Witches of Napa:
It wasn’t a far drive from the Christian Brothers winery to the Martinez ferry landing. There was no scheduled ferry to take them from Martinez to Cuttings Wharf, the closest dock to Napa Valley. Sigmund found a steam-powered flat bottom launch capable of carrying Bessie and the trio, yet small enough to make it up the river.
The bay here looked different than what Helena had seen before. The river snaked through a floodplain. On either side, acres and acres of fruit trees spread out to the brackish water edge. The orchards were chaotic with activity, men, women, and children picking the ripening fruit and loading them into horse-drawn wagons to destinations unknown. The three dug into the basket full of food at Lane’s request. He had been hungry since leaving San Franci
