Hollow: Crockett and Crane, #2.5

By Kyle Robert Shultz

It's time for answers… 

 

Ichabod Crane made a sacrifice to save the future. Now the future has come to Sleepy Hollow, and it threatens to take even more from him. 

 

Ichabod must embark on a dangerous journey to save his family and his legacy, but he's not prepared for the nightmares that await him. 

 

The Queen of Hearts reigns supreme. The Horseman rides again. And in the shadows, the Hollow Ones are waiting. 

 

Only Ichabod can stop the gathering darkness...but sometimes, darkness wins. 

 

A Crockett and Crane novella, set between Book 2: Deadwood, and Book 3: Westenra. The series begins with Book 1: Horseman. This story also ties into the Beaumont and Beasley series by Kyle Robert Shultz.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kyle Robert Shultz
• Release date: Nov 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9798215001295

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Dear Todd,

Idon’t know if Amy told you everything about the last conversation she had with me and Jack. If I were her, I don’t think I would have. She wants to keep you and me apart…and honestly, I think she’s right. If I’d been stronger, I’d have come to the same decision she did, and left of my own accord.

But I have a feeling that even if she didn’t tell you the truth right away, she will eventually. So please don’t say anything to her about this letter until the time is right. And don’t be angry with her. The choice to send us away may have been hers, but I should have insisted we leave from the start. I’m sorry I never got the chance to say goodbye to you in person, but I don’t think we would have been able to let each other go.

I hope this letter reaches you, somehow. Jack says the enchantment on it should be strong enough to get it to Neverica, but he’s not completely sure. The reason why I’m sending this to you is because I want you to know that I’m all right. Not just all right…I’m happy.

I’m not lying, Todd. To you, or to myself. Things really are better now. Jack has changed. Or at least, he’s in the process of changing. He’s off to a very good start. We arrived in Camelot a few months ago—such a strange, different place, but I won’t tell you all about it here. It would take too long, and I need to keep this letter short so that it has a better chance of getting to you safely.

Jack and I aren’t actually together at the moment. I told him we needed to start from scratch. He finally made the right choice in Deadwood, but that was only a step in the right direction. I don’t know exactly when we’ll live together as husband and wife again, but I don’t intend to rush that. I have to know that he’s not going to hurt or deceive me again. If he falls back into his old habits, we’re done. He knows that.

But he’s trying. It’s difficult, because he’s part of the Council— yes, the same Council we Nevericans fought against all those years ago. They weren’t happy that his mission in Neverica failed, and they’re putting a lot of pressure on him to prove himself by doing more of their dirty work. He’s been refusing to follow their orders, though. We’ve been spending some time together every day, exploring his world as we slowly get to know each other better.

I know he’s not a perfect man, Todd. Far from it. But there is still some good in him. I’ve told him that I can’t force him to change; that he has to decide to change himself, for his own sake…and I truly believe he’s chosen to do that.

But if he betrays me again, it’s over. For good. I promise. This is his last chance.

So don’t worry about me, Todd. My curse is under control; Jack’s amulets are still working. For the first time since I can remember, I’m not at war with myself. I’m healing, slowly but surely. I miss you more than I can express, and I pray that someday, somehow, we’ll see each other again.

For now, I want you to be at peace in your mind about me. You don’t have to find me or rescue me. You have a life and friends of your own, and a woman who loves you. I’m going to make a life and a family for myself now. I’m starting to discover what it is to be happy again.

Everything is going to be all right, Todd. I love you.

Your sister,

Kate

CHAPTER ONE

The United States of Neverica

Sleepy Hollow, Neveryork Colony

1791 E.A.

D anger! Danger! Up! Up!

Not for the first time, I regretted that I’d given my dog, Joy, the ability to speak. (It was telepathic, actually, but it was still speaking.) I could hear her words shouted very loudly into my head, jolting me out of a sound sleep.

Up, Ichabod! Danger! Each mentally-transmitted word was paired with a loud, audible bark from the other room. I heard a persistent knocking at the door as well.

I sat up in bed, brushed my hair out of my eyes, and sighed. Just one night, I moaned. "One night without something waking me up." If it hadn’t been this, it would have been another nightmare. At least this was a change.

I pulled on a pair of trousers, not bothering to don a shirt, and trudged through my little cabin in my bare feet. I rubbed my chin absentmindedly as I walked. I’d let my mustache and beard grow out over the past few months, and still hadn’t decided whether I liked my face this way. At least it made recognizing me more difficult for the people of Sleepy Hollow. Not that I actually went into town very often these days. My new home was in the forest five miles away from Sleepy Hollow. After the last sighting of the Horseman, I’d done as the townsfolk wished and put myself into exile.

I nearly tripped over Rex, my cat, as I approached the door. Like Joy, Rex had a mental link with me. As my foot brushed past him, he yawned and rolled over, and I heard his sleepy voice in my head saying, Do not disturb me, slave. Unless you have brought food. He opened one eye, saw that my hands were empty, and closed it again with a displeased sniff.

I shook my head and smiled. These two animals were the only real friends I had left in the world. They were more loyal than any friends I’d had before, though.

I pulled the door open, ready to snap at whoever had decided to disturb my sleep…but instead of speaking, I froze and stared in silence for a moment. I definitely hadn’t expected her to show up at this hour. The woman was tall and slender, with long ringlets of dark hair that spilled out from under her bonnet. Her blue dress fluttered in the soft night breeze.

Go home, Katrina. I gave a weary sigh and leaned against the doorframe. You’ve no business here. Not very long ago, I would have been overcome with embarrassment at Katrina seeing me without my shirt. I was too exhausted to worry about that now.

Katrina didn’t appear to be bothered by it either. Hello, Ichabod, she said. It’s been a while.

I just shrugged.

I like the beard.

I don’t. I scratched at it in annoyance. I’m shaving it off.

You’re only saying that because I told you I liked it, aren’t you?

Of course not. I stepped back and started to close the door. If you want to talk to me, Katrina, now really isn’t a good time. You, coming here alone, in the middle of the night? What would people say? I spoke bitterly, hoping my unpleasant manner would cause her to storm off and leave me alone.

Katrina put a hand against the door before I could shut it. "What’s wrong with you, Ichabod?"

Surely you know that already, I scoffed. I made a fool of myself, and now the whole town despises me. Especially your father, since I dragged your name into it as well.

Her eyes narrowed. Ichabod, did you ever, for a moment, think that I believed the stories they’ve been telling about you?

You should. They’re all true. Every last word. I gritted my teeth. They’ve got to be.

What do you mean, ‘they’ve got to be’? She pushed past me and marched into the cabin. As she set the lantern down on my rough-hewn dining table, Rex woke up and rubbed against her ankles, and she reached down to tickle his ear.

Ah, he said, pleased. I remember this one. She is adept in the art of ear-scratching. Compel her to stay, Ichabod.

Friend! cried Joy as she recognized Katrina and bounded over. Katrina dodged a lick from the dog’s flopping tongue, then laughed and buried her fingers in the thick white fur on Joy’s head.

Quiet, you two, I grunted.

They’re not making any noise, said Katrina, tracing a finger through the dust on the table.

Not that you can hear, no. I folded my arms. You should go, Katrina.

"I’m not leaving until I get the truth out of you, Ichabod. What aren’t you telling me? You came to my house that night and finally confessed that you loved me. I thought everything was going to be perfect after that, and then…all of this happens."