Some Dark Holler (The Redemption of Ephraim Cutler Book 1)
Page 24
“Yes.”
Death looked toward the forest. “I’ve never seen him offer anything more than seven years.”
“He said he really wanted me, so he tried to negotiate.”
Death shook his head. “The Devil just doesn’t do that. Everything always has to be on his terms.” He studied Ephraim as if really seeing the boy for the first time. “If I were to aid you, in the way that you ask, there’d have to be a price.”
Ephraim swallowed. His heart was thumping. “What kind of… price?”
“A deal.” Death was speaking slowly, his voice filling with confidence. “Yes, a deal. Like Scratch and his countless servants. I will let you speak with the man you murdered, to seek his forgiveness, if you agree to serve me for a time. Help me even the score with Scratch.”
Ephraim couldn’t believe this was happening. “For how long?”
Death considered. “One hundred and fifty years.”
Ephraim was dumbfounded. “What? Why so long?”
Death regarded him somberly. “It is the price I require. You ask for something I have never granted a mortal.”
This is it, Ephraim thought. This is my one chance to set things right. He looked at Isabel, then back at Death, and an ache spread through his chest. “I’ll do it.”
“Choose in all solemnity, boy. I will bind you into my service, and that cannot be undone. If you ride with me, I guarantee there will be days when you long for the peace of the grave. Understand that by agreeing to this deal, you are surrendering that peace.”
“I’ll do it,” Ephraim repeated.
“Then come.” Death held out a pale hand.
Ephraim limped forward.
Death placed his hand on Ephraim’s shoulder. A chill swept over him. The pulsing of his heart slowed. He felt as if his blood had turned to clay, dense and cool. His ears filled with the sound of rushing water. He felt the current and realized that it wasn’t water that flowed around him, but time. His bones defied it, standing strong like rocks in a river.
Death released him, and Ephraim gasped as if he had surfaced from a plunge into an icy lake. He flexed his wounded shoulder. It was healed. His leg was, too.
“Let’s go then,” Death said.
“Wait.”
Ephraim turned to Isabel. Tears were streaming down her face.
His heart grew leaden. One hundred and fifty years. He’d never see her again. She’d grow old and… He couldn’t bear the thought. He swallowed, but the knot in his throat wouldn’t go down.
He took her hands in his. “Goodbye,” he said.
She wiped her eyes. “Goodbye, Ephraim.”
“Are you ready to leave, boy?”
Ephraim turned to Death. He thought he detected a flicker of sympathy in the ice blue eyes.
“I am.”
Death gathered his cloak around him. “Very well. Let’s go find my horse.”
<<<<>>>>
Follow Ephraim’s continuing story in November Witch, coming in spring 2018.
ENJOYED SOME DARK HOLLER?
Read the fascinating history and folklore that inspired Some Dark Holler in, Six Tales from Sixmile Creek. You can get a copy FOR FREE when you sign up to join my Reader’s Group. To get started, go to: www.lukebauserman.com/sixtales
Acknowledgments
For Nyla. Sambatra izay fitoerany na ny handalovany aza mamendrofendro.
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me during the writing of this book, especially to all the enthusiastic readers on my blog, TheWeeklyHoller.com.
A special thank you to the Third Sunday Club: Austin Rehl, Jordan Allen, and Sadie Bauserman. Your feedback was instrumental in shaping this story.
The readers at BetaBooks also provided crucial feedback as this story was refined.
Thank you to David Farland who showed me how to “rewrite to greatness.”
This story owes a debt to other Appalachian authors whose stories inspire me, namely Manly Wade Wellman and James Still.
In the process of creating this novel I’ve had the privilege to work with a number of talented professionals. David Gatewood edited the manuscript. Cody Tilson designed the cover. Proofreading was done by Stephanie Parent and Polgarus Studio.
About the Author
Luke Bauserman is an author, adventurer, and explorer from the Appalachian foothills of southeastern Ohio. He writes about rural history, American folklore, and backwoods strangeness on his blog, The Weekly Holler (www.theweeklyholler.com).
You can sign up for Luke’s newsletter, with giveaways and the latest releases, here: www.lukebauserman.com/news
Connect with Luke:
www.lukebauserman.com
luke@lukebauserman.com
Copyright © Luke Bauserman (2017). All rights reserved.
Published by Lock10 Press, LLC.
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor to be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.