Beauty and the Horseman's Head

by Holly Kelly

  “Hope?”

  Her eyes opened as she jumped. “I am sorry. I must have dozed off.”

  Rebekah got up and stepped toward her. “You need your rest.”

  Hope took her hand and stood. The room spun a bit, and she closed her eyes to keep herself from falling down. “I guess I am still a bit weak and a little dizzy.”

  “That will improve once you are able to eat regularly,” Agnes said.

  Rebekah and Agnes made sure she was safely in bed before they left. Hope just had to do one more thing before she went to sleep. She rolled off her bed and onto her knees. Then, for the next twenty minutes, she poured her heart out to God and thanked him for his tender mercies. And then before she closed her prayer, she asked if he could find it in his heart to perform one small miracle—

  Please bring my husband back.

  * * * * *

  The following Monday, Hope stepped up the wooden steps to the schoolhouse. The door creaked as she pushed it open. Everything looked as she had left it. Her stomach churned a bit, so she grabbed a couple fennel seeds from her pocket and chewed on them. Immediately, she felt some relief. Thank heavens for Agnes and her remedies.

  “Mrs. Jones?”

  Hope turned to see little Martha running toward her. Hope braced herself as the girl threw her arms around her legs.

  “I missed you so much,” Martha said. “I was worried you weren’t coming back.”

  “I am sorry to scare you,” Hope said, stroking her hair. “I was feeling under the weather.”

  Martha turned her tear-streaked face up. “My mama was feeling under the weather once, and then she died. You are not going to die, are you?”

  “No, sweetheart, I am going to be just fine.” Hope said the words, but in the back of her mind, worry set in. Women died giving birth all the time. Could she be looking at her last few months of life?

  “Stop fretting,” she said, half to Martha and half to herself. “Go outside and play. I am sure Carolyn is waiting for you.”

  “Alright, Mrs. Jones.”

  Hope watched the girl skip out to the play yard and caught sight of a man walking toward the school. She frowned as she recognized him.

  Dr. Porter.

  She had no desire to speak to the man. But seeing as how he was her superior, she would have to oblige him.

  “Hello, Hope,” he greeted, raising her ire. It wasn’t the proper place for him to address her so informally.

  She nodded. “Dr. Porter, to what do I owe this visit?”

  “I heard your husband had to leave, once again.”

  “Yes, he was called away.”

  He looked down at the ground and nodded. “I was wondering . . .”

  When he did not speak right away, she said, “Yes?”

  “Have you considered an annulment?”

  “What?” Hope could not hide the surprise in her voice.

  “It’s not unheard of in your situation. It is not right for a husband to abandon his wife, and yours has done it twice now.”

  Hope shook her head. “No, I have not. And I will not. You see, I am to have a baby come this June.”

  Dr. Porter’s eyes widened. “So, you are pregnant?”

  “That is usually how it is accomplished, but then you know that. You are a doctor, after all.”

  He gave a nervous chuckle. “Yes, I just . . .” he hesitated. She’d obviously caught him off guard. “Well, congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  He turned to leave and then paused, looking back at her. “I do wonder, though.”

  “What?”

  “Why a husband would leave his wife when she’s in a delicate condition.”

  “He knows I have good friends to watch after me,” she said.

  Dr. Porter nodded. “So, you do.” He looked as if he wanted to say more. Finally, he seemed to think better of it and said, “Good day, Mrs. Jones.”

  “Good day to you too, Dr. Porter.”

  Chapter 27

  Conall stood on the balcony of his bedroom window high above a village lit up with lanterns and glowing pixies. Tucked between towering trees and foliage, small cottages with windows aglow with warm fires spoke of love and families having dinner and conversation. At one time, he would have relished the beauty of a quiet evening like this.

  But not tonight.

  Squeezing his eyes shut, he attempted to calm his rage. If he did not succeed, he would storm into his brother’s room and drive a dagger into his heart. And that would not end well for him.

  For the second time in his long life, he felt trapped. The first was when he was abandoned under the floorboards. But this was worse. Sure, he had riches, fine clothes, an opulent castle to live it, servants to see to his every need . . . but the truth was, he was nothing better than a prisoner locked in a dungeon.

  A light knock at his door caught his attention. Who was it this time?

  He opened the oak door, and a familiar face stood smiling at him. A heartbeat later, she threw her arms around him.

  “Oh, how I have missed you, my love!” Seirye exclaimed.

  “I have been back for days,” he said, pushing her back.

  “Yes, but I have been away!” she said, holding onto his lapel. “I haven’t seen you in months.”

  It’s been years for me.

  “When I heard what the king did to you,” she continued. “I was beside myself. I went a whole day without eating! Can you believe that? And entire day! I was too busy fretting about what would become of you in the human world.”

  “I thought you and Sontar were together now?”

  “Him? Oh no! How could you think such a thing? He’s so boorish and stupid.”

  “You did sleep with him.”

  “Stupid sprites and their loose tongues,” she spat. “I simply got a little drunk and things got out of hand. You know how I get when I have too much wine.”

  Conall frowned down on the Elvin girl. There was a time he thought himself in love with her. He’d chased her for decades, trying to get her to marry him. Why did he even bother? She was a filthy troll compared to Hope. Nothing in this world would ever compare to her. How much time had passed in the human world now? A week? A month? Had she moved on? Found another man to love?

  Dr. Porter’s face flashed in his mind, and his rage was back in full force. What was he doing while Conall was gone? Probably turning on the charm. The doctor had always had his eye on Hope.

  What am I doing here? I belong by Hope’s side.

  “Conall.” Seirye shouted, and he looked at her. “What is wrong with you? I had to shout twice to get your attention.”

  “I am sorry,” he said. “I guess my mind was elsewhere. What were you saying?”

  “I was asking you to take me to bed.”

  “You want me to walk you to your house?”

  She barked a laugh. “Very funny. I want you to take me to your bed.”

  Conall shook his head and put his arm around her, leading her toward the door. “There’s no room for you.”

  She gaped at him as he opened the door and shoved her into the hallway. She turned, a look of shock on her face. “But your bed is huge!”

  “Sorry, Seirye. I neglected to inform you that I am married now. So, for future reference, I will not be available to satisfy your needs. I am sure you’ll be able to find replacement easily. Just go down to the pub, have a few drinks, and the possibilities are endless.”

  “Did I hear someone say something about going for a drink?” A deep voice came from the hallway.

  Seirye narrowed her eyes at him. “You are making a serious mistake, Conall. If you apologize now, all will be forgiven. But if you don’t, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

  “Goodbye, Seirye.” Conall started to close the door in her face, but a meaty hand pushed it back.

  “Hello, cousin.” Dyffros smiled from around the corner, chuckling as he glanced at Seirye stomping down the hallway. “Looks like you angered your woman.”


  “She’s not my woman anymore.”

  “Yeah, I heard. Your brother told me you married a human.”

  Conall turned back and stormed into his room. “I don’t need a lecture. And I swear, if you insult her, I will tear your head off.”

  “Whoa,” he said. “You really are messed up about her. You do realize humans don’t have an ounce of magic in them, and their life span is shorter than a pummerfly? I must admit, some are nice too look at—for about a minute. And then they get old, leathery, and wrinkled.” Dyffros shuddered.

  “Dyffros,” Conall growled. “I wasn’t jesting when I said I would rip your head off.”

  Dyffros put his hands up. “I did not insult her. I am just stating the facts, Cousin.”

  “Well, how about these facts.” Conall sat down at a table filled with uneaten food. “I am not free to love who I want, I am not free to live where I want, and apparently my feelings mean nothing, as does my word. I promised to care for the woman I love for as long as we both live. But, apparently I can only care for her as long as my brother says I can.”

  “You are being unreasonable,” Dyffros said.

  “And you are being an ass,” Conall growled. “Visitations are over. Get the hell out!”

  Dyffros shook his head and mumbled, “You are insane.”

  “If I am insane then lock me up, but don’t expect me to pretend that everything is fine.”

  Dyffros glowered. “Your brother should have left you in the human world.”

  Conall slammed his palm down on his table. “Now that is the first reasonable thing anyone has said since I have returned.”

  Dyffros stepped to the door. “I will be back when you’ve had a chance to calm down and think rationally.”

  Conall scowled at his cousin.

  Without a backward glance, Dyffros shut the door behind him.

  Conall leaned forward, resting his head in his hand. He’d never shed a tear in his life—not one. But if he could, he would shed them now. His heart felt like dead weight in his chest. Hope was the one who brought life to his heart, and without her . . . there was nothing without her.

  Searching in his pocket, he found what he was looking for—a lock of her hair. He always kept it with him. The smell of it comforted him like nothing else. Now it was all he had left of her. While his days in Faery crept forward, slow and painful, the days in Hope’s world were flying by. Another month here, and she may forget him completely.

  He pressed the curls against his nose and inhaled. Her scent was growing faint, but it was still there. This time, it did not comfort him. Like the fading scent, Hope’s memories would fade too. She would move on—forget he ever existed and eventually die. And then he would die too. He would see to it.

  * * * * *

  Hope sent the children home early on the last day of school. She simply could not handle standing one more minute. Her stomach was as big as one of Rebekah’s oversized watermelons. Agnes assured her she was only carrying one child, but as large as she was, Hope wondered if the witch could possibly be wrong.

  “Hello?” Rebekah called out from the schoolhouse doorway. She stood there, smirking.

  “You can come in, you know,” Hope said.

  “I have a surprise,” Rebekah said, and then a familiar figure stepped from behind her.

  “Elizabeth,” Hope squealed and waddled forward for a hug. “I thought I might never see you again.”

  “Are you crazy?” Elizabeth answered, “Of course I’d come visit. Besides, with this trip I can see my best friend and my favorite cousin.”

  “I never got to thank you for saving my life,” Hope said. “If it weren’t for you, Eli would have found me and I would be buried in an unmarked grave.”

  “You’re far too clever for that,” Elizabeth said. “Though, I can’t deny that it is good to see you alive and well.” She glanced down at Hope’s swollen stomach. “You look like you should have delivered last month. Are you certain there’s only one in there?”

  “I am not sure about anything,” Hope said. “I only know I will be so happy when the time comes to have him. Though he’s not due for another four weeks.”

  “So, it’s a boy, is it?”

  Hope smiled and shook her head. “I have no idea. I only know it doesn’t feel right calling my baby an ‘it.’”

  “I know what you mean. I do the same thing, except I call mine a she.”

  Hope could not contain her surprise. “You are expecting?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I am only about four months into my pregnancy.

  “Oh,” Hope beamed. “I am so happy for you! And you thought you would not have any children.”

  “I know! I feel so blessed. And then when I received your letter telling me you were expecting too, I thought it was about time I came to visit. I wanted to see you again, and I simply had to see Rebekah’s new little one.”

  “How long do you plan to stay?” Hope asked.

  “Until after you have your babe. I thought I could be a support. And it would give me a glimpse into what I will experience in five months.”

  “I hope everything goes well. I don’t want—” Hope gasped as a crushing pain radiated from her back.

  “Hope,” Rebekah shouted as Elizabeth grabbed Hope’s arm.

  When the pain finally subsided, Hope was gasping for breath.

  “Are you having labor pains already?” Elizabeth asked. “I am not sure. I thought the pains would be in my belly, not in my back.”

  “Oh, no,” Rebekah said. “Agnes discussed that with me. She called it back labor, and it’s supposed to more painful than regular labor.”

  “It’s too early for labor. Though Agnes said I might deliver sooner than later.”

  “Maybe it was a onetime pain,” Elizabeth said.

  Rebekah shook her head. “It’s only been about a minute. And with as much pain as you were in, I think it’s probably the real thing. Let’s get you in the wagon.”

  “I am so sorry, Hope,” Elizabeth said. “I should never have surprised you. If anything happens to your baby, I will never forgive myself.”

  * * * * *

  The next morning, they sat in Rebekah’s sunroom. It was wall to wall and ceiling to ceiling windows. It almost seemed as if they sat in the outdoors surrounded by trees. It was Hope’s absolute favorite room at Rebekah’s house.

  “I am really glad it was a false alarm,” Elizabeth said, taking a bite of her salad.

  Hope smiled, grateful to have her two dearest friends close by. “Speak for yourself,” Hope said. “I am so uncomfortable, I would be happy to have this baby today.”

  “Don’t you dare wish that,” Elizabeth said. “A month early is too much of a risk.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. I just feel as big as a house,” Hope said.

  “Hope?” Elizabeth said.

  Hope turned to her friend, the trepidation in her voice making her anxious. “Yes?”

  “I know it pains you to talk about, but what happened to your husband?”

  Hope’s heart clamped in her chest, and her hands began to tremble. She wanted to be able to tell her, but her emotions were so jumbled and raw she could not bring herself to. “I am sorry, I know you deserve to know, but I . . . I just cannot.” Hope pushed her chair back and stood.

  Pain hit—more severe than ever. She bent over and groaned, unable to focus on anything but the agony. When it finally subsided, she was gasping for breath. Warm fluid drenched her legs and splashed the floor beneath her skirts.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Elizabeth asked.

  “That is no false alarm,” Rebekah said. “We need to get Agnes.”

  “I am so sorry, Hope,” Elizabeth sobbed. “This is my fault.”

  “This is not your fault,” Hope said between gritted teeth. “When a baby decides to come, there is no changing it. And when he is not ready, there’s no coaxing him.”

  “But—” Elizabeth protested.

  “We’ll be fine,” Hope
said, trying to put on a brave face. Inside she was terrified. What if this was too early? What if Conall’s baby did not make it?

  Another contraction hit, and Hope doubled over in pain.

  On the way home, they stopped outside Agnes and Mr. Henry’s cabin. Rebekah leapt out of the wagon, raced down the walkway, and pounded on the door. Mr. Henry opened up just as Hope let out a wail.

  “It’s time, is it?” he said, and then turned and shouted. “Agnes, love. Hope’s gunna be needed your midwifery skills.”

  “Already?”

  “I told ya, Rose said she’d probably deliver early.”

  “Yes, but this is even a little early for an Elvin child.”

  Agnes rushed out the door with a bag in her arms. “You sure this isn’t a false alarm?”

  Rebekah shook her head. “Her water broke.”

  “Well, that cinches it.”

  Hope squeezed her eyes shut as another pain washed over her.

  “Did Agnes say an Elvin child?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Oh, no. That is just what she calls babies that are impatient. You know, like a child who tries to spy elves on Christmas Eve,” Rebekah said.

  Hope might have been impressed with how fast Rebekah could come up with a plausible story to explain Agnes’s blunder if she wasn’t in so much pain.

  Hope’s cottage came into view, and she experienced a mixture of feelings: glad to be home, but dreading having to walk the distance to make it inside. Elizabeth held one arm and Rebekah held the other as they helped Hope into her house, stopping only once when she had another contraction. Finally, she was able to lay her down in her bed. Hope turned to Rebekah. “Can you bring me the crock from behind the kitchen door?”

  “Oh, sure.” Rebekah stepped into the next room. “Is it the one with a big rock on it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Rebekah stepped into the room with a small crock in her arms. Hope took off the lid and pulled out a white, collared shirt.

  “Is that—?” Elizabeth began and then hesitated, looking at Rebekah before saying anything more.

  Rebekah nodded.

  Hope held it under her nose and took in a deep breath. She could still catch Conall’s lingering honeysuckle scent. Tears sprang to her eyes. It almost felt as if he were next to her.