The Grim's Daughter

CHAPTER NINETEEN:

The wind howled in the cemetery, ripping the brown leaves from the trees that surrounded the graves. There was a small house in the field beside it where the old gravedigger would sit, drinking his hot tea until it went cold. 

Something fell outside, making the horses cry and kick the floor. "Them damn 'orses!" he cursed. He put his mug down on the table and walked over to the window, where he could see only the stables. "Where's 'em 'orses?" said Beetle, grabbing his hat from the table. 

He opened the door and grabbed the reins that were hanging from the wooden gate. "Where are ya'?" said Beetle creeped around in the mud. The mud squelched under his wellies as he walked. He Beetle started to worry when he couldn't see the two horses. 

He heard russling from over in the bushes, back beside the house. He ran back the way he had came, but was slow since he had only small legs. "Silver? Bone?"

Beetle looked behind the house, where two horses were eating the grass behind the old house in the cemetery. "There yas' are," he said, trying to get the reins on them.

"And there you are!"

Quickly, Beetle turned around, but slipped on the mud and fell onto the ground. "What are ye' doin' 'ere?" he asked, trying to wriggle away. 

"You told her, didn't you, Beetle?" said the man, walking closer to him. He bent down, meeting Beetle watery eyes. "I warned you not to tell her! But I guess I should have saw it coming. You never were good at keeping promises."

"Listen, I've done things wrong in the past; I can change. Give an old man a chance!" cried Beetle, begging with tears pouring from his eyes. "Please."

"Too late!" said the voice. The man took a knife from his pocket, and held it at arms lenght. "Say goodnight, traitor."