Author's Ledger: Good day my faithful readers! It's been an entire week since last I saw you and I'd like to thank my reviewers, Lina Love (as always you've inspired me to write some more on this story) and my newest reviewer New Gen-Alma, thank you both very much. This new chapter may be a bit longer than others and though it may not appear it at first, there are some important plot points in these, non-violent passages. Now, my fair readers, I take my leave so that you may pursue this story and draw whatever conclusions you wish.
Your Obedient Author,
Danbamina
Helen woke with a start, she looked around herself curiously, how had she gotten here? Where was she? Helen felt the icy grip of panic begin to take hold of her senses before she remembered what exactly had happened. Or what she thought had happened.
Helen tried to raise herself into a sitting position but a searing pain tore through her torso as she moved her arm. Helen quickly lay back down on the bed and began poking around with her right hand at her shoulder, there it was, that horrible stab wound the Horseman had dealt her. Lucky for her she had had the common sense to play dead through the veil of pain. So the armor was simply fabric, it had worked well enough with branches and such, but she hadn't really taken it into her mind what would happen if she ever did get a chance to cross the path of a real swordsman and not someone who just fenced as a hobby.
So the armor had failed, well that's what she got from making it out of fabric and thick paper. But it was time to get the stuff off, it was dreadfully hot and she felt as if she were being smothered. So, gritting her teeth and trying not to pass out, Helen sat up in bed. Gingerly she reached around behind her back and started on the laces that would let her out of the top half of "armor." It took awhile, one-handed, but she did it but pulling it over her head and off of her arms seemed as impossible as traveling to Antarctica in a canoe without a paddle or provisions of any sort.
"It's got to come off so that when the doctor comes he can look at that wound properly." Helen berated herself out loud, trying to muster up the courage to remove it, "Not going to." She felt silly having a conversation with herself but if it was necessary she wasn't above it, "Fine then, just be a baby about it and have some strange man harm you instead of you doing it yourself. Nope. Still not doing it." Helen was growing frustrated at her own lack of courage so she stooped to the lowest insult that anyone was every called, "Chicken." Helen was taken aback by her own words, "What was that? You are a chicken. No, I most certainly am not. Yes you are. Am not. You are such a chicken. I am not. Then take off the armor, chicken. Fine I will." Helen reached up and with both arms pulled the armor off of her torso, the pain ripped through her body in tidal waves but she'd done it and now she could lie down and go back to sleep for a little bit. She rested her head against the comfy down pillows and closed her eyes as the pain ebbed slowly away.
"Let's see the patient then." Doctor Roberts burst into the room, his black traveling cloak billowing impressively behind him, Helen's eyes popped open.
"Doctor Roberts, really you can't go bursting in like that! She's in such a state of ill health at the moment!" Elizabeth bustled into the room after the thin Doctor, anxiously wringing her hands.
"Ah, my dear Helen. How did you come to be in this state?" Doctor Roberts sat down next to Helen's head and leaned over her.
"The Horseman stabbed me through my shoulder, Mr. Roberts." Helen said simply, wanting the handsome Doctor to get on with the treatment and then stay for a chat, he was so charming.
"Ah, I see, just like poor old John, Thomas, Red, Mary and Mrs. Thomas." Roberts nodded his head and gripped Helen's wrist, after a little bit he nodded and smiled, "Good strong pulse, good sign." He felt her forehead and frowned a little bit, "Fever, though not as bad as I expected. I'll prescribe something to cool you down soon as I've taken a look at that wound. Now, which shoulder is it?"
"My left one." Helen looked anxiously up at Doctor Roberts well defined features and kind blue eyes, "You're not going to hurt me unnecessarily are you Doctor?"
"Of course not my dear." Doctor Roberts favored her a small smile before gently pulling Helen's collar down to reveal the thin gash in her flesh, "Well, um, this is quite baffling, never seen this before." He frowned as he examined the wound closer, "Quite odd indeed."
"What is it?" Helen asked, the Doctor's lack of knowledge was making her nervous and the fever was starting to affect her senses a little bit.
"Well it seems that your wound needs no stitches, even though it went a good three inches into your shoulder and you have lost hardly any blood at all." Doctor Roberts erased the frown from his forehead and brushed his light brown hair back from his eyes, "It seems you'll make a full recovery once this fever is gone, but you must keep the wound clean and bandaged as best you can." He turned to Elizabeth, "As for the fever, I believe you know better than I how best to treat one, after all, you were the improvised Doctor before I got here. I leave her in your charge, Elizabeth. Now if that is all, I have many other patients to see to. Good day my fair ladies."
"Michael." Helen called out just before he left the room.
"Yes, Helen?" Doctor Roberts turned around and stood in the doorway, his hat in one hand and his doctor's bag in the other.
"Could you do me a favor?"
"That depends on what the favor is."
"Can you tell Icabod that I'm going to be fine? I'd hate for him to worry."
"Of course. If I see Mr. Crane, I shall tell him just that." Michael bowed his head and left the room with a swirl of his cloak.
"Oh my. I do believe every time I see that Doctor Roberts my heart does a million and one." Elizabeth fanned herself with her hand.
"I think he does that to all the single ladies in Sleepy Hollow." Helen stated, "He paid you quite the compliment, Liz, didn't he?"
"Yes, and that's what's got my heart all a flutter." Elizabeth gathered herself together, "I'll just be going to get you that medicine now. And you'll be set right in no time." Elizabeth bustled out of the room, muttering to herself about what were the proper herbs and how to properly clean and dress a wound.
"Good old, reliable Elizabeth." Helen sighed and closed her eyes again, now it was time for sleep.
"Helen! I just heard the good news!" Icabod came rushing into the room, he slid to a stop a few feet from Helen's side, sending books and such flying as he caught his balance by way of a side table.
"Icabod." Helen growled out, tired of visitors.
"Yes?"
"Out. Now."
"But…"
"NOW!"
"Right!" Icabod darted from the room almost as quickly as he had come; this was no time to be around Helen.
Helen allowed herself to fall asleep this time and sank deep into the waiting darkness of her dreams quite eagerly. She woke only once or twice so that Elizabeth could feed her medicine and food during that long day and night after her encounter with the Horseman, and, as sloth like as she was being, she didn't really want to get better at all, this sleep was just too refreshing.
***
Icabod stretched in his warm bed, still a bit drowsy from his slumber, he stuck a hand out from beneath the covers to discover that the room was quite chilly. He shivered and drew his hand back beneath the cozy covers. He lay there for a few minutes, debating about whether or not he should get up now or go back to sleep for a few minutes. He lay in his comfortable, warm bed, feeling very secure and content for several more minutes and decided that since the sun was not up yet, he shouldn't be either. He curled around his knees in the center of his large bed and drifted off into a light sleep.
It wasn't long before the sun came up and pushed its warm light into Icabod's room, he rolled over and opened his dark eyes crack, barely enough to let the uncharacteristically cheerful light in. The light stung his eyes and he quickly closed them again. After a second, he opened them again, all the way this time and forced himself to keep them open until they adjusted to the light.
The room was still chilly but was warming quickly as the sun's rays heated it. Icabod sat up, yawned and rubbed his eyes roughly. There was plenty of time to get out of bed. Being awake was enough for now, at least. Icabod leaned back against his headboard and stared contentedly at the little green mounds in his bed-spread that marked where his feet lay. He clicked his toes and heels together alternately, actually kind of bored. Another long, dull day lay of ahead of him, of that he was sure. Absolutely filled with gossiping neighbors, supposedly kindly women who really just wanted him to become attracted to them, which he wasn't, and they never seemed to take the hint. Icabod sat for a few minutes longer in his bed, brooding over everything he'd learned in the past few days. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes again, the sun felt pleasant on his face; maybe he wouldn't get up at all today.
He was so preoccupied within his own thoughts that he didn't hear the door open or see Helen enter the room stealthily. He didn't even notice when she crawled on top of the covers and sat next to him. She stayed that way for a minute and then brought her face very close to his; Icabod was still lost within his own mind.
"Good morning, Icabod." Helen whispered as quietly as she could into his ear.
"Good morning, Katrina." Icabod replied a slight smile playing with the corners of his mouth.
Helen suppressed a giggle, so she'd have a little fun, what could it hurt?
"It's a beautiful day today, isn't it?" Helen asked him carefully changing her voice to sound more like Katrina's had.
"Sure is. Uncharacteristically beautiful for Sleepy Hollow. Don't you think so, my love?"
Helen blushed a little, "Sure is, but Icabod, you should really open your eyes to greet it."
"I don't want too." Icabod said as he sighed.
"Why not?" Helen brought her face a bit closer to his.
"I must be dreaming." Icabod felt a little bit sad that this dream was so good.
"What do you mean?"
Icabod turned his face to Helen's, his lips accidentally brushing hers, he paused before he voiced the reply he was about to voice, something wasn't right, and "You can't be real."
Helen went as rigid as a statue, a deep blush spreading across her pale cheeks slowly; she remained silent, hardly daring to breathe.
"Can you?" Icabod opened his eyes slowly, almost mockingly; his eyelashes fluttered briefly as the bright sunlight hit his eyes again, he was expecting to see Katrina, but instead he was greeted by Helen's startlingly silver eyes, the various shades of gray sparkling in the sunlight brilliantly, "You're not Katrina!" He shouted, backing away from her quickly, "Get away from me!" He told her firmly, pointing at the door and gathering the blankets up near his face, "Now please!"
Helen's heart-shaped face seemed to crumple up as she slowly got off of the bed and walked to the door, she turned around just before leaving and looked at Icabod, "I'm sorry, Icabod. I was only joking around. I didn't mean to scare you or hurt your feelings." She said evenly and then was gone. Icabod got up and dressed quickly. He felt utterly violated, and rather embarrassed.
He was walking into the yard to get Gunpowder when Admiral raced across his path, the stallion barely avoiding trampling Icabod in the process. Helen chased after her horse, the leather halter and lead rope dangling from her right hand. Icabod stopped walking and watched as Helen chased her horse around the lawn. Suddenly the horse turned and reared, and then he stood absolutely still. Helen stopped running and approached the large animal slowly, the halter outstretched.
Admiral tossed his head wildly, stamping an iron shod hoof in the dirt. Helen stopped walking forward and backed up slowly, lowering the halter and setting it on the ground. She turned and ran, the horse whinnied and raced after her, Icabod watched in horror as the huge animal bore down upon Helen's comparatively small figure. Helen stepped to the side, turned and in one fluid motion, grabbed a handful of the black horse's long mane and leapt onto his back. Admiral slowed to a canter and then a trot and eventually a walk and finally a complete stop.
Helen laughed loudly and patted the horse's gleaming shoulder lovingly, "Good boy, Admiral. You didn't step on my skirt that time."
"Helen!" Doctor Michael Roberts came riding up quickly; he drew his white horse to a stop next to Admiral, "What in the name of God did you think you were doing? You could've just ruined all of mine and Elizabeth's hard work on that shoulder of yours." He admonished.
"I think I was having a bit of fun with my horse, Michael." Helen pouted a little bit; Admiral stretched his head out and sniffed at the other horse's neck curiously.
"Did you stop to consider that your horse could quite easily kill you?"
"May have entered my mind." Helen shrugged and slipped off of Admiral's back, "But as you can see, Doctor, I am quite well. You don't have to stay here any longer, as I'm sure you're quite busy. Far too busy to spend time with anyone but your patients at the moment." Helen curtsied to him and grabbed Admiral's forelock to lead him away.
Icabod walked over to Michael and looked up at him, "Sir? Are you going to leave or not?"
The doctor started and looked down at Icabod, "Huh? Oh yes, she's quite right, I'm far to busy at the moment to even think about stuff like that." Michael turned his horse to go; looking over his shoulder he told Icabod sternly, "You had better keep a better eye on her Icabod. A woman like that, well who knows what kind of man would go after her"
"Meaning?" Icabod asked looking for a bit more straight-forward explanation.
"Keep her safe and away from some of the less desirable men in town. You never know what they'll do when they've had a few drinks. Including myself. Do that for me Constable, please."
"What do you mean, including yourself?" Icabod pried a bit further.
The doctor chuckled a little bit, "Let's just say that I'm not the safest, nor am I the wisest choice for any woman around here. Especially her." Michael jerked his thumb in the direction Helen had gone off in, "Thank you for your services, Constable, but I must be off now." Michael spurred his horse and was gone.
Icabod stared after the doctor, feeling rather confused, "Soooo, he likes her?" Icabod looked towards his large barn and shook his head, "Well he can't have her. Not while I'm around anyway." He told himself determinedly as he headed towards the building.
***
Author's Ledger: Hello, once again, my dear readers. I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was hard to write something without the Horseman making some appearance. I hope it didn't show too much. Now I would like to leave you with some questions and statements to leave you pondering over until next time.
1) It seems that our handsome, mercurial, and charming Doctor Michael Roberts feels attracted to Helen, despite his better judgment.
2) Helen, though attracted to the charming young doctor, still prefers her more serious Icabod.
3) Does Icabod harbor some un-recognized feelings for our fair Helen? Or is it simply the friendly type of protectiveness? Time will tell.
4)What was Michael alluding to just before he left? Does this gentlemanly young man have something worth hiding about his character?
5) And what of the Horseman? When and who will he strike next? Who was his last victim?
Do feel free to speculate, perhaps you'll get it right and be plesantly surprised, or perhaps you'll be wrong and be even more surprised for it. Either way....well it's no concern of mine. So long as you keep reading, I shall not mind in the least bit. Now onto other matters.
I would like to inform you all that I shall now be updating on Wednesday's, provided I have had enough time to write enough of this story to merit a new chapter. My minimum for a chapter is two parts (that's what the *** signifiys {spelling?} just so you know), and those have to be of reasonable length. If I'm late, well I simply lacked inspiration or I haven't had the time to write. I take my leave of you now, good bye all.
Your Faithful Author
Danbamina