Havelock sighed as his brother Espen groaned and wrapped his arms tighter around himself. "You really didn't have to come."

Espen narrowed his eyes. "Yes I did," he said. "Pa said, go with you brother to the depot, Espen and make sure he gets everything we ordered. It's your horse I don't see why I had to come."

Havelock climbed down from the surrey when the cargo began to be unloaded. "You never listen to Father," he said. "I don't see why this time was any different. I can handle myself."

Espen jumped down from the wagon and followed his brother, quickly tipping his hat to two ladies he almost collided with. "I've angered him enough," he said. "And ever since Baldwin realized he was the favorite he has given me a hard time."

Havelock snorted. "That isn't true," he said weaving around crates and porters. "Besides I love Baldwin but I don't envy him. One day he'll have the whole town on his shoulders."

"Right," Espen said as they reached a car with livestock. "You know what I like about you, little brother? You never change. Even when we were small children you only wanted to be left to play with your farm animals."

Havelock watched for the horse as the animals were unloaded. "I remember how you used to run in and wreck them."

Espen laughed as a man lit a lantern and went into the car at the bequest of another. "It was such fun watching them go scattering," he said. "Little sheep and calves flying everywhere!"

Havelock ignored his brother's humor and approached one of the handlers at the car. "Is there something wrong?"

The man looked him up and down and then at Espen. "You want something, rich boy?"

Havelock looked down at the dirty snow beneath their feet.

With a sigh Espen stepped forward. "There was supposed to be a horse on this train for us," he said. "The name is Monhollen. M-O-N—"

"Oh," the man said with a laugh. "You must be here for the devil horse." He laughed again. "Well he's all yours..." with a sweep of his hand he bowed as the man with the lantern returned fighting with an animal on the other end of the rope. A few more men rushed in to help him as the black horse was led into the sun.

The animal reared, punching the air.

"Hold him!" one of the men shouted as the people at the depot gathered to see the spectacle.

When three men had ropes on the horse the man with the lantern let go. "This ought to fix him," he said and held the light to the horse's face. The black horses pinned his curved ears and with a jerk of his head he charged forward, breaking free of the men. People ducked out of the way as the ropes spun in the air like wild snakes.

"Get out the way!" Espen shouted to the bystanders as the horse shot forward.

One of the braided ropes snagged on the lantern, snatching it from the man's hand as the horse galloped away. The lantern bounced on the ground, shattering the glass and leaving a streak of fire in the horse's wake.

"The work of evil," one of the men said, dropping to his knees.

The horse ran into the crowd finding himself trapped by the panicking people. He spun in circles looking for an escape and creating smoke rings all around himself.

"Someone shoot that animal before he hurts someone!" the first man shouted.

Havelock turned as a man took a pistol from his hoister and aimed at the horse amidst the crowed. Seeing the pending disaster he ran into the crowd, pushing a man out of the way of a buck. He managed to grab two of the ropes and swing himself onto the back of the horse sending it rearing. "Espen, the surrey!" he managed to shout before the horse saw a break in the crowd and charged.

Havelock pressed himself close to the horse as it surged away from the train station and up the road. It ran into ditches and under trees trying to shake him as they galloped toward Natt Fristad. Havelock was bumped, scratched, and cut as the horse trotted cantered and galloped. Finally the animal decided to make a break from the woods at full speed only to snag the remaining rope on an old fence sending them both tumbling.

Havelock hit the ground shoulder first and felt his arm break. The horse came down much the same and flailed as it tried to stand.

In agony Havelock rolled onto his back, gripping his arm. Managing to get into an upright position he looked over at the tangled horse. The animal's pitiful cries sounded not devilish but helpless. When he heard the surrey he turned to the road as Espen came running.

"Are you all right," he said grabbing Havelock and making him cry out.

"I think it's broken," Havelock winced.

When the horse thrashed Espen turned to him. "He nearly killed someone. Smart thinking on your part to get him out of there."

"He did it himself," Havelock said. "I don't think he was trying to hurt anyone. He was afraid."

Espen gave a raspberry. "Tell that to yourself," he said jabbing his brother in the shoulder and making him cry out. "Well we'd best get you home so Ma can look at you. She always said you can never have too much witch hazel." He helped his brother up to make sure he could stand then turned to the horse. "What about him?"

Holding his arm Havelock approached the horse. "We have to free him," he said picking up a stick and pulling it free of the ropes.

"What?" Espen gasped.

"Don't be a coward," Havelock said as he tossed a branch out of the way.

Espen looked back at the road then wiped his hands on his trousers. "All right," he said. "But if he kills me, I'm telling, Ma."

Havelock knelt down by the horse. "Then I'll tell her you've been at the farm kissing girls," he said.

"That's a lie,"

"What about that time in the barn you and—"

Espen shoved him. "Just give me your knife."

Havelock reached into the pocket of his coat and took out his knife handing it to his brother. Espen worked nervously to cut away the tangled ropes and dead foliage watching the horse gain use of his limbs again. When the last leg was free he jumped up and ran a few steps as the horse got up. "Havelock, move!"

Havelock fell back as the horse towered over him putting his face close to his own until he startled the boy. With a snort the animal turned on his hooves and galloped through the forest.

"You idiot!" Espen shouted as he rejoined his brother. "You could have been killed," he shook him. "Then what would I have told everyone? The evidence just galloped into Darkest Wood."

Havelock got to his feet holding his arm. "He could have trampled me."

"Good thing he didn't!"

Havelock turned to his brother. "That horse was sent here because it was dangerous. Everyone I talked to about it said I would be its last hope. They said it would kill me if given the chance. It just seemed afraid." He looked into the brush and picked up the lantern then looked through the trees in the direction of the horse. "The way it looked at me..."

"Havelock..." Espen said. "Animals don't reason."

"Espen, that horse looked at me as though he was trying to recognize me," Havelock said touching his cheek. "He was trying to recognize me face."

"All horses look the same to me," Espen said. "I'm sure all people look the same to horses."

Havelock held up the broken lantern then turned back to the surrey. Perhaps he was looking too deep into things.

/

"I'm so frustrated!"

Alice, Pleasant and May looked up from their spiced tea as Margaret came through the parlor door of Rose Parade estate. She flopped down in a chair and crossed her arms.

"Have some tea," Alice said standing and pouring Margaret a cup.

"I don't understand!" Margaret said. "Why must I go to dinner tonight! Mother knows I will refuse to marry Daniel Purefoy."

"It is only dinner," Alice said. "Besides it would show you are mature if you went...and behaved."

"Alice, who's side are you on?" Margaret-Gay demanded. "Would you want to go to dinner with those boys?"

"It's not just the boys," Alice said.

"And I thought you liked Violet and Rose," Pleasant put in.

"It's not the dinner," Margaret said. "It's the intentions. I'll be paraded!"

"You'll survive," Alice said. "More tea, May?"

"Yes, please," May said and Alice filled her cup.

When Margaret realized she wasn't going to get the attention she demanded she added sugar to her tea.

"I can't wait for spring," Alice said.

"Me too," May said. "I'm tired of long underwear."

"You'll be wearing them in July with how easily you get cold," Margaret said after sipping her tea. "Then Alice could sit out on her balcony and look over the wall at Minas while he plays in his yard."

Alice giggled. "Stop it, Margaret."

"I think he likes you too," Margaret said. "I never see him talking to other girls and Espen teases him about you."

"He does?" Alice asked shyly.

"What's not to like about you, Alice?" Pleasant said. "You're awfully kind."

"Thank you, Pleasant."

Margaret groaned. "Alice gets to be a Monhollen one day and I'll have to be a spinster. A runaway spinster with no assets."

The girls laughed. "You can come stay with me and May," Pleasant said. "We'd make room for you."

"Oh I don't know if I could bear to live in a cottage."

"Cottage?" Pleasant questioned.

"Yes," Margaret said picking up her tea cup. "If you become a teacher you'd live in the cottage on Heliotrope Row."

"Have you asked Mr. Monhollen about it?" Alice said.

Pleasant shook her head. "I'm afraid he won't take me seriously. I'm only a girl," she said. "Besides, even if I wasn't I'm still colored."

Margaret put down her cup and dabbed her mouth with a napkin almost mechanically. "Baldwin will get you that job," she said. "He thinks you and May are the most precious little darlings."

Alice laughed. "Well when compared to you, Margaret, a bear is precious little darling."

Margaret delivered her friend a swift kick under the table. "Just ask him; or at least let him know. The thing about the Monhollens is they look out for everyone here at Natt Fristad. From Mrs. Crowninshield shut in, to Daniel Purefoy running wild."

"They sound like good people," Pleasant said.

"They are," Alice said. "Baldwin for example makes it a point to see his aunt every day since her son is gone. Minas is like that too. That's why he wants to be a doctor."

"And Asmund a lawyer," May put in.

"Havelock just fools around on that silly farm of theirs," Margaret said.

"Don't be snide, Margaret," Pleasant reproached. "It takes a special person to tend animals."

"Besides Havelock is shy," Alice said. "Espen on the other hand..."

Margaret fell into uncontrollable giggles and toppled out of her seat. "Espen is funny!"

The other three girls exchanged glances as Margaret's light brown face began to glow red with laughter.

Grabbing the table she climbed back into her seat. "One Sunday the two of us released geese in the church. You should have seen everyone. Bibles were flying everywhere!"

"How disrespectful," Pleasant said.

"But funny," Margaret laughed. "I still think back to that day. It was worth the punishment."

Pleasant shook her head. She would have to look out that she and May weren't influenced by such behavior.

"Alice," a maid said as she entered the room. "Mr. Monhollen is walking with the other children, should you like to join them?"

"Oh, yes, Francine!" Alice said getting up from the table.

"I'll fetch your hat and boots," Francine said turning from the room.

"Come on," Alice said leading the three girls into the foyer. She took her coat down from the hanger and handed each of them theirs. "Mr. Monhollen makes the best snow fort. You have to see it."

Francine returned with the hat and boots and helped the girl to dress. Lastly Alice put on her gloves and raced to the road with Pleasant, Margaret and May behind her. They joined the growing group of children on the road. Some came with their sleds and snow balls already made while others joined Mr. Monhollen in singing as they marched.

Minas ran up to the girls with his sled and stationed himself between Margaret and Alice. "Do you want to be on my team, Alice?"

"Sure she does," Margaret said before Alice could answer. "But that means you take me as well...and my cousins."

Minas looked to the sisters then pass them as a sleigh road by. "Here come the Purefoys," he said.

"Pretend you don't see them," Margaret said.

Minas waved as the sleigh came their way and slowed. Inside they were relieved to find only Mrs. Purefoy and Wade.

"Come join us!" Minas said. "You can be on my team."

Wade looked to his mother who nodded then hopped down from the sleigh.

When they reached the meadow the children broke off into their teams to build their forts and prepare for the snowball fight.

"May won't be able to run too much," Pleasant said as they knelt behind the growing mound of snow.

"That might make us lose," a boy said.

"She can be our look out," Asmund said giving May a makeshift flag. "Can you do that, May?" when the girl nodded Asmund smiled. "Good. Now the rest of you make the snowballs while Wade and I build the fort."

From the stone bench outside the meadow Mr. Monhollen watched the children play along with his eldest son. "Are you sure you won't join them, Baldwin."

"I'm not a child, Pa," Baldwin said. "I came to observe and make sure everyone plays fair." He smiled. "There are some good memories at this place. I wish Dicky were here."

Well..." Mr. Monhollen said. "He does have his problems."

"Pa," Baldwin groaned. "Cedric doesn't have any problems, he's perfectly fine. He stayed with me all day looking for Johann... I look after him."

Mr. Monhollen nodded sadly thinking of his drowned son. "You always have," he said. Just like I looked after his mother when we were growing up. I only wish he took more after her."

Baldwin looked towards his farther but decided not to argue against him. "No one can pick their father," he said. "I guess I just got fortunate to get you."

Mr. Monhollen laughed as he stood up. "Right you are!" he said getting a chuckle out of Baldwin.

"Where are you going?"

Mr. Monhollen looked over his shoulder. "There is still some youth left in these old bones," he said then ran out to join the children who all rushed him at once.

Baldwin sat back on the bench and smiled as he watched him skip about with the children. Some things just shouldn't change.