I woke up with a migraine. It hurt worst than when I slammed my head into the ceiling. My wrists were tied behind my back and my left foot was chained to the tree I was lying against. I looked through the pain in my head at my surroundings. I was in the woods, trees and boulders all around me. A lovely little camping trip "And me without my underwear" I said out loud. The sun had started to set and the shadows in the trees grew darker and more threatening. When it got almost completely dark I heard the distinct sound of hoof beats. They echoed through the woods which gave them a haunting effect. The sound grew louder and louder until a great black horse charged into the clearing. Its rider pulled the horse up high on its legs a huge cape billowing majestically. My heart quickened its pace but I was in too bad of a mood to be scared. He was the primary cause of my splitting head ache and I wasn't just going to let him get away with that. He dismounted and set about building a fire. Once it was a blazing five feet tall he crunched over the leaves towards me. He stood very tall, probably six feet. Unsheathing a dagger he bent down and cut the ropes that bound my hands. A very stupid thing to do.

Poor Horseman, he had probably never gone head to head, so to speak, with a pissed off southern belle. As soon as my hands were free I lunged at him. He hit the ground hard and I was on top of him punching and ripping as much of him up as I could. The chain that had held me to the tree broke at some point. The Hessian tried to pin me down a couple of times, but I wouldn't have it. I bucked and kicked like a wild mule he let me go then and I got up and tried to run. The dirty dog grabbed me by the ankles and made me fall flat on my face. It gave me a busted lip and he was going to answer for it. I rolled on my back and kicked my foot free. When he reached for me again I got him square in the chest. I got up and ran as fast as I could then. I ran through the trees trying to find a creek or stream that would lead me to the Hudson. The horseman was after me on horseback now. He thundered after me smashing through underbrush and small trees. I finally found a fairly big stream and I followed it, running along the bank. I rounded a bend and saw a bridge and I new that I must be on the Pontaco. I could hear the horseman on the other side of the creek in the woods. The bank was steep but I climbed up it and sprinted down the paved road that ran in front of the Old Dutch Church, horse and rider not far behind. With an agility that I could not have mustered under normal circumstances I swung my self sideways over the white picket fence of the churchyard and dashed into the church. I pretty much gave the reverend a heart attack. He was sitting at the pulpit studying for his sermon the following day. The good reverend took one look at my bloodied appearance and asked if I needed any assistance and if he should call the police. I went to the southern window and shook my head. "It wouldn't help anyone, he's cut the phone lines." I said motioning to the dark specter, who was galloping back and forth through the graveyard. "Good heavens, I thought he was just legend." The preacher said aghast. I nodded my eyes fixed on the galloping figure. "Let's move away from the windows we will be safe in here." I settled onto a pew to wait for the liberating dawn. The preacher sat behind the pulpit again and would randomly quote verses. It wasn't long though before I was lulled to sleep by the sound of hoof beats.