Slowly Hannah sat down, and for a while seemed to enjoy herself. But when Davey called to her from the head of the stairs, she quickly leaped up, moving to the doorway.

  "Let's meet in the morning at the stable for the sleigh ride," Violet called.

  Hannah paused. "Is ten o'clock okay?"

  Violet said, "That's fine. We'll be there."

  Maybe Hannah and Davey just needed a few friends their own age, Violet thought.

  Soon Benny's eyelids grew heavy and his head drooped forward.

  Jessie stretched. She was tired, too. It had been a long day. The children said good night to Larry, Ralph, and Grandfather, and went to bed.

  In the morning, after a breakfast of sausages and Greta's Swedish pancakes with delicious Vermont maple syrup, the children put on their jackets, mittens, and knit caps.

  "I can't wait!" Benny said. "Won't a ride in the snow be fun?"

  "It's not ten o'clock yet, but we can go out and wait for the others," Jessie said.

  "Let's go," Benny said impatiently, tugging at Henry's jacket.

  Henry laughed, lifting Benny up on his shoulders. "We're off on a sleigh ride!"

  When the Aldens arrived at the stable, Hannah and Davey were already waiting.

  They certainly got here early, Jessie thought.

  Suddenly Larry hurried out from the stable. "The horses!" he exclaimed. "The horses are missing!"

  Benny's mouth dropped open. "The horses are gone? Did they run away?"

  "Someone left the stall door open and let them out!" Larry said grimly.

  "You mean a person deliberately let the horses go free?" Henry asked with a frown.

  Violet glanced at Hannah and Davey and was puzzled to see that they didn't look at all surprised. It was almost as if they'd known all along the horses were gone. "Let's go in, Hannah," Davey said as he got to his feet. "I knew something would happen to ruin the day!"

  Jessie stared after the Millers as they walked slowly up the path. Who would have let the horses out on purpose. And why?

  CHAPTER 4

  Missing Horses!

  Mystified, Larry Winston rubbed his neatly trimmed beard. "I can't figure out why anyone would do this."

  "Will the horses come back?" Benny asked in a worried tone. "I hope they're not hurt."

  "I'm certain Dobbin and Robin are fine," Larry said. He noticed all the anxious expressions. "It's all right. I have a good idea where the horses probably went."

  "Not very far, I hope," Henry said.

  "No, not far at all," Larry answered. "Just over at Brian McDowell's farm. About two miles from here on Apple Tree Road." He climbed into his jeep. "Brian will bring them back in his horse trailer." He waved. "I'll be back soon." He turned on the engine and started down the lane.

  "Let's look around and see if any clues have been left," Jessie said.

  "Clues?" Soo Lee questioned.

  "Something that the person who freed the horses left behind," Jessie explained.

  Violet and Jessie searched the stable, but they found nothing.

  Henry and Soo Lee checked the ground around the barn.

  Benny found nothing, too.

  "Henry," Soo Lee said, "there are footprints here in the fresh snow."

  Henry moved to her side.

  Benny hurried over to look, also. "What a lot of footprints!"

  "Yes," Henry replied. "And I don't think Larry made them all."

  "See," Soo Lee said, stooping. "There's a picture in each footprint."

  Henry chuckled. "There is a picture, Soo Lee, but it's called a pattern or design." He sat on his haunches, studying the footprints. "Inside the heel is a pattern like a small horseshoe."

  "I think it's shaped like a wishbone," Benny said, leaning over, hands on his knees.

  When the girls came out of the stable, Benny showed them what Soo Lee had discovered.

  "You've found a wonderful clue, Soo Lee," Violet said, squeezing the little girl's hand. "You'll make a good detective."

  Soo Lee beamed. "Thank you."

  "Now we need to keep a sharp lookout for whoever wears boots with heels like that," Jessie said.

  "We're all dressed in our warm clothes," Henry said. "Let's not go in. What can we do outdoors?"

  "We can play tag," Jessie suggested.

  "Or Fox and Geese," Benny added. "That's like tag."

  "Yes," Violet said. "You need snow to form a big circle." Violet pointed to a large patch of untrampled snow. "There's the perfect place."

  "Oh, good," Soo Lee said, clapping her hands. "This will be fun. We have snow in Korea, but I've never played Fox and Geese."

  "I'll run in and get Davey and Hannah," Benny offered. "I'll bet they'd like to play."

  "Okay, Benny," Henry said, although he doubted that the Miller children would join in.

  But Henry's eyes widened when Benny came out with Davey and Hannah.

  First, the children dashed around, forming a big circle by trampling down the snow. Then they made paths up to the center, which was the safe zone. When the circle was completed it resembled a big wheel with spokes.

  Jessie was "It," and chased first Soo Lee, then Benny, then Violet, then Henry, then Davey, and finally Hannah. They were the "geese," and they always seemed to land in the safe center, no matter how fast Jessie ran.

  At last Jessie tagged Henry. Now, he became "It." For an hour the children zigged and zagged, trying not to be caught.

  After Henry tagged Violet, she was "It," and chased after Davey. Davey yelled as he dashed around the circle. Suddenly, the young boy slipped and fell. Violet rushed to help him to his feet. She lifted him and brushed snow from his ski jacket.

  Hurrying over to aid her brother, Hannah laughed as she dusted snow from Davey's cap and hair. "You're covered from head to foot."

  Davey pushed the girls away. "I'm tired of this silly old game. I'm not playing anymore!" A frown crossed his round face which was covered with even more freckles than his sister's. He stepped out of the circle.

  "I think it's time for hot chocolate," Jessie said, trying to soothe Davey's feelings.

  "Yes! Yes!" Benny agreed, stamping his feet to keep warm. "I'm cold. Hot chocolate in my pink cup will taste good."

  "Your poor chipped cup from our boxcar days," Violet said. "I can't believe it's not broken into a hundred pieces."

  "I take good care of it," Benny said. "I wouldn't want to break my favorite cup."

  "I know, Benny," Henry said, throwing his arm around Benny's shoulders. "Let's go up to the inn." He looked back. "Coming, Davey?"

  "I guess so," the little boy answered, kicking at the snow.

  In the cozy kitchen, Greta filled cups with hot chocolate. She took the tray of cups and a plate of cookies into the living room and put them on a low oak table before the fireplace.

  Hannah, Davey, and Violet sat on the sofa, while Henry and Jessie made themselves comfortable in two armchairs on each side of the fire. Benny and Soo Lee sat cross-legged before the yellow flames.

  "Hmmm," Benny said, sipping his chocolate, "this is a nice place." He glanced at Davey. "Don't you think so, Davey?"

  "It's okay," Davey said, "but it's very different from where we live!"

  Hannah gave a nod of agreement.

  "Where are you from?" Violet asked politely.

  "Boston!" Davey replied.

  "That's a big place!" Benny said.

  "It's one of the best cities in the world," Hannah said, smiling.

  "Outside of Greenfield, Massachusetts," Benny said.

  "There's always something to do in Boston!" Davey said.

  "I'm sure Boston is fun," Benny said. "But Vermont is fun, too!"

  Henry said with a grin, "Benny, no matter where we go, you find something to like."

  "I like it here, too," Soo Lee said, a smile brightening her face.

  Violet placed the empty cups on the tray and asked, "Who wants to play a game of Monopoly?"

  Benny's arm shot straight up. "Me, me!"

  Soo Lee giggled, holding up her arm. "Me, me."

  "I'll get the board," Jessie said.

  "I wonder where Grandfather is," Henry said. "He promised to play a game of chess with me." He headed for the den. "See you later."

  Hannah dealt out the play money and the game began.

  By the time the game had a winner, with Jessie owning most of the property and money, it was almost lunchtime.

  Benny jumped up when he heard the honking of a horn. "Larry's back with the horses!"

  "Let's go outside and meet him," Violet said.

  Hastily, the children slipped into their jackets, and ran outside.

  Larry waved, climbing out of his jeep.

  Benny peered down the road and all around, but he didn't see any horses. "Where are Dobbin and Robin?" he asked.

  Where are the horses? Violet wondered. Had Larry been wrong about where the horses had gone? She took a breath, feeling scared. As she gazed about at the long faces, she knew she wasn't the only one. Where were the missing horses? Was something wrong?

  CHAPTER 5

  More Trouble at Snowflake Inn

  "Where are the horses?" Benny asked as Larry Winston approached them.

  "They're not lost," Larry reassured him. "Dobbin and Robin were right where I said they'd be in Brian McDowell's meadow. But before Brian can load the horses, he needs to round up a cow that jumped the fence. So instead of going on a sleigh ride now, how would you like to go tonight in the moonlight?"

  Benny smiled. "Great!"

  "How about it, kids? Does a moonlight ride sound okay?" Larry asked.

  "Yes!" everyone chorused. Davey and Hannah nodded, but they didn't look very excited.

  On the back porch, Greta jangled a big bell.

  "Lunch! We're coming, Greta!" Larry called. "I'm starved. How about you, Davey?" He messed up Davey's red hair.

  Davey nodded. "I could eat."

  "The cold sure gave me an appetite," Henry said, following Larry inside.

  "Me, too," Benny agreed.

  Soon, a delicious lunch of chili, corn bread, salad, and coconut cream pie was devoured. Greta chuckled to see how fast her food disappeared.

  After eating, Soo Lee leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes. "I ate a lot."

  "How about a nap?" Violet asked.

  Soo Lee rubbed her eyes, yawning. "Yes, I'm sleepy!"

  So Soo Lee curled up on the sofa, Jessie and Hannah played checkers, Davey and Benny worked a new jigsaw puzzle, Henry read, and Violet sketched the tall canopy bed and fireplace in her bedroom.

  After an hour, Ralph Winston rounded everyone up. "Come into the den," he said, pointing to the window. "Do you see what I see?"

  "It's snowing!" Benny said.

  Big flakes drifted to the ground. "How beautiful!" Violet said.

  "You promised you'd tell us the story of Madge Carson and Penelope on a snowy day," Jessie said. "Will you, Mr. Winston?"

  "Ralph," he corrected. "Call me Ralph." He limped toward the den. "Yes, telling Madge's story is exactly what I had in mind. That's why I wanted all of you together.

  "Madge Carson and her little girl, Penelope, lived in Trenton, New Jersey," Ralph began, sinking into an easy chair by the window as the children gathered around, sitting cross-legged at his feet. "Across the Delaware River from them was George Washington's army at Valley Forge."

  "On Christmas Eve," he went on, "a few British and paid German soldiers, called Hessians, were left to guard Trenton. Now, the troops planned a party and ordered Madge to bring them a dozen chickens. She knew that while the enemy partied it would be a perfect time for a surprise attack. Madge rowed across the icy river and told George Washington."

  "Did General Washington fight the Hessians?" Violet asked.

  "You bet he did! Washington and his soldiers crossed the river and trounced the astonished Hessians."

  Betsy poked her head in. "I see you're still retelling Madge Carson's story." A tight little smile crossed her face. "No wonder. You've got a captive audience!"

  "Hi, Betsy," Ralph said. "Want to join us?"

  The slim young woman, dressed in boots, riding pants, and a plaid fitted jacket, held up her hand. "No, thank you. I came because of the leak in my bedroom ceiling. This new snow could crack the plaster."

  "Find Larry. He'll fix it," Ralph said, wrinkling his brow. "I'm busy."

  "Hmmmf! If it was up to Larry he'd re-plaster and repaint all these old walls," Betsy said. She left, shaking her head.

  "Now, where was I?" The old man tugged on his ear.

  "What happened to Madge Carson?" Henry asked.

  "When the Redcoats discovered Madge was missing, they knew she had spied on them," Ralph said.

  "Redcoats were British soldiers," Soo Lee announced, remembering what Henry had told her.

  "Good for you!" Henry said, smiling at her.

  "Madge dared not go home, so she ran into the woods. There, she hid, sheltering her little daughter against the cold."

  "Poor Madge," Jessie said.

  "Poor Penelope," Violet echoed.

  "Madge avoided capture because she knew woodland trails and the river," Ralph continued. "Snow and cold made it hard to travel, especially with a small child. Finally, they arrived at Bennington, in what is now Vermont. Madge and Penelope were hid by the Ross family, original owners of Snowflake Inn."

  "Did Madge and Penelope hide in the secret room?" Benny asked, his eyes round.

  "When British troops arrived to search the inn, that's exactly where they hid," Ralph answered.

  "I'll bet Penelope was scared," Soo Lee said in a small voice.

  "They were both afraid," Ralph said, "but, with help, they managed to escape to Maine."

  "That was an exciting story," Hannah said, her pretty face breaking into a smile.

  "And to think it was a true one!" Henry said.

  "Was Madge Carson the only one who hid in the secret room?" Davey asked.

  "No, she wasn't," Ralph said. "During the Civil War several spies hid here. And Snowflake Inn hid slaves on the Underground Railroad."

  "Underground Railroad?" Soo Lee asked, "Did a train run under the ground?"

  "No, no," answered Jessie, smiling. "In the Civil War, slaves who escaped from their owners were hidden by sympathetic people. The slaves were moved secretly from one house to another, all the way to Canada. This became known as the Underground Railroad."

  "Oh, I see," Soo Lee said.

  Later, when the sky darkened, Benny gazed out the window. "Is it time for our sleigh ride?" he asked impatiently.

  "In a few hours," replied Jessie.

  All at once, Greta stormed into the room, jabbing the air with a wooden spoon. "The stove won't work!" she said angrily, one hand planted on a hip. "If the stove doesn't work, neither do I!"

  Oh, no, Henry thought. The horses are missing, the sink is cracked, the plaster's coming down, and now the stove is broken! What next?

  CHAPTER 6

  A Moonlight Sleigh Ride

  Later that night, Benny was the first one ready to go on the sleigh ride. When he entered the den dressed in his warm jacket, cap, and mittens, Grandfather looked up from his book. "I see you're eager to go, Benny."

  "Yes," Benny replied. "I can't wait, Grandfather. Why don't you come along on our sleigh ride?"

  James Alden chuckled. "Thanks, Benny, but I'm comfortable sitting here by the fire. You go ahead and have a good time!"

  "Oh, I will." Benny gave him a big smile. "We'll have a great time!" With a wave, he dashed off to join the others, who were waiting by the front door.

  Ralph Winston clapped Davey on the back. "I'll hear all about your ride in the morning. Have fun, children!"

  "Wouldn't you like to come along?" Violet asked.

  Ralph shook his head. "No," he replied. "I'm going to turn in early."

  "Then we'll see you tomorrow," Jessie said, opening the door. She was glad Ralph was going to bed. He worked hard and looked very frail. Clearly, he wasn't well and needed rest.

  "Hurry up, Davey!" Benny yelled. "I'll race you to the stable."

  The two boys tore down the path, and arrived breathless just as Larry hitched the horses to the sleigh. Dobbin and Robin snorted and stamped. As Larry fastened bells to the bridles, the horses blew out their breaths in white puffs.

  While the boys clambered aboard, Jessie, Violet, and Hannah petted the horses. Noticing the snow underfoot, Jessie said to Violet, "These are Larry's footprints!"

  In the brightness of the yard light, Violet stooped, peering at the ground. "Yes, Larry's boot leaves an imprint of a horseshoe in the heel. But I can't believe Larry would have let the horses out. He's too nice."

  "Let's keep our eyes open. Maybe someone else has the same heel design," Jessie suggested.

  "Yes, I'm sure it's a popular pattern," Violet said. Yet, she remembered Larry's fight with his dad.

  "Come on, everybody," Larry said, smiling, "into the sleigh!"

  Once the children were settled on the side benches, Larry lightly touched the horses with the reins, and they pranced forward.

  Violet said, "What fun!" She gazed about at the snow-covered fir trees. Big flakes continued to fall softly over everyone.

  Rounding a curve, bells tinkled and horse hooves clip-clopped in the silent night.

  "It's a fairyland," Henry said.

  All at once Benny gave a gleeful yelp. He began to sing. "Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way." Laughing, everyone else sang, too. "Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!"

  They sang and laughed for mile after snowy mile.

  After an hour, Larry headed back to Snowflake Inn. When they'd almost reached the stable, Larry slowed and almost stopped.

  "What's wrong?" Davey asked.

  Larry chuckled. "Do you see what I see?"

  Jessie craned her neck. A fat porcupine waddled across the road.

  "I've never seen a porcupine before," Davey said, watching until the animal had disappeared into the woods.

  "I have," Benny said proudly. "Once we helped a friend straighten out his mixed-up zoo."

  Davey's eyes widened, impressed. "You did?"

  Back at the inn, the children chattered and laughed all the way inside where they removed their jackets.

  "Hi," Betsy called. "Did you have fun?"