November 2, 1779

Walking out of her room, Lillian went downstairs and entered the tavern, where she suddenly found herself entrapped within the arms of her friend and coworker, Cassandra.

"Lillian! Oh, Lily, I've been so worried about you", Cassandra cried, hugging her tightly as if she hadn't seen her in years. She looked at Lillian and asked her, "Where have you been? Father's been worried sick about you."

"Cassandra, I can explain", said Lillian.

"Do you have any idea what's happened? Three decapitated bodies were found in the Western Woods. Their heads were missing!"

Lillian blinked, her eyes widened. "Missing?"

"Yes. The whole town is in an uproar. They're saying the Devil sent him to do his work."

"Who?"

"The Hessian Horseman from Hell! He's a demon of a man, Lillian. No pity in his black heart, whatsoever."

Lillian couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had not forgotten about the Hessian's reputation as a merciless mercenary, but had chosen to push all thoughts of his cruel and wicked nature aside for personal reasons.

"Did you see him?" Cassandra asked her, but Lillian didn't seem to be listening. She was looking off into the distance. The red-haired woman shook her friend and raised her voice, asking loudly, "Did you see him?!"

"I don't know", Lillian lied. Then she confessed, "Cassandra, I was stolen. Those three men who were in here the other night took me into the Western Woods. They raped me and told me they were going to kill me."

Cassandra's face turned pale as a ghost as she stared at her friend and slowly released her grip on Lillian's arms. She stepped back and scanned her friend with shocked eyes. "Raped?...Oh, Lillian, no."

Lillian nodded, tears brewing in her sad blue eyes. "Yes", she said. "You remember their faces, don't you?"

Cassandra cast her eyes downward, looking ashamed. "I do", she said, then brought her eyes back up to look at the dark-haired young woman again. "Lillian, if I had known they would have returned-"

"There's nothing you can do about it now. What's done is done."

"How did you escape them?"

"Someone saved me. I thought for sure I would die, but someone saved me."

"Who was it that saved you? Was he a rebel? Was he with the militia?"

Lillian shook her head, answering, "I don't know. Cassandra, I'd much rather not discuss this right now. Where's your father?"

Just then, the door opened and both women turned around and saw an old man enter the bar. He stared at them in shock, especially when he laid eyes on the dark-haired young woman.

"Lillian?" He asked in a gravelly voice, closing the door behind him. His face was wrinkled, with white hair and bright, twinkling eyes. His name was Herbert Mortner, the owner of the tavern. He was also Cassandra's birth father, as well as Lillian's adopted father. This old man had raised Lillian ever since her mother died, and even took in her father many years ago when he was a small orphan boy.

Lillian ran to him right away and threw her arms around the old man's neck, hugging him while he embraced her, as well. "Oh, Mr. Mortner, I'm sorry", she cried, not caring if her tears started to spill. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"There, there, child. You're home now. There's nothing to worry about. But you gave me such a fright. I was afraid you had been stolen away by some dark spirit."

Lillian looked at the old man and said, "Mr. Mortner, there's something I need to tell, but I do not now how to tell you. Something terrible has happened to me, and the evil which has been inflicted upon me cannot be undone."

Mr. Mortner looked at his daughter with confusion and said, "I don't understand."

"I think you better sit down, Father", Cassandra told him.

Mr. Mortner turned and sat down on a bench, with Lillian taking a seat on his right. "What is it you wish to tell me, Lillian?"

"About why I disappeared without a trace. Mr. Mortner, there were three men in here the other night. I don't know who they were or where they came from. All I know is they were not Sleepy Hollow men. One of them kept trying to pass themselves onto Cassandra. I intervened and asked them to leave on account of their rude behavior. Cassandra left me in charge of closing up for the night as I was intending to make small talk with a nice, young gentleman. The three men must have been waiting outside this whole time, because the moment we stepped outside, they knocked him out and took me away into the Western Woods...They...threw me on the ground and ripped at my dress...I tried to stop them, but they threatened to kill me unless I did as they told...I was so scared, I thought-"

Lillian lowered her tearful face into her hands and started to breakdown, crying. Her body trembled. She couldn't bear to tell him the rest.

Mr. Mortner hugged his arms around the dark-haired young woman, then looked at his daughter and demanded, "Who were these men, Cassandra? Where were they from? What were their names?"

"I don't know", Cassandra answered honestly. "I remember their faces, but I never heard their names. For all we know, they could have come from the city or the other side of the Hudson."

Lillian continued sobbing, and Mr. Mortner rubbed her arm and reassured soothingly, "There now, Lillian. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just glad you're all right. Are you hurt anywhere?"

Sniffling, Lillian shook her head. "No", she answered, then lowered her hands and cast her eyes upward to look at him. "I mean I was, but the man who saved me tended to my injuries and made sure I was in no danger."

"Who was it that cared for you?"

Lillian tried to think up a name, but none came to mind. "I don't know. He never mentioned his name. He heard me screaming and came to save me from my captors. If it weren't for him, I would already be dead by now."

"What did this man look like?"

Lillian painted a false picture in her head and told him, "He looked like a hermit. His hair was long and gray. His clothes were ragged. He said he knew I was in trouble and couldn't just leave me there to die in the forest."

"What of the Hessian? Did you see him?" Cassandra wondered. "If it was he who slaughtered those men whilst you were being raped-"

"Cassandra Mortner, I will have no talk about the Hessian Horseman under the roof of this establishment", Mr. Mortner warned her. "Nor will I tolerate you asking Lillian about her unfortunate experience."

"Please, Mr. Mortner, you mustn't breathe a word about this to anyone", said Lillian. "Already I'm ashamed of having my purity stolen from me. I don't want anybody else to know what's happened to me. Please, I beg you!"

Lillian broke down in tears again and threw her arms around his neck, sobbing as she embraced Mr. Mortner. Cassandra could think of nothing to do for her friend except to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder, her eyes filled with concern. Mr. Mortner looked at his daughter, both of them knowing that life would now be much harder for the dark-haired young woman than either one of them could ever imagine.

"There, there, my child. Your secret shall remain with us. Cassandra and I will speak not a word of your terrifying ordeal to anyone." Mr. Mortner looked at his daughter again. "Is that understood, young lady?"

Cassandra nodded, agreeing. "Yes, Father."

Lillian continued to cry into Mr. Mortner's shoulder for a minute, clinging onto him like a scared child. The old man rubbed her back, comforting her. He wished he had been there to protect Lillian and kill those men himself.

"Perhaps it's best that I relieve you of serving in the tavern for a while, just until you're ready to come back to work", Mr. Mortner suggested.

Lillian released her grip on him and wiped her face with her hand, drying away her tears. "No", she said, sniffling. "I'll be all right. Really, I will."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I can't leave you and Cassandra to do all the work."

"We have other women who can take over for you", Cassandra mentioned.

"No", Lillian insisted. "I just want to pretend like it never happened."

"I understand perfectly, my dear. As long as you remain here in the Hollow, you'll be safe."

"Shall I go make her a cup of tea?" Cassandra asked her father.

"I think that would be a wise idea", Mr. Mortner answered. No more needed be said.

Later that night, Lillian returned to her room above the tavern and put on her nightgown. She knelt by her bedside to say her prayers and asked God to send her love to her mother and father, and to watch over the many brave men who were fighting in the war and risking their lives for the sake of their country, as well as their freedom and the freedom of their families. She prayed for Mr. Mortner's health and that Cassandra would put her worried mind at ease about the war. She also prayed for the Hessian and asked God to forgive him. As evil and brutal as he was, Lillian forgave him easily and asked that the Lord would show him mercy, for the Hessian had been kind enough to care for her. To her, he was only a man following orders, just like any soldier. Even more than that, he was a knight. Lillian hoped she would see him in her dreams that night, but she had none.