Page 16 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman (The Bewitching Hour #1)

“Hey, Don,” Stevie said, stopping in front of the counter. She hadn’t been there in a few weeks, but she usually came in often to see what new finds he’d come across.

He pushed up from the chair, a few of his bones popping as he approached the counter. “I’ve got a batch of stamps coming in next week.”

Stevie wouldn’t pass that opportunity up. “You know I’ll be back for that. But I have something else to tell you. I’m a seer.”

“Tell him it’s Joanie,” the ghost said hurriedly, shifting from one foot to the other.

“And I’m a werewolf. I normally keep that the full moon’s secret.” Don smiled, showing yellowing teeth while adjusting his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Stevie wouldn’t have ever guessed that tidbit about him since he always seemed so calm. “I came across someone who knows you. She’s with me. A bride. Her name is Joanie Wilcher. She wants you to know she didn’t leave you at the alter—she was murdered by her friend Cara.”

His eyes widened. “Joanie is here?”

Stevie nodded.

“Cara died fifteen years ago,” Don ground out.

“No one knew Joanie was murdered. We all thought she didn’t want to marry me and ran away because of my werewolf situation.

” He paused, his throat bobbing. “Will you ask her if she’ll stay with me until the second Eye opens?

I’ll help her with anything she needs on that night.

I just want to talk to her, to see her.” Tears gathered on his lashes.

Joanie clasped her hands in front of her. “I will. Of course I will.”

“She will, and I won’t say anything else so she doesn’t pass on sooner than expected. I’ll talk to you soon.” Stevie glanced over her shoulder while walking away. “And definitely hold onto those stamps for me.”

Joanie now stood behind the counter beside Don, her hand pressing through his. It was like one of those magical Hallmark movie moments.

Stevie drove from the shopping strip and parked the car when she approached the bridge where she’d seen Kit during the last new moon, thinking that maybe he might be hanging around there for whatever reason.

But he wasn’t.

As she neared the creek, only a single ghost hovered over the flowing water. She was maybe five and clapping at a boat sailing on top of the water.

“Do you know if the Headless Horseman’s come through here? He’s usually on a stallion. No head.” Stevie motioned at her own and the little girl blinked. “No stranger danger here.”

“He hasn’t been here, but can you help me with my boat?” she begged, pointing toward it.

“Sure.” Stevie knew it wasn’t the little girl’s actual boat from when she’d died.

It must’ve belonged to someone who’d recently left it, but maybe this would help her pass on.

The cool water brushed Stevie’s ankles when she stepped into the creek and she plucked up the boat, then placed it into the girl’s awaiting palms. “Here you go.”

A second later, the girl’s translucent color faded until she was no longer there. Stevie smiled at a job well done.

Stevie sat on the edge of her bed, wearing dark jeans and a black and white striped button-up blouse for her date with Reese. Roxy lay beside her, glued to her side as she’d been since coming home from the apothecary.

Once Lucia had got there, Stevie took one of Kit’s small finger bones from the safe for her sister-in-law to spell.

Kit had been a no-show.

Stevie’s fist remained tight around the bone even after Lucia left, and she tried Kit’s name again to get his headless self to return to her home. But he didn’t come.

Heaving a sigh, she tucked his finger bone into her pocket before heading to Reese’s.

After the date was over, she would take the bone out and try searching the night one more time for him.

And if she couldn’t find him, then game over, and he could stay lost to the ghost world if that was his choice.

She shouldn’t be this worried about wanting to ask about his seeing ability anyway.

Was that even the only reason? Yes, yes it was , she told herself.

“Come get me if Kit shows up here while I’m gone,” Stevie said to Roxy and grabbed her purse.

She took the moped and drove toward Reese’s house.

The fog was thicker than it had been over the last few weeks, swirling around the tops of her wheels like a cauldron of bats.

Never before had the town of Sleepy Hollow had straight days of fog like this where it hadn’t let up.

The council had said it was due to the Eye being open and once it closed, the fog would dissipate.

This was the first time Stevie had seen Reese’s home as she turned into his driveway.

His two-story house appeared neat and tidy.

Everything about it was pristine and proper, not a leaf or a trimmed bush out of place.

Even the trees’ branches were perfect. No statues rested in the garden as if even one would make it too cluttered.

Stevie rang the doorbell and he answered a couple of seconds later wearing a T-shirt and jeans. He appeared more relaxed than she’d seen him before, yet her heart didn’t accelerate as it should’ve to see him.

“I’m glad you could make it,” Reese said and gestured her inside. “The pizza’s already here. You look cute by the way.”

“Thanks! You look cute yourself.” She smiled awkwardly.

Modern metal decorations covered the walls, much different than her antique things. The kitchen was the first room they came across—more metal pieces hung beside cherry-stained cabinets.

He led her into the living room, and she removed her jacket before laying it on the leather arm of the couch.

She sank down on the cushions in front of the pizza box awaiting her on top of the coffee table.

Reese returned with two glasses of soda, and he stilled once he handed one to her.

“Oh shit. Milk, right?” It wasn’t a big deal—it was only milk —but she already knew the type of wine he drank.

So was he even really that into her? Was she interested in him anymore?

Whatever spark had possibly been there the first night had rapidly fizzled.

“It’s fine.” She shrugged.

“All right, but let me know otherwise,” he said, giving her the remote. “Your movie choice tonight.”

“ Oh . Seems I have all the control in the world,” Stevie teased. She scrolled through the movies until she came across one she could watch over and over. “Let’s go with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World .”

As the comedy played, she noticed Reese was the one nodding off this time.

She contemplated kissing him to determine if there should even be another date, or if they should just remain in the friend zone.

She scooted closer, the leather couch practically screeching beneath her, and she winced at her attempt to be smooth.

Reese straightened, his arm slipping around her, and no supernatural beings threw a party in her stomach at his touch. She grasped his face and turned it toward her, his eyes hooded.

Here we go… Any minute… Do something, Stevie, instead of looking at him like an idiot!

A horse’s hooves pounded in the distance, and she jerked up, her hands leaving his face like she’d been burned. “I-I’m sorry, I need to go.” Stevie scrambled off the couch and grabbed her purse.

“Already?” He furrowed his brow.

“It’s just this thing I forgot about. I’m so sorry.

Can you text me later?” Without a decent goodbye, Stevie flew out the door and started her moped.

She sped to the end of the street, the fog slipping up to her shins.

Near the end of the neighborhood, she slowed to a stop and turned off the engine to listen.

The sound of hooves against pavement had died, leaving only silence.

“Where did he go?” she whispered.

A horse whinnied behind her and she whirled around to find Kit and Inferno, their ethereal white glow shining brightly.

“Seriously,” Stevie hissed and got off the moped to walk toward him. “I told you not to just creep up on me like that!” She wouldn’t admit it aloud, but she was relieved he had.

“I felt your call. Lucia helped you, I presume?” he said, sliding down from his horse.

“Where have you been? None of the ghosts I’ve asked have even seen you.”

“Time got away from me, I suppose.” He shrugged. “I’ve been in the woods, searching and thinking, attempting to recall things. It’s where I was murdered. But I take it you missed me, Pumpkin?” Behind his invisible mask, he was smirking and she knew it.

“Murdered?” she gasped. “You could’ve told me that before!”

“And would your nobleness have kicked in that first night, leaving you wanting to help me out of the kindness of your pretty heart?” he drawled.

“Well, yes!” she whisper-shouted. “You also didn’t tell me you were a seer !”

“About that…” Kit’s voice drifted out soft as silk. “I suppose it’s time for some of the story then, isn’t it?”