Headless Horseman

Today you ventured quite far into the forest. It was getting darker, and you were walking down the river. Instead of the road, you stumbled upon a lonely house standing between the trees. To your surprise, it was well-maintained, as if someone has been living here. You walked around the building and knocked on the door. No answer. You looked into one of the windows and noticed that fireplace inside was burning. So someone indeed was there not so long ago.
And that's when you heard it. Felt it. A distant rhythmic stomping that vibrated through the earth. Hooves.