"Yes, lots of fun," Violet said.

  Hannah and Davey went upstairs, and the Aldens entered the living room.

  Betsy, curled up in an easy chair with her stocking feet under her, put down her magazine. She'd placed her boots by the footstool. One boot had toppled over.

  Henry stared at the boot. A horseshoe, outlined in the heel of the boot, could be seen clearly.

  Betsy rose and stretched, running her hand through her blonde hair. "Hi, Cousin," she said to Larry, who came into the room.

  "Hi, Betsy," Larry said, his lips pressed together. He held a piece of paper.

  "How about a cup of coffee?" Betsy asked, picking up her boots.

  "I could use one," Larry admitted. "Dad left me a note, asking me to fix the rusty pipe in my bathroom. That could take all night!" As he and Betsy left the room, Larry said, "I don't see why he won't just put in completely new plumbing! This old inn isn't going to last long at this rate! Someone is going to have to do something."

  Betsy laughed. "You'll never change Uncle Ralph!"

  Once Larry and Betsy were in the kitchen, Henry, leaning against the fireplace mantel, said, "Did anyone else notice Betsy's boot?"

  "No, why?" Jessie asked.

  "The heel had a horseshoe pattern," he replied.

  Violet said, "Well, we know Larry's boots also have that same horseshoe design."

  "Yes, we saw it again tonight in the snow," Jessie said.

  "Larry acts like this is his inn," Henry said. "He wants to change all kinds of things around here." He dropped down onto the footstool.

  Henry said, "Betsy might want Snowflake Inn for herself, too!"

  "Yes," Jessie agreed. "She's Ralph's niece. He might let her take over the inn."

  Yes, Jessie thought, both Betsy and Larry stood a good chance to inherit the inn. Were they trying to make so much trouble that Ralph would give up the inn now?

  CHAPTER 7

  Fire and Smoke

  In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, the Aldens dressed to go ice skating. Davey and Hannah stood in the hallway. Henry noticed some soot on Hannah's sweater. "What happened?" he asked.

  "Oh, Davey and I were just playing around near the fireplace and I fell down," Hannah explained.

  "Would you like to come skating with us?" Violet asked.

  "We didn't bring our ice skates," Davey said in a glum tone.

  "I know what we'll do!" Benny said with a big smile, "I'll skate a while and then you can borrow my ice skates, Davey."

  "That's a good idea, Benny," Jessie said. "We'll take turns."

  "Hannah, my skates will fit you," Violet said. "We'll miss you if you don't come along."

  "You will?" Hannah said in surprise.

  "Yes, we will," Soo Lee said, giving them a little smile.

  Pleased, Davey and Hannah hurried to get their jackets.

  "Did I hear a pair of ice skates were needed?" Larry asked, coming into the room. His hair was messy, dark circles underlined his eyes, and his denim shirt was dirty. "Davey, you can use my old pair. I discovered them in the basement." He added angrily, "Where I've been all night, patching a crack in the boiler. I'm the number one repairman around here!"

  His old friendly smile returned. "So, lucky for you, Davey, I ran across the ice skates I owned when I was your age." He turned as Ralph entered the room. "Oh, good morning, Dad."

  "Good morning, everyone," Ralph answered. "Is the boiler fixed, Larry?"

  "I think it might last another week or so," Larry said in a cool tone.

  Ralph shook his head. "I suppose I'd better order a new one."

  "Of course, you should!" Larry snapped. "If the boiler breaks and floods the basement we'll have a real mess on our hands!" He turned and headed for the basement.

  Ralph glanced at the children, then went over to a chair, sank down wearily, and rubbed his forehead.

  Ralph looked ready to give up on Snowflake Inn, Henry thought. Maybe that was why he didn't seem in a rush to order a new boiler.

  When Larry returned, he handed Davey his skates.

  On the way to the pond, Violet walked beside Hannah. "Don't worry, Hannah. You can wear my skates most of the time. I want to sketch the ice skaters."

  "Thanks," said Hannah. "That's really nice of you."

  Arriving at the pond, the children laced up their ice skates. Violet sat on the side sketching the pond.

  Jessie skimmed onto the ice, doing a spin or two.

  "Jessie's like a real ice skater!" Davey said.

  "She sure is!" Benny replied. "Jessie can skate backward, go fast, and do spins!"

  "Where did she learn to skate so fancy?" Hannah asked, clearly admiring Jessie's grace and agility.

  "From a professional ice skater," Henry explained, standing up. "You see, an ice skating troupe performed in Greenfield. We became friends with them."

  "Alex was one of the stars and a wonderful skater," Violet added. "She taught Jessie different moves. She said Jessie was a natural."

  Benny tottered out on the ice, then unsteadily skated to the other side of the small pond. "Coming, Davey?" he shouted.

  Davey pulled his cap down over his ears and skated to Benny's side.

  Jessie glided around the edge of the pond, then did a perfect pirouette in the center.

  "Beautiful, Jessie," Violet called. "Do that again! I want to sketch you."

  Soo Lee skated to Henry, and grabbed his hand. Henry laughed, motioning Hannah to join them. Soon all the skaters formed a line, hanging on to each other's waists. With Henry as the leader they zoomed around the pond. When the wind blew off Benny's cap, he laughed with glee.

  Soon Hannah skated to the edge of the pond. "Violet, it's your turn to skate."

  Shaking her hand, Violet said, "No, thanks, I want to finish this drawing."

  So for the rest of the morning Hannah and the others skated, often stopping to pose for Violet.

  "Hey!" Larry yelled as he arrived, standing up in the sleigh pulled by Robin and Dobbin, "how about a ride back to the inn? Greta has hot apple cider waiting for you!"

  Eagerly the children removed their skates and climbed aboard the sleigh. They were ready for the warm inn and a hot drink.

  Ralph, looking rested and happier, said as they arrived, "How about a fire, children?"

  "Oh, could we?" Benny asked, his face shining.

  "You bet!" Ralph answered. He bent down to Soo Lee. "Would you like a fire?"

  "Yes, I would," Soo Lee said, looking up at Ralph with big, dark eyes.

  Ralph chuckled, and with creaky knees, he kneeled on the hearth of the brick fireplace. "I've ordered a new boiler," he said matter-of-factly, "so nothing else should go wrong." He lit a match to the papers beneath the logs, and flames shot up the chimney.

  In a short time smoke filled the room.

  Jessie coughed and Violet held her hand over her nose and mouth. Tears welled up in Benny's eyes. "What's wrong with the fire?" he asked in a choked voice.

  Ralph's eyes watered, too, as he used the poker to push aside the wood. Pouring water over the flames, he tried to extinguish the fire. Waving to the children and holding a handkerchief over his face, he wheezed, "Children, go into the kitchen."

  As the children left the room with their eyes watering, they met Larry who immediately took in the situation. He rushed to his father's side and helped put out the smouldering embers.

  In the kitchen, Henry opened a window and Hannah opened the back door. The children huddled around the kitchen table. Benny sighed. They were having such a good time, and then this had to happen.

  Larry, his face streaked with soot, entered the kitchen. "The fire's out!" he announced.

  "What caused the smoke?" Violet questioned.

  "Would you believe the chimney had been stuffed with rags and an old coat?" Larry said. "The smoke couldn't escape."

  "Who would want to suffocate us?" Violet asked.

  "I wish I knew," Larry said, pressing his lips together.

  Henry recalled that Larry's clothes had been all dirty earlier. Maybe the dirt wasn't just from fixing the boiler. Then again, Hannah's sweater had been sooty. Could she and Davey be to blame?

  Grandfather and Betsy came in the back door. "What has happened to you?" Grandfather asked. "You all look as if you've been crying!"

  "We have!" Benny said in a loud voice. "But we're okay now."

  "Grandfather, the chimney was stopped up," explained Jessie. "The den filled with smoke!"

  "Is everything all right now?" Mr. Alden asked with concern, resting a hand on Henry's shoulder.

  "Yes, it's fine now," Larry said. "We let plenty of fresh air in."

  "Oh, dear," Betsy wailed. "I feel awful. Here I was out horseback riding, breathing in cold winter air."

  Jessie gave Betsy a look. She wondered if Betsy really felt as badly as she said she did.

  CHAPTER 8

  Rustlings in the Night

  On the fourth day of the Alden vacation, Henry rose early to help Larry clean the stable and curry the horses. He loved horses and was glad he could be around them.

  On the way to the stable, Henry asked Larry, "Do you have any idea who would clog the chimney?" Secretly, he wondered if it might be Larry himself. If Larry couldn't get his way and modernize the inn, maybe he was deliberately trying to mess things up.

  "I haven't a clue," Larry answered. "But I know one thing! That coat didn't get up the chimney by itself!" He gave Henry a sideways look. "It could be those kids, Davey and Hannah. They're so bored, they might do anything for a little excitement."

  Larry handed Henry an apple. "Give this treat to Dobbin. He'll be your friend for life."

  Entering the stable, Henry sniffed the smell of hay and horses. What a pleasing odor much better than Betsy's jasmine perfume!

  Larry and Henry worked well together. The stalls were cleaned and the horses brushed before breakfast.

  At the breakfast table, Violet asked, "Where is Grandfather?"

  "He went along with Dad and Mr. and Mrs. Miller, to the antiques fair in town," Larry said.

  "I wonder what Greta cooked today," Benny said, licking his lips.

  Greta, carrying a platter of pancakes and bacon, said, "Well, Benny, does this answer your question?"

  "Oh, boy! Pancakes!" Benny said. He rubbed his stomach. "I love pancakes!"

  Soon, the heaping platter was empty.

  "Now, what can we do?" Davey asked in a bored tone.

  Betsy entered, and reached across the table, taking a banana from the fruit bowl in the center.

  Jessie, glancing about, said, "You know, this old inn needs holiday spirit!"

  "I know," Violet said. "The wreath on the front door is all the decoration there is."

  "We can put up pine boughs!" Jessie suggested.

  "And string popcorn," Henry added.

  "Why don't you children come into town with me this afternoon," Greta said. "Mr. Winston has given me money for groceries and other things. You children can buy some decorations and spruce up Snowflake!"

  "Yes!" Soo Lee said. "We'll make the inn pretty."

  "Then it's settled," Greta said, her arms crossed. "After lunch we go to town."

  Betsy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "No matter how hard you try, you can't make this place attractive."

  "Wait and see," Violet said with a smile. Why, she wondered, was Betsy always so sour wherever the inn was concerned?

  Benny to the hall, lifting his jacket off a peg. "I'm collecting pinecones," he announced.

  "Good idea! Let's go for a hike in the woods and as we walk we'll gather pinecones and holly," Jessie said, tying a wool scarf around her neck.

  "Okay," Davey said half-heartedly. "At least it's something to do!"

  "I'm ready," Henry said, putting on earmuffs, and opening the door.

  The children trudged through the snow and into the pine woods. Benny dashed ahead, scooping up snow and letting it drift over his face. "I love winter!" he shouted, his words echoing through the trees.

  "Look!" Jessie called, plowing through a drift to a bush. "Holly bushes!"

  Hannah, who had brought a pail, joined her. Soon everyone was gathering bunches of holly and pinecones. Henry broke off a few pine boughs for the mantel in the den.

  The morning flew by. When the children returned to Snowflake Inn, they carried a bucketful of pinecones and armfuls of fir branches and holly.

  Later, after lunch, Greta drove them to town in the station wagon, and pulled up before a large discount store. The children spilled out, eager to buy decorations while Greta went on to the grocery store.

  Going down the aisles of the store the children located holiday items. Jessie picked out red and green candles, and Benny and Soo Lee selected candy canes. Hannah and Violet chose crimson and green ribbons, Davey picked out some tinsel, and Henry found a large wreath.

  Back at the inn, the children began to decorate. Jessie popped corn, then with Davey's help, strung it on a gold cord along with some cranberries Greta had bought. Violet and Hannah framed the front door with the popcorn and cranberry strings. Henry arranged pine boughs and red candles in the middle of the dining-room table. The large wreath was hung above the fireplace in the den by Jessie. Soo Lee and Benny strewed holly and pinecones on the mantel.

  "Look what I've got, Benny," Henry said, holding up a sprig of mistletoe.

  Benny's eyes grew big. "Where does that go?"

  "Above the door going into the den," Henry answered, standing on a chair and fastening the mistletoe to the door beam.

  "What's it for?" Benny wanted to know.

  "Anyone standing under this gets a kiss."

  Benny covered his mouth with his hand, giggling. "That's mushy stuff. You won't catch me under any old mistletoe!"

  "Dinner!" Greta called.

  "We need to finish," Benny replied.

  "After you've eaten, you can go back to work," Greta said.

  So after dinner the decorating continued. For an hour the children bustled from one room to another. When they were done, and the candles were lit and a cozy fire burned in the fireplace, the children stood back and admired their work. Snowflake Inn looked as warm and festive as the children felt.

  When Grandfather and the others returned from the fair, their ohs and ahs made the children happy. They had worked hard, and were pleased that their holiday trimmings were appreciated.

  That night, snuggled beneath the covers, Violet fell sound asleep. But around midnight, she awakened, hearing a strange rustling. "Jessie," she whispered, not wanting to wake Soo Lee.

  "Ummmm," Jessie murmured, rolling over.

  The rustling noise became louder.

  Violet's heart thumped and she could hardly breathe. "Jessie!" she urgently whispered, shaking her. "Listen! Someone's in our room!"

  CHAPTER 9

  Greta Quits!

  Jessie awoke with a start. "What's wrong, Violet?"

  "Shhh, listen," Violet answered.

  Jessie tilted her head. Sure enough, the sound of rustling papers came from the corner. Quietly, Jessie threw back the covers and switched on the desk lamp. Violet, sticking close to her side, followed.

  "No one's here," Jessie said, peering around the room.

  "Shall we check the closet?" Violet questioned.

  Jessie shook her head. Putting a finger to her lips, she advanced on the wastebasket. All was silent. Suddenly, papers stirred in the wastebasket. Jessie pointed downward.

  "What's in there?" Soo Lee said, rubbing her eyes and peeping inside the basket.

  In her bare feet, Jessie crept toward the corner, reaching for her umbrella.

  Violet took a lamp and held it close to the basket, while Jessie poked about in the papers.

  "Squeak! Squeak!"

  Jessie glanced back at Violet and smiled.

  Violet bent nearer. She smiled, too. "Why, it's a sweet little field mouse."

  Jessie scooped up the furry mouse, cupping it in her hands. "Let's put it outside so it will find its way back to its nest."

  Violet opened the bedroom door and the three girls tiptoed downstairs.

  "How would a field mouse find its way upstairs and into our wastebasket?" Violet said in a puzzled tone. "It seems more likely it would have been poking around in the kitchen, where there's food."

  "You're right," Jessie answered. "Maybe someone deliberately put the mouse in our room to scare us."

  Opening the front door, Violet felt cold air rush over her. Jessie gently placed the mouse on the doormat.

  With a last squeak, the mouse dashed toward freedom and home.

  "I heard the front door open," Henry said, coming down the steps, trailed by a sleepy Benny.

  "We opened the door for a mouse," Jessie replied.

  "A real mouse?" Benny asked, becoming wide awake.

  "A real mouse," Violet replied with a smile. Then she related the story of the mouse in the wastebasket.

  "I wish it had been in our wastebasket," Benny said, a wistful look on his face. Then he brightened. "Know what? I'm hungry."

  "What a surprise," Henry said.

  "How about a snack?" Jessie said.

  "But Greta keeps the kitchen locked," Soo Lee said.

  "Greta left a jar of cookies in the den," Violet suddenly remembered.

  "Ummmm, yes," Benny said eagerly, hurrying into the den.

  Sitting on the sofa in front of the cold fireplace, Violet said, "We think somebody put the mouse in our room."

  "Why would someone do that?" Benny asked.

  "Maybe to frighten us," Jessie said, pausing as she reached for a cookie. "Maybe someone wants us out of here for some reason."

  Benny took a big bite of his chocolate chip cookie. "A little mouse isn't going to make us leave!"

  Chuckling, Henry replied, "That's right, Benny. Some people, though, are afraid of mice and might have screamed." He glanced fondly at his sisters. "Whoever it was didn't know Violet and Jessie."

  "A lot of things are happening that shouldn't be happening." Jessie rested her chin on her hand, thinking, "Remember the soot on Hannah's sweater the morning the chimney was clogged? Maybe Hannah and Davey left the mouse as a prank."

  "Both Larry and Betsy had a horseshoe pattern we saw it on their boot heels," Violet pointed out. "One of them might want to get the guests to leave."