A gun shot rang throughout the Hollow, disturbing the early evening silence. The man who had fired the gun watched in horror as the Headless Horseman picked himself up again, remounted his horse and came charging at him. Frightened the man ran, terror giving wings to his feet, but the huge black steed soon caught up with him. The man felt the sword an instant before he died, the searing hot blade slicing through his skin and sinew and bone like a heated knife through butter. And then nothing.
The Horseman galloped on, turned around and came back for the head before returning to his grave.
***
Helen was riding Admiral, as was her custom these mornings and feeling especially at ease as her horse cantered easily towards town. A small bay horse came flying towards her, passed her and upon further investigation, headed towards Mr. Crane's home. Concerned she headed back, forgetting her errands and her morning ride completely in her anxiety to see what was happening.
"The Headless Horseman has struck again!" the unmistakable voice of Red Robertson came from the front porch, Icabod stood just inside the doorway staring at the slight boy in front of him, "I swear it sir! He's back and that's two people within a week of each other. You have to do something!"
"What's all this running and shouting about?" Helen asked calmly pulling Admiral to a stop and dismounting gracefully.
"Helen! The Hessian! He came again last night, killed my brother he did. You know Thomas. Thomas is dead!" Red panted coming over to Helen and leaning on her, crying into her shoulder, utterly spent from his ordeal.
"There. There. It's alright." Helen soothed stroking the boy's hair gently, "Everything will be fine, you'll see. Now then dear, why don't you go and get the townspeople to see the body? Mr. Crane will be along shortly, just as soon as he can get a horse for himself."
"Aye. That I'll do." Red stood back and wiped at his tears hastily before getting on his small horse and trotting back to the town as quick as he dared.
"Now Mr. Crane. I realize this is a bad time but you really must help us. Here, I'll lend you Admiral here. He's a right good horse; get you where you going in no time at all." Helen handed Icabod her reins.
"Why should I help you people?" He asked her taking the reins and getting on the horse.
"Because, Mr. Crane, you're the only one who can." Helen said simply, swinging up behind him, "Now then, hand me those reins and we'll be off."
"Now wait just one minute!" Icabod protested but she had already taken the reins and kicked the horse forward.
"Come on Admiral! Straight to the scene of the crime with you!" She shouted, bending close to Icabod's back, forcing him to lean over the horse's muscular neck.
***
Icabod looked at the stump of neck that was left of Thomas Robertson's head, and quickly drew back, "I see. It's a classic Horseman trade mark. Cauterized wounds, no scorched flesh or blisters."
Magistrate Johns looked at his friends and ventured a question, "That's not normal is it?"
"Not in the least bit." Icabod stepped away from the body, examining the ground around it, "Same gigantic stride, turned around here, took the head and went away. The Horseman doesn't change his ways at all does he?"
"They've been effective for hundreds of years why should he?" Red asked meanly.
"Because people start to realize patterns, my dear boy." Icabod glanced at the gathered crowd, "I suggest we take the body back and bury it."
"Right!" Reverend Smith stated and clapped his hands, "Someone go get the coffin cart please and we'll bury him quite promptly.
"Come along Icabod!" Helen called cheerily from her horse, "We must be going now!"
"Coming." Icabod called back softly, walking slowly over lost within his thoughts.
***
"Why would someone want John Roberts and Thomas Roberts dead?" Icabod asked himself aloud as they cantered back towards town.
"I don't know perhaps they wanted the money that they inherited? Like last time?" Helen offered.
"How much money did they inherit?"
"Only the second largest estate in Sleepy Hollow next to yours, but why does that matter so much?" Helen was utterly confused.
"How much is that worth exactly?"
"Oooh, round about…well almost as much as yours. I can't put an exact figure to it but it's quite a lot of money." Helen shrugged and pulled Admiral to a stop, "Anyway you need yourself a horse. Let's go get you one."
"We can't do that. We're in the middle of investigating the return of the Horseman." Icabod protested loudly.
"Well you still need one. And while we're in town I have a few errands to run and you can start asking people questions who may know just a little bit more than I do. Like Red Thomas who is now in-line for their father's estate, seeing as their poor mother died."
"Very well. A horse will be helpful in the long run I suppose." Icabod reasoned with himself as they picked up a very bouncy trot and headed towards the village, "Can we walk or go faster?"
"Unless you want to take thirty minutes getting there or exhaust my horse, no. Now stop your whining Mr. Crane."
"I'm not whining!" Icabod's words came out fractured by the bouncing of the horse's large, quick stride. Icabod was nearly thrown from the horse as Helen pulled him to an abrupt stop, hastily righting himself he craned his neck around Helen's shoulder to see what was going on.
"Oh my." Helen breathed her quiet voice barely audible in the gloomy late afternoon silence.
"What? What's going….oh. Let's go shall we?" Icabod stared, horror stricken at the great black steed standing serenely in front of them, the horse's huge bulk was nothing compared to the rider's appearance. The rider wore old and tattered clothes and was missing his head completely.
"Y-yes. I think that would be best. We can get you a horse tomorrow." Helen stuttered out, turning Admiral, "Please hang onto my waist, Icabod."
"Why?" Icabod asked looping his arms around her waist anyway.
"Just do it!" Helen spurred Admiral and they leaped into a flying gallop. The horse ran off of the fear of its two riders, going into full flight mode, all Helen and Icabod could do was try and remain seated as the horse raced further and further away from the apparition.
Icabod glanced behind them to see an empty road, why was the road empty? "Wait! Wait! Stop the horse! STOP THE HORSE HELEN!"
"What!?" Helen drew back on the reins, Admiral stopped with a shower of dirt spraying from beneath his iron-shod hooves.
"We're not being followed."
"What?"
"We're not who he's after today! Turn around! We must get back to the village!" Icabod kicked at Admiral's flanks, the horse responded by bucking him off, Icabod let out a cry of surprise an instant before hitting the dirt in front of the horse, "Ow. Stupid horse."
"And a good thing too! I don't know about you Icabod but I would very much like to keep my head where it is. On my shoulders." Helen told him firmly from the back of her horse.
"Get off the horse, Helen."
"Why should I?"
"Because you like your head and I don't like mine. The house is right around this bend. Go there and wait for me please."
"Icabod you can't be serious, going back there to confront the Horseman on your own!"
"I've done it before." Icabod walked over and gripped Helen's leg and pulled her from the horse's back, "And I can do it again!" He swung into the saddle and stuck his feet in the stirrups, Icabod kicked Admiral in the sides and the horse shot off into the growing darkness.
***
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well now isnt this interesting. IT seems Icabod has grown reckless and a bit stupid in the absence of Katrina. What will happen when Icabod reaches the village? Will Helen rip him limb from limb (figuratively) when he gets back (if he gets back at all) for stealing her beloved horse? Read the next one to find out! Oh. and Review this. I like to hear what other people think of my writing. THANKS FOR READING IT THIS FAR ANYWAY!!! :D
All the Love
--Danbamina