Dance of Death Read Free

almost made her forget how cold his skin felt.
    â€œWilliam!” Madeline cried suddenly. She struggled to her feet. “What’s happened to William? Is he all right? How could I have forgotten about him?”
    â€œWilliam is just fine,” Justin told her. “He’s right over there, trying to keep the horse calm until you are well enough to travel on to your cousins’ house.”
    â€œAnd the man?” Madeline asked. “The one in the road. Was he badly injured?”
    Justin looked at her, a frown marring his perfect features. “What man?” he said.
    â€œThe one in the road,” Madeline repeated. “The strange-looking man who frightened the horse.”
    â€œWilliam,” Justin called out. “Why did you say nothing about a man in the road?”
    â€œBecause there wasn’t one, sir,” William called back.
    Madeline felt a cold chill race through her. “There was a man, I tell you,” she insisted. “I saw him.”
    Justin silently regarded Madeline. He frowned slightly.
    Madeline’s stomach began to churn. He thinks I’m crazy. That I’m imagining things just like Mama did. But I’m not. I’m not!
    â€œWell, William,” Justin asked after a moment. “What do you have to say to that?”
    William dropped the horse’s reins and came over to Justin and Madeline. “I’m sorry, miss,” he answered. “But I didn’t see anyone in the road.”
    William glanced at Justin. He fidgeted nervously with his cap. “If there was someone in front of that horse, I’d have seen him,” he continued. “I was looking straight forward the whole time. As far as I can tell, that horse just spooked.”
    Madeline shook her head. No! This can’t be happening. Not to me. Not so soon.
    â€œWilliam,” she gasped. “You must have seen him.”
    â€œI swear to you, miss, the road was clear all the way to the crest of the hill,” William answered. “There wasn’t anybody standing in the road.”

Chapter
    3

    M adeline struggled to control herself. “William,” she began, keeping her voice low and quiet. “You must have seen the man. He stood right there in front of the horse, waving his arms. You must have seen him, William.” Madeline’s voice began to rise. “You must have—”
    â€œMadeline, that’s enough!” Justin said firmly. “You hit your head and you’re confused.”
    His explanation made sense. She felt herself begin to relax. “I guess that’s possible,” she agreed.
    â€œI’m sorry, William,” Madeline apologized. “I’m sure Dr. Fear is right.”
    William shuffled his feet awkwardly. “It doesn’t matter about me, miss,” he said. “But your cousins, they’ll be worried. If you’re ready, I should be getting you home.”
    Home! Madeline thought. How good that sounded.
    â€œThank you, William,” she answered simply. “Please take me home.”
    William helped Madeline back into the buggy, then swung up on the seat beside her. She glanced nervously at Buttercup, but the horse appeared perfectly calm.
    Justin took a seat on the other side of Madeline. “I’ll come along,” he said. “I want to be sure you arrive at your cousins’ safe and sound.”
    â€œYour cousins’ house is just over the hill,” William said. When it came into view, Madeline felt a bit disappointed. She’d been imagining an elegant home, with carefully tended grounds and a garden—like Dr. Fear’s house.
    Her cousins’ house stood several stories high, with odd turrets and towers poking out here and there. The porch sagged and the roof appeared in need of repair. Peeling gray paint and broken shutters added to the house’s decrepit appearance.
    Some tall, scraggly trees shaded the front yard. Madeline glanced around