“What? Out with it.”
“Well,” she said, glancing up at him once more, “what if you went to help the baker bring the cake over? No one would find out and you would be back just in time for the vows.”
He shook his head as if she were a fool. “And who, would you suggest, would walk you down the aisle?”
“Oh yes, you’re right, Uncle. It is okay. We do not need a cake to celebrate.”
As if on cue, the organist began the music, the opening notes of his piece echoing through the town hall.
His eyes darted between her and the door for a few seconds before he finally sighed and dropped her arm.
Eleanor had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.
“Alright,” he relented, “I will be back in a few moments.Walk slowly,” he warned through gritted teeth, his words drenched in a seething, quiet burning, rage.
Eleanor nodded her head as he spun on his heel and practically dashed away in the direction they had just come from.
She held her breath as she waited, watching him turn the corner.
As soon as he was out of sight, she picked up her dress and ran. Dashing down the hall as fast as her legs could carry her.
She did not look back.
She did not stop.
Her heart pounded wildly against her chest as she picked up pace, nearly slipping as she rounded the corner towards the back doors.
She didn’t slow to open them with any form of care. Instead, slamming into them with full force, the doors were sent flying back.
Rounding another corner, she came to a dead stop behind the building where someone had tethered the horses, startling the animals with her sudden appearance.
“Woah,Woah,” she said, steadying her voice. “It’s okay, hush,” she cooed.
Eleanor carefully walked up to one of the white mares. Lifting her hand to gently caress the long face of the horse, she asked “See? I just need a little bit of help.”
Carefully, she untied the rope from the post, and led it away from the building.
“I just need some help, okay?” she repeated as she moved to the mare’s flank. With great caution, Eleanor placed a foot in the stirrup, jumping up, and grabbing the edge of the saddle as she hoisted herself onto the horse.
She looked back to where she could still hear the sounds of the organist playing her wedding song. How much time before they knew?
She looked up at the sun that was setting.
They would all be going home soon to avoid the Headless Horseman.
She didn’t want to give any truth to their tales because, of course, that is all they were. Stories.
Yet even as she reminded herself of this, she couldn’t ignore the hairs on the back of her neck beginning to stand, sending a chill down her spine as she clutched the reins tighter.
Swallowing her nerves, she clicked her tongue and gave the mare a swift kick to the side. The horse jerked forward, causing Eleanor to lean back slightly as they set off.
Eleanor wanted to ignore her growing unease, but questions were racing through her mind.
What if they caught her before she had left town?
Would anyone come looking for her?
Though, one question, one fear, screamed in her mind like a warning, louder than all the rest.
