to this day, people still talk about the Witch of Misty Hill, and how every once in a while, you can catch a glimpse of her roaming the hills, wearing a long, flowy, blue dress. And if you see her, you risk her capturing the heart of the person you love.”

In her 7 years of life, Eloise had never heard this family story, and she very quickly became obsessed. Her mother actually worried about how much interest she took in Willa Branford, and constantly tried to push the story out of her mind, to no avail.

The sudden sighting of Willa’s blue dress near the forest created a fervor in Eloise. This was her chance to meet the Witch. She just had to go find her.

As her mother wandered off, probably to do the laundry or vacuum, Eloise tiptoed gently out the back door, to the woods. She had never snuck out before, and this gave her such a rush. She felt butterflies in her stomach, but her resolve was strong. She mustered every ounce of courage she could.

She ran as fast as she could from the back door of the house to the entrance of the woods. The fog that had been slowly creeping up Misty Hill helped muffle the sounds of her feet and hide the little brown haired wildling from view. 

The fog of Misty Hill was an entity of its own. It always rose up the hill from the forest, creating a thick blanket of cover. It had always felt to Eloise that this part of her home, her family’s ancestral home, was another dimension.

The golden sunset light was thinning in the West, and the sky was turning purpley blue in the East. As she came to the edge of the forest, her feet slowed. Adrenaline set in, and she took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She started to feel a little scared, and her senses heightened. It was a bit difficult to see too far into the fog, so she closed her eyes, forcing her ears to listen in all directions. 

Willa, where are you? She thought as she mentally sifted through the sounds within the thick stillness.

Suddenly, a twig cracked to the left. Eloise’s eyes shot open.

“Who’s there?!” She whispered frantically into the twilight.

No response. She ventured deeper into the forest. She had been playing in these woods all of her life, and luckily, she could navigate the creek that flowed through like the back of her hand. The gentle whirring of the creek felt so loud in the night, but didn’t cover the noise of another twig crack. Whatever it was kept getting closer.

“Willa? Willa Branford, is that you?” whispered Eloise.

Silence.

“Willa, I’m Eloise. Eloise Branford. I’m 7 years old. I go to school at Winters Elementary. I live here at Misty Hill. And I think you’re my great grandmother!”

Still, silence.

Getting frustrated, and to be frank, a little scared, Eloise looked around. It was getting even darker. The sun had set and the final rays were waving goodbye. Maybe she hadn’t seen anything. Maybe it was just her imagination, after all. One last time, she thought.

“Ok Willa, I thought I saw you out here, but now I’m not sure. I really want to believe I saw you, because I really want to believe in you. You know, apparently they call you the Witch of Misty Hill. You are a legend in Winters, and in our family. They say that you bewitched John Branford and cast a spell on him to fall in love with you. They say that spell made him build you this house and that you are still here to steal the lovers of anyone who sees you. I don’t really believe that, though. I want to hear your side of the story. If you could tell me, I bet I could change the legend to the truth.”

More silence. She was certain about so many things, like being able to tell time, and tie her shoes. She was certain she had seen Willa’s blue dress, and she was certain that if she were brave enough to come down here searching, she would find the Witch of Misty Hill. But maybe, she shouldn’t have been so certain.

Tears began to stream down sweet Eloise’s cheeks. It had been so rough since her dad had died. Her mother was always busy, doing laundry, doing dishes, going to work, making dinner, making sure she and Eva had their homework done. But late at night, sometimes the sound of her mother crying woke her up.

Her mom was so sad, but she worked so hard to not show it. Eloise was so sad too. That’s part of why she wanted to believe Willa’s ghost existed. Because maybe if Willa’s ghost existed, that would mean her dad’s ghost existed somewhere, too. Maybe if she could get Willa to talk to her, she might be able to find her dad and talk to him, too.

Her little body sat down on the cold bed of damp fallen leaves with her hands over her face. Sobbing now, she couldn’t hear the sound of breaking twigs and crunched leaves coming nearer. Her sobs consumed her thoughts. Her sadness, overwhelming. 

All of a sudden, Eloise felt a warm weight on her back.

A hand?

A hand.

Startled, to say the least, she stopped crying, and slowly lifted her face. Her sadness turned to trepidation at what she would see.

“Oh, you poor thing. What are you crying about, little Eloise?”

Eloise’s eyes grew large as full moons as she gazed upon a beautiful, wrinkly face, long white hair, and a blue dress that flowed as if the wind was blowing around it, even though the air was thick, cold and still. The woman before her was in full form, but like a hologram. Solid, but translucent. A glow surrounding her. She was luminescent.

Eloise squinted, as though that would help bring the woman in front of her into full focus. When that didn’t work, she understood fully who she was looking at.

Her great grandmother, Willa Branford.

The Witch of Misty Hill.

Eloise gasped, but how could she not? She had been right! She had seen what she thought she saw! And here she was, in the midst of a ghost. She calmed her tears to answer.

“Well, I’m crying because I thought I saw you from my kitchen window, and my mom didn’t believe me, but I knew you were out here, so I came to find you.

My big sister Evalyn, Eva for short, told me a story about you, and ever since, I have wanted to meet you and hear your side of the story. Eva said you were a witch and that anyone who sees you risks you stealing their beloved from them. But you’re my great grandmother, and I just don’t think you would be that kind of person.”

Moments of silence passed.

At this point, Eloise wasn’t entirely convinced this wasn’t a dream. She rubbed her eyes just to make sure, and sure enough, the being of soft light was still before her when she opened her eyes.

“Well,” the ghost responded. “Let me tell you what really happened.”

The light had all but disappeared as the sun’s final rays finally laid themselves down to sleep. The forest was dark, but the light Willa emitted was bright enough to light up the immediate area. Crickets were chirping in the trees, and the creek was babbling. Eloise knew it was cold out, but felt warm near Willa. 

“Before I was Willa Branford, I was Willa March. I was born into a family that led a life different than I wished to live. I never quite fit in with them, and as a child, this troubled me greatly. I would do anything I could to find peace and quiet and solitude away from my family. I started spending all my time in the meadow near my childhood home. I became friends with the stray cats that would come looking for food near our barns. I howled with the coyotes. Birds and butterflies frequently landed on me, unaware that I was not part of the natural environment they were accustomed to.”

The ghost closed her eyes, as if to remember better.

“People thought that I was strange, my family very much included, but I was just different.

Eventually, I grew older. I had been on my own for most of my childhood, so I decided to run away. No one came to look for me, but I wasn’t surprised. I suppose I knew as well as my family that I would be better off without them, and they without me. I was 17 years old, and had made so many friends in the animal kingdom, that they helped me survive. Living in their world was delightful. I walked through the forests and meadows and prairies, until one day, I came to Winters. I walked towards town to find something to eat. I had been living on berries and mushrooms, and other plants I could find, but it was getting colder and food was more scarce.

As I walked through town, I was guided by a smell. When you live in the wild with other wild creatures, all of your senses adapt. They start sensing every single thing. I was starving. And that smell led me to Main Street Winters. To John.”

Eloise’s eyes grew large again. This was quite possibly the greatest story she had ever heard. She drank in every single detail, committing them to her heart.

“I followed the smell, feeling crazed by my hunger, and it led me to the Burger Shack. Car hops were skating around, delivering food. Music was playing from cars. A handsome young man was sitting at a bench outside his car, alone. I was drawn to him. John Branford was a beautiful thing. And I just walked right up, not realizing how a girl who lived outside with foxes and coyotes and birds would look. Squirrels would frequently snuggle up in the warmth of my hair while I slept. I looked wild.

As I approached, John, who was raising a burger for a bite, caught me in his sights and lowered his food, mouth still wide. I inhaled the smell I had been drawn to, and said ‘Can I have a bite?’ Your manners really fade when you live outside with animals. John looked at the half eaten burger and held it out to me. ‘Sure. Why don’t you finish it? I think I’m done anyway.’ he said. 

I took it, nodded my head at him in thanks, and devoured it. It was the best thing I had ever tasted. Weeks and maybe even months of food that you forage leaves a lot to be desired. I must’ve been making quite the noises, causing him to laugh heartily.

‘Are you from around here?’ he asked. ‘I have never seen you before. I have never seen anything like you.’ It was at that moment that a girl with long straight blonde hair and crystal blue eyes walked towards us, and the air immediately changed.

‘John….?’ she said. ‘Who is this?’ She had said with disgust.

I went from feeling the best I’ve ever felt in my life, to the most uncomfortable. I did what my instincts had taught me to do, and I ran away as fast as I could. As I ran, John yelled ‘Who are you?!’

But I didn’t stop. I ran until I found the edge of the forest, and found enough branches to build a lean to against a tree. Every day, though, I would find my way back into town, to John. 

One day he asked why I didn’t go to school. I told him all about my life, and how I found him. He told me about his life, and how he was feeling so pressured by his family to be someone that he didn’t feel he was. He told me I made him feel so much more alive.

He started spending less and less time with his girlfriend, the girl that his parents wanted him to marry after graduation, and more and more time with me. As soon as John broke up with his girlfriend, I stopped coming to town. The people didn’t want to see me, the girl who ruined their favorite guy. So he came to me. 

One day, after about a month of daily visits, John met me under this very tree. ‘I’m absolutely crazy over you, Willa. I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you.’

From then on, we were inseparable. We spent hours talking about life, history, philosophy. We never ran out of things to talk about and ponder together. We spent our time laying in the tall grasses of the prairie, discerning bird songs, and watching frogs in the creek.

I never went to school with him, but once he graduated, we married under this tree. He found a preacher who agreed to marry us here in secret, and shortly after, John started building this house with his own hands. He finished just in time for our first child to be born, Amelia. We also welcomed Arthur, Walther, and Luella.

I never gave much thought to what the townspeople said about me, because they were so far away. Not in distance, but in beliefs. I just didn’t care. I was a daughter of the wild. I had lived a life none of them could understand. And so it just didn’t matter. All that mattered to me was John and my 4 beautiful babies, and us living here in this house that John brought to life for us on this land. The land that was our love story.

What the townspeople didn’t understand, what his parents didn’t understand, is that John didn’t just fall in love with me. John fell in love with his own true nature. He was raised in a way that made him feel like he was wearing a too-scratchy sweater. And when I walked into his life that day at the Burger Shack, he slowly felt like that scratchy sweater was coming off and he was comfortable just being in his own skin.

So if they called me a witch, I guess it’s not that I never knew, it was that I didn’t care. I had stumbled upon the love of a lifetime, and I wasn’t about to let anyone sour what we created.”

Eloise had been laser focused the entire time, and she was enamored. She was descended from a love that defied all logic. A love made out of stars and coneflowers. Could she ever find a love like this for herself, she wondered? She knew it must be possible, because she had seen something similar between her mom and dad. And now she fully understood why her mother saved her tears for late at night when she thought no one could hear. Because it’s almost impossible to heal from losing that. Tears began trailing down her cheeks like little meteors of emotion. This time, Willa wiped them away.

“Love creates a strong force that flows through your veins, sweet Eloise. John left this earth before I did. I lived for years after, loving this land the best that I could. I vowed to care for it, because it cared for us. I’m not just a ghost here. Misty Hill is my heaven. When I left the earthly plane for the spiritual one, I turned away from the light because I still have a mission. I chose to come right back, but only until someone finally finds me so I can tell them the truth. Ours is a love story, not a scary story. 

And while I don’t believe you are the first person to ever see me, you are in fact the first person to come find me. Your bravery brought you here for a reason. You were meant to find me because you are the one meant to tell everyone the truth.”

Eloise took in the deepest belly breath she had ever felt. She was breathing in all the knowledge deep inside her to keep it safe. She felt more important than ever before. She now had a mission, too.

“I promise I will tell your story, grandma.”

Willa smiled silently, and put her glowing hand on Eloise’s cheek.

“Oh, my darling girl.” she beamed with gratitude. “Now that you have my story, go tell it. I want everyone to know our love was real. It wasn’t a spell. We were just made for each other. And now, I can go to the light. I can finally go to John. Go on now. It’s getting very late for a 7 year old girl to be alone in the woods. And I’ve got to go find my love.” The wrinkly old lady squealed with delight.

Eloise popped up, excited to have such an important job to do! She knew there had to be more to the story, and there was! Now she can set everyone straight. After all these years, she could finally be with the man she loved! She wanted to say goodbye, so she turned back, only to find nothing there. 

Still wondering if perhaps she had fallen asleep in the forest, and had been dreaming the whole time, she hurried back to the house.

“ELOISE!!!! ELOISE AMELIA BRANFORD!” She could hear her mother yelling as she snuck in the back door. Her mother heard the creaking, and came rushing in.

“ELOISE! Oh my goodness, honey, where have you been?! I have been out of my mind looking for you!” She exclaimed with relief.

Without a word, Eloise gave her mother the biggest hug. A hug so fierce it almost knocked them both over.

“I miss him too, mom. I miss Dad every day. Some days I miss him so hard I feel like I’m going to explode. And I miss you too. Sometimes I feel so alone.”

Her mother softened into the embrace. She too had been holding on to this truth so hard that the sharp edges of grief were cutting them. It was finally time to let it all out.

They both cried together on the kitchen floor, until Eloise pulled away.

She looked at her mother with those big beautiful full moon eyes, wet with tears, but filled with excitement, and said 

“You’ll never believe the story I just heard.”

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