Page 63 of The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

Caleb could have been the person in the shed. He’s the right size. He could have had someone “lock” him in there so he magically appeared. Caleb might have known about the small animals Austin left for me. He certainly knew about me “hearing” the headless horseman—he’d mocked me mercilessly.

This is all Caleb’s doing, trying to frighten me away from claiming my inheritance, and I am glad of it. Fucking delighted, in fact, because that means Gail is fine.

Caleb would never kill our aunt. Not even if it meant he’d inherit this entire property, and right now, he isn’t entitled to any of it if I lose. No, this is about making sure I don’t get the money, and to that end, I would not put it past him to kidnap Gail.

He sees her go out to look at those bioluminescent lake lights, and he pounces on an opportunity. Take her captive, making sure she doesn’t see him, erasing his own footprints from their scuffle and then holding her somewhere just long enough for me to flee the property. Surely, I’ll be gone by nightfall. Except I’m not, and he can’t keep her forever. So now, in desperation, he’s staging the damned headless horseman.

I march to the front window just in time to see something big disappear into the trees. I’m striding to the door when I spot Josie’s massive flashlight, which makes me remember Gail’s gun. The thought ofgrabbing the gun flits through my mind, but I’m angry and stalking out into the dark. The last thing I want is to—in my sleep-addled rage—point the gun at Caleb and risk it firing. The flashlight will do.

Outside, I stride straight to the tent and plant myself at the door.

“Ben?”

I need to say it again before a muffled “Mmph?” sounds from within.

“I need you out here.”

A sleep-stuffed “Wha…?”

“Something is out here. I need you.”

I don’t wait for him to dress. I can still hear the clomp of those fake hoofbeats. So I say, “Catch up,” and take off at a jog.

When I reach the beach, my rage spikes even higher as I see the hoofprints in the sand. They’re right along the water’s edge, the surf lapping at them, filling them.

I take a deep breath and force satisfaction to temper my anger. Caleb didn’t get away with this. I’m onto him, and he will pay. That one-third of my grandfather’s house he gets? It’s going to Gail after what he put her through with this fucking stunt.

I’m following the hoofprints when I realize I need evidence. Luckily, I brought my phone. I take it out and snap shots of the prints before the surf erases them. Then a sound comes from somewhere up ahead. I go still, gripping the massive flashlight.

My cousin is there, maybe fifty feet away, moving along the edge of the water. It’s a moonless night, and all I can make out is a figure heading in the other direction. In the silence, the distant splish-splash reaches me as he walks in the surf.

I grip the flashlight. Do I shine the beam on him? Or should I sneak along and find out where he’s going?

I squint at the figure. It’s Caleb. It must be. But something about it…

No, it has to be Caleb.

But it’s so tall. I can see the boulders and trees along the shore, and the figure seems at least seven feet tall, maybe eight. It’s also not human shaped. More… animal, with what looks like…

Four legs.

I see four long and slender legs moving through the surf.

I blink hard and look behind me. There’s no sign of Ben.

Because I didn’t actually wake him up. I didn’t actually wake him up because I’m not here. I’m in the cottage, dreaming. Or I’m here, sleepwalking.

Seeing a horse walking along the water’s edge. A horse with a rider.

I take a slow step back.

No, if it’s not real, I don’t need to run. I can get a better look.

The creature is at least fifty feet away now, tramping along the water’s edge.

I take a deep breath, turn on the flashlight, and lift the powerful beam to land squarely on—

I swallow.