Chapter 5: The Skull's Location
The next two days went by very quickly. Of course, we discovered our victims in that time. But Aunt Aggie had been wrong. Only one of our victims was killed before Constable Crane got here. The other had been the night of his arrival. I should probably tell you about those days in between, though, so that you have an understanding of what happened.
On our way back home that night from visiting Aggie, we made a quick stop at the Tree of the Dead. It was just so that my mother could tell me where the Horseman's skull was. We arrived there just before dusk.
My mother dismounted her horse first. I loved the grace she had in everything. Why couldn't I have inherited some of her qualities instead of what I am guessing to be my father's?
She looked at me as I followed her action in dismounting. She looked at the Tree again.
"Miranda," she said to me, "I need to tell you where the Horseman's skull is. Just in case you need it if something were to happen to me." She glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Of course, there was no one. There was no single person brave enough to venture into the Western Woods, especially out this far in the forest. We were the only two, other than Aunt Aggie of course. I looked at her, waiting for her to tell me where the head was.
"Well?" I asked after a brief moment of silence from both of us.
She gave me one of her looks. My mother had many looks: looks for making you feel guilty, looks for seduction, and many more. But this one was the one that said "Do you want extra chores for a month, Andi?" That was the look that usually was a signal for me to be quiet. So I didn't say anything else.
She started to walk around the perimeter of the Tree, touching it the whole time. "You know," she said to me finally, "I was only seven when I witnessed the Horseman's death."
I tried to look shocked, but it didn't work. I had heard this story many times before, so this came as no shock to me. "Yes, mother, I know," I said, putting the acting aside, "You've told this story to me before. Many times."
My mother gave me that look. Again. "Well, it was then that I sold my soul to Satan to raise the Horseman."
"To avenge those who kicked you out. I know mother, I know," I said. Although, I loved hearing that story. My mother and I were very close to one another.
"Fine," my mother said to me, "If you don't want to hear the story, then I won't tell it." She stopped her circumnavigation of the tree in front of it. She stared at it for a while and turned to me.
"Andi," she said to me, "I probably won't be around much longer. I am getting older. But so are you. And just in case I may die before my vengeance is through, I want you to know where the skull is. Just in case." She looked at me then. She double checked to make sure no one was around. When she was sure that no one was watching, she motioned for me to come closer. I walked to her and waited.
"Remember how I told you about where my mother, father, Aunt Aggie and I used to live?" she began whispering, "I showed you the place once."
I tried to recall such a place. Then it came to me. "Yes," I said in reply, "All that's left is a hearth, some stones, and some timber. What does that have to do with this?"
"I'll show you," was all she said before remounting her horse and cantering off.
I quickly remounted my horse too and followed as fast as I could. I lost her for a few moments, but then I found her again, standing on the ground inside the ruins of her old home, her horse's reins in her hand. She saw that I was finally there and looked out for anyone. This was right outside the Woods, so there was more of a chance of someone watching them. She saw that no one was there and crept toward the hearth. Inside were a few cobwebs, many spiders, some dead grass, and some ashes from when the Van Tassels lived there after my mother. She looked at me again.
"In this hearth," she whispered, "The Hessian's skull is buried. Dig only a foot or two to find it." She walked to her horse and pulled a shovel out of a bag she had brought. She quickly walked back to me and gave me the shovel. "I only keep it here for long periods of time. Otherwise, I keep it under a loose floorboard in Baltus's and my room."
I looked at the shovel in my hand. I was confused. Why did she hand this to me? I lifted my head to look back at her, which had the most puzzled look on my face ever.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Honestly, Miranda," she said to me, "There are some times when I think you're as stupid as that idiot, Katrina. I want you to dig up the skull so that I know you can do it."
"Oh," I said. I blushed with embarrassment. Between the two of us, comparing each other to Katrina Van Tassel was like comparing each other to a log. I quickly took the shovel and began to dig. I dug for a short while before hitting something white, the skull. I pulled it out and showed it to my mother. She looked pleased.
"Very good, Andi," she said to me proudly, "Now you know where the skull is just in case something happens to me." She got back on top of her horse again.
I looked at her dumbly. "I don't have to bury it, do I?"
My mother started laughing. "No, of course not. Remember what Aggie said? We have some work that has to be done." She smiled at me again and rode off, back to our house.
I got back up on my horse too after fixing up the area around the hole I had dug up the skull from. I followed my mother as we headed back home, where I encountered the worst noise I've ever heard when I walked through the door.