Page 11 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

Stevie wasn’t sure that she’d heard the Headless Horseman correctly.

“You need me to help you return to the living?” she asked, incredulous.

“I think it’s a little too late for that, buddy.

Do whatever unfinished business you have, forgive yourself for a misdeed, or misdeeds , you did in your past. You should then be able to move on to the … wherever you’ll be going.”

“It isn’t too late. You will help me.” He said it in a way that meant the answer “no” would not be an option.

She pinched her lips together, forming a tight line. “I don’t like your tone, Horseman. Besides, why would I bring you back to life or whatever when you could easily start taking heads from the living? Did you even think about that?”

“You’re not making a lick of sense. Why would I go about slicing off people’s heads if I have mine back? Did you even think about that ?” Kit sat on the couch and reclined against the cushions, getting just as comfortable as he had the previous night.

He did have a point, but having everything they needed in life didn’t stop psychopaths from committing horrific acts they’d grown used to doing. “Just make yourself at home, why don’t you?”

The phone rang, and her brother’s name showed up on the ID. She snapped it up as Kit leaned over to read the screen.

“Stop being nosey.” Stevie shooed him away, then answered the call, keeping her voice even. “Yes? What does my big brother, who never rings me, need?” It was always texts or emails, usually only a couple of words unless it was about work.

“I was just checking if Mom seemed tired today when you saw her,” Gideon said, his tone concerned. “She went to dinner then dancing with Dad, but when I stopped by to bring them the cookies Lucia made, she seemed more exhausted than ever around this time of the month.”

Stevie thought about her mom earlier and how she’d grasped her chest. “A little, yeah. But I mean, she also did go dancing and she does have to get a new heart soon. She’ll be all right.

The heart this month might’ve not been as strong as the last.” Ginger generally made sure not to pick one that had been the runt of the litter, but it was still anyone’s guess how strong a heart could be.

“Yeah, I think that’s it.” He sounded more upbeat and like his normally positive self.

“Just let me know if anything changes with Mom though, and I’ll be there in a nanosecond,” Stevie promised.

“I will. Later, baby sister.”

“What’s wrong with your mother?” Kit asked from behind her, his deep voice rumbling in her ear.

“Seriously?” Stevie startled and whirled around to face him. “When did you get up from the couch? And why are you listening to my phone calls?”

“It’s not my fault you don’t pay attention to your surroundings and that you talk louder than anyone I’ve ever met.” Kit shrugged. “But what is this about getting new hearts ?”

“That’s none of your business,” she snapped.

“Mmm,” Kit purred. “It sounds to me as if your mother takes hearts once a month, yet you’re offended about me reaping heads that are necessary. Seems a bit hypocritical on your part, Pumpkin.”

Stevie scoffed and placed her hands on her hips.

“Fine. My mom takes hearts. You take heads. You’re two peas in a once-a-month pod.

But my mom stopped eating human hearts before I was born.

Now they are pig hearts. She was taught from an early age by her parents to feed to keep herself alive, so it was all she’d ever known. Also, she’s repented, prays a lot.”

Kit folded his arms over his chest, not saying a word, but she could feel his watchful, invisible gaze like a thick blanket of fog in the room.

Stevie held up a finger, her blood growing warm in her veins. “If you’re rolling your eyes and cocking your head at me, I’ll find a way to remove that invisible head from you. My sister-in-law is a witch, remember?”

He chuckled. “Not a good one if I can walk right in here.”

Stevie was having enough of this conversation. He’d ruined her date, not that it had been going anywhere tonight, but that was beside the point. “You’re a jackass,” she ground out.

“Donkeys have a great ability to learn as well as an exceptional memory,” Kit pointed out, the cockiness oozing from his alluring voice.

“Oh my God! Just stop talking.”

“Tut, tut. It’s not good to use the Lord’s name in vain,” he reprimanded, laughter still in his voice.

Stevie bit her tongue before she said anything else that would continue to lead in this never-ending, back-and-forth, nonsensical conversation where more asinine words would pour out from his invisible mouth.

“Anyway, we’re wasting time. Tell me what you need me to do, oh wondrous Horseman, to bring you back to the land of the living.

And this isn’t me agreeing to anything yet. ”

He sank down on her couch, then patted the spot beside him. She arched a brow at Kit, her feet planted where they were.

“Just sit down. It isn’t as though I can touch you,” he cooed.

His words were true… Stevie remembered how her hand had easily punched through his ghost form and not even a lick of coolness or warmth had brushed her skin.

Regardless, she hesitantly sat down, ever so slowly, until she was two feet away from him.

And yet, he’d been much closer to her a few seconds ago.

“Here I am. So do continue, Your Headlessness.”

Kit adjusted the sword at his waist before settling back into the cushions.

“You’re accurate that I can’t find my head, but the story about that matter will come another time.

Tonight, I need you to retrieve the rest of my bones.

As I’m certain you know the dead are unable to touch remains.

” Just as they couldn’t touch the living.

Stevie pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “Let me get this straight, you want me to go to the cemetery, dig up your grave, and become a felon in the process? Even though Sleepy Hollow is different than other towns in the world, the council won’t allow it.”

“Didn’t you go into an abandoned house that doesn’t belong to you?” Kit drawled.

Stevie really didn’t have a problem going to a cemetery and doing something the council was against if a ghost needed it to fulfill an important task—it was because he was asking her.

But… If the Headless Horseman returned to the living, he’d be less dangerous since he wouldn’t be an immortal ghost. He’d be mortal, could bleed, could die, which might turn him right back into a ghost…

For now, it was a way to help the dead, not just Kit.

Kit tapped his fingers against his knee, and she couldn’t remove her gaze from his digits, wondering what they looked like beneath his gloves.

Why did he wear them anyway? It wasn’t like he had fingerprints to leave behind.

But she couldn’t help but notice how his digits were long, graceful, and …

what was wrong with her? They were fingers for witches’ sake.

“Fine,” she relented, “we’ll go to the cemetery.”

Kit’s fingers stopped drumming and he scooted nearer. “Who said anything about us going to the cemetery? You’re rather presumptuous.”

“Then where are they?” she asked. “If they’re at the Sleepy Hollow museum, then fat chance you’re going to get me to break in there. Even if we get past the witches’ spells, they have cameras everywhere . We would be spotted in no time.”

“You said your sister-in-law is a witch? I’m certain she could easily make it so you’re unseen, but we don’t need her for this task.” Kit paused, leaning closer, his voice softer as if telling her a secret. “My bones aren’t there—they are hidden at the abandoned house.”

Stevie wrinkled her nose, recalling how the only bones she’d come across were the chicken ones in the attic. “Where? And why are they there instead of the cemetery?”

Kit sighed. “If I could’ve seen the living before the Eye opened, I could tell you the precise story, but I can only assume someone dug up my remains and hid them there.

During the day I used to linger wherever I wished.

Then it altered when my bones were disturbed and I was trapped during the day at the house on this road, drawn to my remains.

But at night I would ride, searching for my head.

That all changed when the Eye of the Hollow opened and I could again leave whenever I wish. ”

That made sense somewhat… “So where are the bones buried? In the back or the front yard?”

“Neither.” He stretched his back and adjusted his cape. “They’re in the basement, Pumpkin.”

The way he said it nonchalantly rubbed her the wrong way, and she knew he still wasn’t telling her something. “I swear on every ghost in Sleepy Hollow if you’re lying to me about any of this, I will find a way to rip that invisible head of yours off and make sure you can’t get another one.”

“So violent.” He chuckled before continuing, “I don’t have a reason to lie to you about any of this. A living person, you , is what I need. The only one I’ve come across who can see me.”

“Really, you could’ve waited until the second Eye opened to talk to someone else. But whatever, let’s get this over with,” Stevie said, pushing up from the cushions to help the dead. “I’ll grab flashlights, then you can lead the way.”

The part of Kit’s neck that was there bobbed, signaling a nod of agreement. He then stood from the couch before slipping through the wall.

Roxy, who’d remained silent the entire time, perked up from her place on the floor to follow Kit.

“No, stay here, girl,” Stevie instructed. “The house seemed safe enough when I was there, but keep here just in case. Lucia can feel your presence if she needs to follow you to me.”

Roxy let out a low whine.

“If I’m not back in a few hours, then you can come check on me. Deal?”

The fox barked her agreement and rolled to her back. Stevie left the room to collect two flashlights from the kitchen drawer. One for now, and another for backup in case the batteries went dead.