Ewan and the children returned home well after the sun had set. As cold as the early fall evening was, the chill at their return bit deeper. Gretel couldn't hide her disdain for the children. Ewan and Gretal stayed up late into the night, whispering their differences.

"Why did you have to go find them? They aid they were much happier with that hermit woman," Gretal snapped.

"Katrina is not a hermit, and the children belong with their father," Ewan argued back.

Frustrated, Gretal stormed from the bedroom. Ewan didn't follow her as he knew she'd be back, as she'd never be able to sleep outside the bed's comfort.

Gretal found herself in the kitchen, still cursing how her plan had unraveled. Her mind spun on how unfair life had been to her as she absently ate the treats Ewan had brought home with him. After a few bites, her focus was solely on the desserts. She had tasted them before. When she took a single bite of the gingerbread, she knew the woman in the woods was Katrina. She hurriedly wrapped up the remaining treats and left the woodcutters' home.

Gretel was sure her luck had changed. As she traveled to her brother's house, she hatched a plan.

"Hansel," she called from the front of his house as she pounded on the door.

"Gretal, why have you come so late at night? Have you finally given up your sham of a marriage?" Hansel joked.

"Yes, but only because I know how to make us both rich!" She exclaimed as she pushed the package of treats into her bother's hands.

As he devoured the last of the desserts, Gretal outlined her plan. "We travel deep into the woods to Katrina's home and demand the recipes. Being so isolated, there'll be no one to protect her. If she argues, we push her into her oven and tell everyone that the witch threatened us once again!"

Hansel giggled with the excitement of the truly evil plan. "Yes, with her recipes, no other baker will rival me," Hansel agreed.

As they departed, young Franz spied them. "Where are you two off to this late at night?"

"My dear useless husband found our witch, and we are off to pour a bucket of water on her," Gretal gleefully giggled.

Franz's mind spun to the sweet Katrina he had met and knew he must act. He hurried to Ewan's house and explained what was happening.

"I'm and sorry to speak ill of your wife," Franz ended his plea.

"Nonsense. A marriage built on lies is no marriage. Thank you for helping me see whom I married. But now I must stop them before Katrina is harmed."

Ewan hurried through the forest as the brush bit at his ankles, and branches snapped at his cheeks. His heart sank as he saw smoke billowing from Katrina's clearing. He quickened his pace to find her small house engulfed in flames.

Ewan burst through the door to find Hansel and Gretel taunting poor Katrina.

"Give us the recipes," they shouted over the flames. "They'll be of no use to you dead."

"Please, I never write my recipes down; this violence if for not!" Katrina desperately pleaded as the flames licked at her legs while she brandished a pan as her only weapon.

"Don't lie to me," Hansel roared. "All bakers write down their measurements!"

Ewan didn't wait. He flung his cloak to quell a small section of the flames, allowing him to reach Katrina and pull her from the fire.

"How dare you?" Gretel exclaimed. But as she spoke, she realized that she and Hansel had also become surrounded by the flames. "Please, you'll not leave your wife to die?"

Once Katrina was pulled to safety, Ewan turned to return to the house hoping to save Hansel and Gretel, but as he did so, the house collapsed in on them.

"I'm sorry for what my wife did to you," Ewan softly spoke as he looked over Katrina for any burns.

"I'm sorry for what your wife did to you. And I'm quite fine," she said as she clutched her pan closer.

"I won't hurt you, but I'll return your hospitality. Please, come stay with the children and me while I rebuild your home," Ewan offered.

"I know you'll never hurt me." As Katrina spoke, she lifted her eyes to Ewan's gaze while opening the pan to reveal her recipes.