Page 24 of Bewitched By the Headless Horseman
“Don Worthington.”
Stevie’s brows shot up her forehead. “Don who runs the antique place right here?”
Joanie straightened, wiping the tears from her cheeks as her face brightened. “Maybe? He was a teacher when we were to be married. First year.”
“You know what, we’ll find out right now. Come on.” Stevie motioned a finger for Joanie to follow her toward the antique store nestled between Lucia and Gideon’s shops. As she opened the door, the scent of mothballs and peppermint clung to the air.
She weaved through the aisles and shelves filled with glass figurines, old cameras, tin cans, and other treasures. Behind a small glass cabinet, near one of the side walls, sat Don in his leather recliner. His glasses were perched on the edge of his nose while he read a car magazine. Most of his gray hair was gone except for a smidge dipping down from the tops of his ears and around the back of his head.
“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 couldstay 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.
