Reveiws are all I ask for, please!:)
"Why am I coming with you?" Clara asked, still trying to balance herself on top of Gunpowder, only managing to fall off the small horse. The male was nothing like her mare Luna. Ichabod chuckled slightly and held out her hand, helping her up.
"Because, Phillips will listen to you if he does not me." He replied, getting her straight on his horse.
Clara sighed inwardly, but put her arms around the constable's middle to hold on. She felt him shiver and she removed her arms from around him. I'm sorry…did I…?"
"No. I'm sorry. I'm quiet careful when people touch me now." He said quietly.
Clara rolled her eyes. "I've noticed."
Ichabod gave her a sideways glance, mock hurt spread on his face. "Really?"
Clara smiled. She was getting to really like Ichabod. He was sweet and sensitive, two things she always looked for in men.
She then wrapped her arms around him again and let her cheek lean against his slender back, keeping the wind out of her face.
The ride seemed to last for no more than a few seconds before Ichabod jumped off, quickly helped her down and walked over to the magistrate, who was just pulling up as well.
"What are you running from Magistrate Phillips?" he asked, getting in front of the portly man, Clara right behind him.
"Danm you Crane!" the drunken man slurred out.
"You were a mind to help me?" Ichabod quickly continued.
"Yes and it put me in mortal dread of…"
"Of what?" Clara asked.
Phillips looked at her. "Clara, you should not be out so late at night. Your father would be worried."
Clara blushed as Ichabod looked at her funny. "But the constable will protect me." She mumbled.
Ichabod smiled slightly before he turned his attention back towards the man in front of him. "As Clara said, of what?"
"Of powers of which there is no defense." The magistrate said fearfully.
Ichabod immediately changed the subject. "How did you know the widow was expecting a child?"
"She told me." He answered.
"Then I deduce you are the father." The constable said triumphantly.
"I'm not the father." Phillips said shaking his head.
"Did she tell you the name of the child's father?" Ichabod asked.
"Yes she did. She came to me as advice as town magistrate to protect the rights of her child. I was bond by my oath of office to keep the secret but…"
"You believe the father killed her." Ichabod finished.
"The horseman killed her." Phillips said, shaking his head once more.
Clara stiffened at the thought of the Hessian. However, the constable was not finished.
"How many times do I have to tell you there is no horseman. There never was a horseman. There never will be a horseman. What is that thing?" he said, looking at the wooden material Phillips always carried around.
Snatching it away, Phillips stiffened slightly. "My talisman, it protects me from the horseman."
Ichabod looked at him with disbelieve. "You're a magistrate and you fill your head with such nonsense, now tell me the name of…" he didn't get to finish because the sheep that were crowed around us earlier were now bawling uncontrollably and running away.
Clara and Ichabod looked at each other confused before the scarecrow started turning, pointing towards them. A sound of a neigh broke the night silence and Phillips started stumbling away, obviously running from something. Both Ichabod and Clara turned to see something both surprising and shocking. The horseman.
He rode Daredevil in a fast manner, passing Ichabod and Clara in a quick gesture. Rising up towards Phillips, he raised his sword and all Clara heard was that sound. That horrible sound of flesh being sliced by a sword. Looking up, she screamed.
Phillips's head rolled down the hill, towards Ichabod and in between his legs, making him shudder. The Hessian however was riding closer to them. Clara knew he would not hurt her, but she wasn't sure about Ichabod.
But the horseman gave not mention to Ichabod, only stabbed the head with his sword and rode off. Ichabod then proceeded to faint, making Clara cry out.
"Ichabod! Wake up! Please!"
However, her cries were drowned out from Ichabod's mind as he was now fully unconscious.
"Has he not come out at all?" Baltus asked and Katrina, Clara and Jacob all shook their heads.
Baltus entered the room, baffled to see Ichabod cowering beneath his covers in the small bed in the corner of the room.
"It was a headless horseman!" he exclaimed.
"Constable Crane…" Baltus tried to speak.
"But it was headless horseman!" he cried out again.
"Of course it was, that's why you're here." Baltus said softly.
"No you must believe me! It was a horseman, a dead one…headless!" he whimpered.
"I know, I know." Baltus tried to soothe him.
"You DON'T know because you were not there! It's all true!" he yelped.
"I know it's true. I told you. Everyone told you!" Baltus insisted.
"I…saw him…" Ichabod said quietly before he fainted and Clara sighed, Jacob speaking her thoughts.
"I guess its back to the city then."
"Clara, be sure to be careful and not get lost again." Katrina said playfulness in her voice.
Once seated on Luna securely, she narrowed her eyes. "I won't, don't worry."
Kicking her horse gently, she made her way into the Western Woods, hoping to find some answers. Caressing her amulet she always wore, she sighed softly before making her way in the heart of the haunted forest. Riding along, she kept looking over her shoulder, not wanting to be snuck up on.
Coming towards a small cave looking place, she got off her horse and knocked on the door. Suddenly, it opened, a voice whispering, "Come in…quickly."
Clara made her way inside the dimly lit cottage and look towards the crone behind her. "Please. I need your help."
The crone merely just walked over to her fire, not answering her question at first. After a moment that seemed like eternity, she finally spoke. "You are his daughter, are you not?"
Clara's eyes widened. "Pardon?"
The crone faced her. "He has spoken for you before."
Clara was too confused to try and ask how Baltus had met the crone. "Who has? Baltus?"
The crone now rose and faced the young girl. "He has not told you yet, has he?"
Clara gulped. "Uh no." She had no idea what the crone was talking about, but before she could reply, she shook her head. "I came to ask you if…if I'm…"
"With child?" the crone asked and Clara was taken aback.
"Yes." She answered. The crone's old hand reached out and touched Clara's flat abdomen, making her shiver. After a few brief seconds, the crone looked at her.
"No. You are not."
Clara sighed with relief and bowed her head, grateful. Before she could speak, she heard hoof beats outside. Looking around frantically, she looked to the crone.
"That's may be two people from my town. Don't tell them I've been here!" she said, rushed, but the crone calmly bowed her head.
"You have my word." She said and Clara nodded slightly, slipping out an open window in the cave, hoping Ichabod wouldn't see her like this.