SEVERED (A Tale of Sleepy Hollow) by Dax Varley Read Free Book Online

work.”
    If her teeth
ground any tighter, they’d shatter from her mouth. And if that wasn’t enough,
she daggered me with her glare as well.
    Before I could
reply, Marten approached, head lowered. This time he wore appropriate attire.
“Katrina, I must speak with you.” He spoke quietly, but I detected a sense of
urgency in his tone.
    Please don’t
tell me our plans are off.
    “Privately,” he
added.
    Elise suddenly
relaxed – delighted, I’m sure, that I was leaving her to a full helping of
Ichabod.
    “Excuse us,” I
said.
    Marten led me
behind the pulpit.
    Once out of sight,
I gripped his arm. “What’s happened? Has the purchase fallen through?”
    “Shhh.” He shook
his head. “No. Not that.”
    I exhaled relief.
    “It’s Garritt,” he
said. “I’ve been to his house twice this week. He won’t see me.”
    Marten and Garritt
were the closest of friends. I could see Garritt turning anyone away but him.
    “Has he indicated
why?” I didn’t mention The Horseman, though I’m sure Brom had informed him of
Garritt’s encounter.
    “No, but I think
he’s panicked.”
    What I saw at the
meeting that night was more than panic. It was pure madness. “Have you spoken
with his father?”
    “He says Garritt’s
extremely ill. Doctor Goodwine is calling it hysteria. Daily bloodlettings
haven’t helped, and they’ve tried all manner of vinegars and draughts.” He
looked at me as though I’d have a solution.
    There was one
unspoken question between us. “Has he told them of The Horseman?”
    Marten shook his
head. “I don’t think so.”
    “Why not? After
what happened to Mr. Devenpeck, surely they’d be looking for a way to help him,
not cure him.”
    Marten moved in
close, his voice low. “Katrina, do you believe him? That he truly saw The
Horseman?”
    “Why wouldn’t I?
Why would there even be a doubt?”
    “It’s possible
that he ate something disagreeable and Devenpeck’s death triggered a
hallucination.”
    “He ate something
disagreeable? Oh, Marten, listen to yourself. ”
    “But there are
cases of people who’ve become hysteric just from ingesting bad grain.”
    “And there are
cases of people who were bewitched and murdered just like our former
schoolmaster. Garritt has somehow attracted the wrath of The Horseman, and we
must do what we can to help him.”
    Marten stepped
back, giving in, but the worry never left his face.
    I placed a hand on
his. “Listen, I’ll ride out to his place this afternoon and persuade Notary de
Graff to let me in.”
    Marten leaned
close, eyes narrowed. “Katrina, that could take some bewitching from you.”
    * *
*
    It was well after three before I
could sneak out undetected. Being a Sunday, I knew Brom would not be near the
stables. He only abided by the Sabbath when it came to work. I took every
precaution not to encounter him. I quietly saddled Dewdrop and rode away.
    A scattering of
cotton clouds dotted the sky. The scent of pine and spruce filled the air, and the
chattering of woodland creatures accompanied me. Had this not been such a grave
endeavor, I would’ve relished the afternoon sun on my face.
    The fall air was
cool, normal for this time of year, but as I approached the de Graff home, I
gaped. At present, the trees of Sleepy Hollow wore an array of autumn colors –
a blending of lime, jade, ash, gold, and coral. But the trees on their property
were barren and dry, as though they’d been embraced by some pestilence or
blight. Their rotting limbs resembled skeletal fingers, all pointing toward the
house.
    The Horseman’s
handiwork.
    The grass had also
succumbed to some unnatural plague. Withered and scorched. It looked as through
fire had rained down upon it.
    What must the
Notary think?
    Dewdrop slowed to
a canter as we neared the property line.
    “Come on, girl,” I
encouraged.
    She stopped,
refusing to take another step.
    I snapped the
reins. “Make haste.”
    She remained firm,
nodding and braying distress.
    “Fine then.”