Chapter 4

Belle and Prince Adam soon traveled back to their principality and told their staff and Belle's father of the situation and their necessity to travel to North America. All of the staff were heart broken but understandable of the entire situation. Belle's father Maurice and Mrs. Potts agreed to come along, so two weeks after Belle & Adam's trip to Paris, Adam, Belle, Mrs Pots, and Chip all left on a ship bound for North America.

Their journey did prove to be quite arduous but with the help and support of each other they all made it through. Their first stop in North America was Manhattan island and New York City. The group had fun exploring what they could of the various boroughs and neighborhoods, though mainly speaking French, they were at a bit of a disadvantage when it came to understanding everything they saw.

Adam soon informed them that they would travel in another ship around Maine until they reached the St. Laurence River, where they would find the community they'd be staying in. Adam needed to be able to communicate with some people in Montreal and Quebec, but wanted to keep his family hidden out of the public eye. To accomplish that he wanted to set up house in a community in New York State.

The tidy group traveled along the East Coast of the United States, until they reached the St. Laurence River, portaged across to Lake Champlain, then sailed down that and traveled overland a bit until they happened upon the tiny hamlet or village of Sleepy Hollow.

When they got to Sleepy Hollow, Belle herself was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as they got to the cottage they were staying in. The next morning, Belle awoke, left her husband asleep in his bed, and decided to take a walk around the village to get familiar with the place. What she found when she walked through the village was all too familiar. In fact they had many of the same amenities as the village she'd left two years ago, before she married her Prince. There were a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker. A grocer, a hat maker, a dressmaker, a bookstore, a tavern with it's similar odd & rowdy set of patrons, and of course the somewhat gossipy women found in most villages.

The was as well a schoolhouse with it's assortment of children, and a schoolmaster of a stern sort, which Belle thought she'd best avoid. Still though there was something about this town that seemed although relaxed, also a bit on edge. When Belle entered the bookstore to browse what they had available, she was met by some interesting comments.

"Oh good day ma'am are you interested in some of our books?"

"Oui...I mean yes I would like some books. Yes I like books."

"Oh the last time we had someone bookish has been oh a year or two ago...Yeah it was this bookish fellow, the schoolmaster I believe...tall lanky fellow...Oh what was his name?"

An older woman who was also in the store suddenly said "Oh Jeb don't say it..."

"Oh it's right on the tip of my tongue...His name was...was-a..."

"Don't say it or you'll get the curse..." the old woman piped up.

"Oh quiet Maude you know that ain't true! Anyways, his name was...oh I remember now, his name was Ichabod Crane!" the old man shouted.

"Lord have mercy!" the old woman moaned.

"Ichabod Crane? Who is that?" Belle asked.

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye Belle noticed a blond woman of about her age hurry past the window at the mention of the name.

"Oh Ichabod Crane? Why he was just the old schoolmaster, tall lanky fellow with a big nose who loved food and Katrina Von Tussel I'd suspect. Well ol' Ichabod disappeared oh about a year or so ago one night right after Halloween or something. Some said it was the ol' Headless Horseman that did it...but I don't believe none of it..." the salesman chuckled.

"Headless Horseman?" Belle gasped.

"Oh Jeb don't go fillin' this poor child's head with tales of the Headless Horseman, especially in her delicate condition and all. It could do something to the babe. Might come out looking like a beast...like the Headless Horseman or something." the old woman said.

"My baby a Beast, oh no!" Belle wailed after understanding only most of the woman's comment.

Belle then proceeded to throw the book down and go running out of the store, and into the street. She wasn't looking and accidentally bumped into a tall figure in a cape, which caused her to screech. Fortunately for her it was just her husband, who calmed her down and sat her on a bench.

"Belle what's wrong you looked like you've had a fright.'

"Oh Adam I was in the bookstore when the old salesman mentioned about some guy named Ichabod Crane, a Headless Horseman, and my baby being a Beast! Oh it was rather scary!"

"Our baby a Beast? How did they know? Oh they couldn't have and anyway I suspect they were just kidding with their tales of the Headless Horseman. Sometimes small townsfolk like to tell tall tales..."

"How would you know how small townsfolk are? You grew up in a castle!" Belle cried.

"Oh well that's true...But I think I've grown used to new situations somewhat..." Adam commented.

"You still wear a cape sometimes..."

"Well that's just to protect myself, my dear. Anyway tonight there is going to be a party at the Bonesworth's house, or so I've heard. It's a fall festival and it'll have mostly people around our age, so I thought you'd have fun." Adam said soothingly to Belle.

"Alright, I think I'll go. Hopefully things will go well then." Belle replied.

That night Adam and Belle rode in a carriage to the Boneworth's place, which was festooned in fall colors. It was so lovely and peaceful that Belle forgot about her past fears and decided to let herself have some fun. Their hostess Katrina was a congenial sort, blond and robust, although to Belle she sort of reminded her of the triplets from her old French village. Katrina was also pregnant but due far sooner, and so had to play hostess while seated on a chair.

Suddenly a large big boned brawny fellow came in and sort of took over the room because of his personality, size and looks. Belle thought he vaguely reminded her of Gaston, and shuttered at the thought, clutching her husband's arm a bit. Katrina though introduced them.

"Why Belle you've got to meet my husband, Brom! Oh Brom come here!"

The man approached and shook their hands. Then said in a rather loud manner.

"Hello, Hello welcome to my house! Eat, drink, and be Merry!"

Even up close, to Belle he reminded her of Gaston and she told Adam so, but he just brushed it off.

Then suddenly as the hour got later, some of the people started to chide Brom into telling his story or singing his song. He acted like he didn't want to do it, but after much persuasion broke into a lively tune about of all things, the Headless Horseman!

At first Belle was shocked and frightened because not only did he now strongly remind her of Gaston, but he was also singing about the Headless Horseman of all things! Then suddenly she realized that her fears were a little silly and decided to just enjoy her evening as best as she could.

Later on, Belle pulled Katrina aside and decided to ask her the story of the Headless Horseman and how he was related to some Ichabod Crane.

Katrina was a bit taken aback, but then decided to describe the situation from her perspective.

"Belle, here's the story as I know it. About exactly a year ago, my father held a party at our home, and most of the local younger adults all decided to attend, including then schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane. It was a great time, but I think Brom was a bit jealous of how Ichabod may have felt about me, so knowing that he was easily scared, Brom led in to a rousing rendition of the story of the Headless Horseman, which is really an old folktale. Anyway to supposedly really intimidate ol' Ichabod, Brom decided to play the Headless Horseman and chase him a bit down by the old covered bridge. Well according to Brom, when he got to the other side of the bridge, Ichabod Crane and his horse no less had both just disappeared! Most people who know Brom had anything to do with think he might be a killer, but I don't believe it. My husband is no killer I tell you!"

"Well I hope for your sake that he isn't guilty." Belle said.

"Oh I'm sure he isn't and he told me he feels bad for even playing the trick. He...ow" Katrina yelped.

Suddenly Katrina started to moan something about her baby, and Belle realized that Mrs. Boneworth's baby was on it's way. Belle helped her to her room. Then some of Katrina's friends came around too, and all together they helped her deliver her baby, which was of course a son.

Weary, a bit shaken, but overjoyed at witnessing a healthy birth, Belle went on to explain to her husband all that she knew about Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, the Headless Horseman and so forth. In the end, Adam and Belle both decided that Sleepy Hollow was certainly an interesting place to live!

The next day Belle decided to visit more with some of the various townspeople to learn more about the Headless Horseman myth and others' speculation about what might have actually happened to Ichabod Crane. When she went into the bookstore, Belle again met the owner and his wife.

The owner said "Ah I see that you're back again! That's good that we didn't scare you off."

"Oh you didn't scare me off entirely. I guess I get a bit emotional anymore..." Belle replied.

"As you well should be! I hope Jeb isn't bothering you anymore young lady." the bookstore owner's wife Maude added.

"Oh no he's no bother. Anyway I just wondered if I could ask you a few questions about the former school master, Ichabod Crane, if you please?" Belle asked.

"Oh you don't need to know about him..." Maude interrupted.

"Oh Maude if the little gal wants to know about ol' Ichabod it t'wert hurt her none!" Jeb interrupted, then added, "Well a little more than a year ago our town acquired a new schoolmaster by the name of Ichabod Crane. He was this tall lanky feller who was quite the ladies' man if I remember rightly, despite his appearance! Why he looked more like an ol' scarecrow than some Romeo...haw haw...and when he first came through town he was seen with his ol' beak buried in a book..."

"Oh but what's wrong with that?" Belle asked.

"Well nothing I guess...Anyways he was a ladies man cos of his voice, real crooner he was, and he liked to give the ladies voice lessons. Anyhow one lady who he had his eye on I'm sure was Master Van Tussell's only daughter Katrina. This didn't set well with the local lads, especially Brom Bones who'd all but assumed he'd get Katrina...and in the end he did. Well back to ol' Ichabod, uh the last time Master Crane was seen as far as the townsfolk say it was on Halloween Night a year past. Crane went to Von Tussell's party and got scared of Brom's story, so I've heard. Then on his way home he supposedly met with the Headless Horseman along ol' creek road just before the covered bridge. All they found was a smashed jack o' lantern and the hoof prints of his horse, but no sign of hide nor hair of ol' Ichabod Crane nor his horse!"

"Oh yes I've heard much of that before, but can you give me a clue at all about this incident? Such as, who first found the jack o' lantern?" Belle asked.

"Well as far as I have heard, it was Brom Bones...then the next day he married Katrina. Mighty suspicious I'd say!" Maude added.

"Oh woman don't go placing guilt where there ain't none...though you're right dear, twas mighty suspicious how ol' Brom & Katrina up and married up so soon after Ichabod Crane disappeared..." Jeb pondered. He then added, "Well what I'd do if I'd suggest anything is to check down by the ol' bridge and maybe even talk to that new guy who arrived the other day. Claimed he was an inspector or something."

"Oh I will do that! Thank you again both of you." Belle replied as she left the shop.

After she left the shop and while she was walking down the road toward the bridge, Belle ran into her husband Adam. She then proceeded to tell him about everything she'd learned from the shop owners, Katrina, and so forth. She also mentioned to Adam about the inspector, to which he told her to be careful and that he'd accompany her to the bridge to look around.

When they made it to the bridge, they began to investigate the area, and ran into a somewhat wiry but handsome man and a young blond woman. Both had a haunting quality about them that Belle found a bit hard to place. Adam was none the less suspicious of their very presence there.

The other man approached Adam and Belle, holding out his hand to shake, while his shock of dark hair fell over his right eye.

"Hello pleased to meet you, my name is Inspector Irving and this is my assistant Tina. I'm sorry but we're investigating a case here, in fact it is the Ichabod Crane/Headless Horseman case, so unless you have any more evidence or have any confessions to make, I request you please leave."

"Well I never! Make as confession, what presumptions you make about people you meet! We've actually come here to help you in your investigation!" Belle exclaimed.

"Belle that's enough..." Adam whispered.

"Well it takes all types I presume..." the Inspector said.

"Well if you don't want us here, what should I presume about your assistant over there..." Belle went on.

"Belle that's enough!" Adam said then turned to the Inspector "I'm sorry about our presence here sir, especially if it interferes with your investigation. Still though my wife does have a bit of information which you might find intriguing."

"Oh really? Well then go on ma'am, I would be interested in hearing it." the Inspector replied.

Belle then went on to relay to Inspector Irving and his partner the story which she'd heard and the people whom she heard it from. This most interested the Inspector indeed!

"So you mean to say that either Brom Bones or the elusive, and hopefully fictional, Headless Horseman chased the presumed victim to the end of this bridge, where a smashed pumpkin was found along with hoof prints from his horse, am I correct?" Irving queried.

"Yes that's what we've been told." Belle replied.

"Still there is very little evidence present even today. Except what are these marks here?" Irving said.

"What marks sir?" his assistant Tina asked.

Going to an area just down the bank of the stream where the bridge crossed, Irving went over to and area of the bridge that had some marks on it. Walking up to them, Irving touched the scratches and said, "Look, see these marks, they look like initials...RVW...I wonder who that means?"

"I don't know sir? I can't think of anyone who's initials are 'RVW', do any of you?" Tina asked.

"Look here what's this? It looks like some sort of pin...like from ten pins!" Belle replied.

"Oh but ten pins is illegal in this area...or at least it's supposedly banned." Irving replied.

"Well obviously someone must be breaking the law...and what's this? Someone must've been having a good time!" Adam commented as he picked up a strange green bottle which had been partially buried in the dirt.

Inspector Irving grabbed it and began to carefully examine it, rolling it over in his hands and then pulling the cork to check for contents and smell it's odor. He then commented "Whew this certainly smells like something else! But this is unusual...no on further inspection this is nearly impossible!"

"How can a bottle be impossible?" Adam interjected.

"Oh many ways, but I will tell you what is so unusual about this bottle. I have only seen bottles like this in collectors museums because most are over a hundred years old...and this bottle would fit that category as well...however the wear on it, especially on it's label, is very minimal...as if it's been sitting out here buried in the elements for less than a year!" Irving exclaimed while he carefully examined the bottle once more.

"But how can that be possible?" Belle and Tina inquired in unison.

"Ah there are many an event which can be chalked up to the realm of impossibility and I believe this may be one of them." Irving said.

"Hmm, don't I know that to be true!" Adam replied.

Inspector Irving then decided that since the daylight was waning, he would camp out near the site that night to see if anything would happen. Meanwhile, Adam and Belle decided to go back to the cottage where they'd been staying, and Tina went back to her family's farm.