Being in her wool coats again reminded Pleasant all too well of the passing of time. Frost kept on the windows of the houses whose chimneys smoked sweet hickory as she and Florence rode up the street.

"Cape loves cold rides," Florence said. "How is Polaris?"

"I don't think he minds it too much," Pleasant said giving the horse a pat. "You know, he used to fear daylight. It took time for him to get over it but he did."

"He is one strange horse."

"He's been through a lot," Pleasant said.

"And so have you," Florence said and Pleasant looked down.

"You know...Addison and I don't judge you for running away from the man that did this to you," Florence said. "Addison is only certain it was a white man and so and so on... But this man...was he one you trusted at one point?"

"For a moment," Pleasant said. She hated to talk about that day but lately Florence had become ever so curious. "I didn't really know him. He saved me from freezing to death."

"Oh," Florence said.

"I was stupid," Pleasant said. "I had been warned about ice skating so late in the season. He broke me into dust. For a while I didn't want to face the day but I had my sister and my cousin and I had...or I thought I had..."

"You don't have to talk about it," Florence said. "I'm sorry I brought it up."

Pleasant nodded.

"But you know," Florence said. "You were spared by fire, and water—ice  . If I were you I wouldn't be afraid of a thing."

Pleasant had to smile. The two women waved to a couple as they came onto Crocus' main street. Outside the delicatessen they dismounted and tied their horses.

The man behind the counter offered a warm greeting to the women as they entered his shop.

"We are very well," Florence said to him.

"Then what can I get for you?"

"Just a block of Gouda cheese, one baked sweet potato and one regular," Florence said.

The owner nodded. "It's just about time for some to come out of the oven now," he said. "I'll get them for you."

"Thank you," Florence said. "Oh Pleasant I almost forgot. You wouldn't mind getting Addison's ginger beer would you? He swears by that stuff."

As Florence waited for the shopkeeper to return Pleasant went into the back of the store where the beverages where sold. Just next to the ginger ale and apple cider she located the ginger beer sold in twos then returned to the counter.

"Might I add some Swiss while you're at it?" Florence shouted over the counter.

The shop owner returned to the front of the store and laid everything on the counter next to the ginger beer. "Do you need a basket?"

"I have one on my horse thank you," Florence said. They paid for the purchase then left the store. After she had everything secure in the basket Florence turned to Pleasant. "This one is for you." He held out the potato. "I know you don't like the sweet sort."

"Thank you, Florence," Pleasant said.

Florence reached into the basket and pulled out two spoons. "Let us feast."

Pleasant laughed and took the spoon. Leading their horses behind them the two women ate there baked potatoes.

"I love it when they are fresh!" Florence sighed.

Polaris suddenly pulled back on his rope making both women stop. "What is it, boy?" Pleasant asked stroking him.

"Braxton."

Pleasant looked at Florence then looked ahead of them at the mulberry gray horse coming their way followed by two palominos.

Florence and Pleasant stopped at first then pressed on pass the men and their horses. Pleasant couldn't help but catch a glimpse of Braxton's eyes...still empty.

"You tell your brother I'll be by to talk about Nike," William Braxton suddenly called after them. "He doesn't know how much money he has sitting in that stable."

"You couldn't pry that horse from my brother's dead fingers!" Florence said. Dropping the rest of her potato into the basket she climbed up into the saddle. Taking up the reins she pushed Cape forward.

Pleasant quickly climbed into her saddle only for Polaris to rear, nearly dumping her onto the ground. Without warning the horse bolted forward up the street over taking Florence on Cape. "Polaris!" Pleasant screamed.

"Pull him up!" Florence shouted after her but the horse wouldn't yield.

When they reached the barn Polaris ran straight inside, startling Nike. When she saw her chance to dismount Pleasant jumped from the saddle and rolled out of the way as Polaris spun in circles whipping the stalls with his reins.

"Polaris!" Pleasant said as she got to her feet. She reached out her hands to him but the horse reared.

"Pleasant, get back!" Florence shouted as she ran into the barn. Grabbing hold of Pleasant she pulled her back to the door.

"I don't understand," Pleasant said out of breath. "He was fine... he was fine until—"

"What happened?"

The two women turned around as Addison came into the barn. When he caught sight of the wild horse he pushed them both further back.

"Polaris spooked," Florence said. "He nearly killed Pleasant!"

"We should let him calm down," Addison said. Going into the barn he opened Nike's stall and led her out by the halter then closed the barn door. "It's best we stay away."

Pleasant clasped her hands to her chest, feeling the edges of the spoon still in her hand. At the sound of Polaris' frightened cries she closed her eyes. "Polaris," she whispered his name softly. "My poor traveling star."

/

The following morning Pleasant came in to Addison in his office. He was packing his violin and giving Florence instructions.

"Mrs. Crabtree will be by today," he was saying. "I gave her son cocaine for a toothache but she didn't have the full fifteen cents."

"I'll take care of it," Florence assured him.

"And if Mr. O'Donnell stops by, tell him I'll visit his wife tomorrow as promised," Addison said. "The poor fellow is about to have his first child."

"I'll take care of everything," Florence said giving him his doctor's bag. "You just get those calls made."

Addison nodded. "Try to stay out of trouble."

Pleasant shook her head at the siblings then entered the room. "I have finished the scrap book," she said. "I hope you find it to your liking."

Addison took the book. "I'm certain I will, thank you," he said. "I'll take a look at it when I get home tonight. Carrying his cases he walked out of the office with the women following him and took his hat from the hook by the door. "You ladies take care and don't wait up." Opening the door he stepped out into the cold and climbed aboard the waiting carriage.

"Bless his heart," Florence said swinging the door closed.

"He took his violin," Pleasant said.

"One of the calls he visits is boy who likes to hear music," Florence explained. "They've been abroad for much of the year and my brother was the first person he sent for once they arrived. The boy thinks the music is the real medicine but lately he's been favoring ragtime much to Addison's displeasure."

Pleasant laughed. "It is very kind of him to play for the child," she said.

"He absolutely dotes on that boy."

"I can understand," Pleasant said.

"What do you want to do this cold day?" Florence asked. "How about a game of Rival Policemen by the fire?"

"I was hoping to help Polaris," Pleasant said.

"You'd take him out after all morning trying to get him in his stall?"

"I have to help him," Pleasant said taking her coat down from the hook. "When he saw Mr. Braxton he panicked. He remembers him and whatever horrible things he did to him."

"I've never known Mr. Braxton to beat a horse," Florence said getting her own coat down.

"Well he upset Polaris," Pleasant said. "He has always been there for me so now I must be there for him." She fished her gloves from the pocket of her coat then put on her hat while Florence wrapped herself in a scarf.

"Then I shall brave the cold too," Florence said and led the way to the back door. "Cape has probably gotten out of his blanket anyways." When she opened the door both women stumbled back at the black mass roaring before them. Florence backed into Pleasant and they fell to the floor as Polaris charged in.

The horse bombarded into the kitchen flipping chairs and pulling pots from the stove in his wake. He ran out of the kitchen into the hall only to return again and knock the table from its spot as he reared and pawed the floor.

Florence scooted over to Pleasant and wrapped her arms around her. "He'll kill us."

"Just..." Pleasant watched her horse's rampage with a broken heart. "Just don't move."

It was a few moments before Polaris calmed enough for her to approach him. "Here, boy," she said taking him by the halter. "There, now." She stroked his long face as Florence got to her feet and went to the back door. "I wonder what could have set him off now."

"No!" Florence yelled from the back porch. "Pleasant!"

Pleasant turned as Florence came running back into the kitchen.

"It's Nike!" she cried. "She's gone!"

Leaving Polaris in the kitchen the women ran into the backyard. From the paddock Cape raised his head and turned his ear to their approach. Pleasant looked in all directions as he breath escaped in white plumes. Finally she looked down and saw the unmistakable mark of hooves in the white frost. "William Braxton."

"What?" Florence exploded. "You think he did this? Of course...why would I put it beyond him?"

"I didn't say it was him..."

"But it could be," Florence said. "He's wanted that mare so bad."

"Do you think we could catch Addison?"

"I couldn't break such news to him," Florence said. "It would break his heart. Oh, what do we do?"

Pleasant turned from Pleasant and looked to the road. She closed her eyes and tilted her face up to the gray sky. Opening them slowly she looked into the curdled clouds above. "We're not strong enough."

"What?"

"Polaris and I," Pleasant said. "We aren't strong enough to face our pasts."

"Well for that matter nor am I," Florence said. "I should be going after William Braxton but here I stand instead." Sucking her teeth she fell against the paddock fence. "What good would it be? He was probably on the first train out." Taking a deep breath she faced Pleasant. "Excuse me, I must prepare what I will say to Addison when he gets home."

Pleasant watched Florence go. The air around them seemed to have suddenly turned colder. She stood alone in the frost noon atmosphere until something nudged her from behind. When she turned around she found herself looking into soulful brown eyes. "I know," she said taking Polaris' head in her hands. "I know."