The hazy autumn sun cast glistening rays over the glossy rolling hills. Beatrice hugged her luggage close to her chest as the rails passed beneath her feet. Surely by now her sisters were up looking for her.

"Is this your first train ride?"

Beatrice turned her attention to the man that occupied her carriage. "Excuse me?"

"Sorry I haven't spoke before but you've been sleeping since we left," the man leaned forward and extended his hand. "The name is Mr. Sayers."

Beatrice smiled and shook the man's hand. "I'm Beatrice...or Miss Winters but you can call me Beatrice."

Mr. Sayers smiled. "So where are you heading to, Miss Winters?"

"I'm going to Louisiana!" Beatrice declared proudly.

"All on your own?" Mr. Sayers asked. "And with so little luggage. That's a long way to travel all by yourself."

"I know what I'm doing," Beatrice said proudly.

Mr. Sayers laughed.

"Besides I'll be eighteen in December and perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Mr. Sayers continued to laugh. "Well you have pluck, I'll give you that but don't you think your family back home will miss you?"

Beatrice shifted in her seat. "What...what makes you think they don't know where I am?"

"With that little bag and that attitude?" Mr. Sayers raised a brow. "You might as well have runaway written on your forehead."

Beatrice rubbed her forehead as Mr. Sayers continued to laugh. "Fine, maybe I am running away but I don't regret it," she said. "They don't need me back there. All I do is cause trouble. I will for you if you stay with me long enough."

"I have worse troubles of my own I'm sure," Mr. Sayers said. "And I'll be getting off soon enough."

Beatrice relaxed in her seat. "Where is that anyways?"

"Philadelphia Pennsylvania," Mr. Sayers said. "Got to get away from that New England cold."

"Is that all?" Beatrice groaned. "I thought we'd be to North Carolina by now."

"You young people are always hasting," Mr. Sayers said. "Take some time to slow down and smell the carnations. Feel the breeze, skip some stones..."

"I'm not hasting," Beatrice said crossing her arms around her bag. Just who did this old man think he was trying to make her regret her actions and telling her she rushed too much? "Humph." she didn't need him telling her such things.

"It looks like it's going to be a nice day," Mr. Sayers suddenly said and Beatrice looked out the window.

She sucked her teeth. "I won't be able to enjoy it. I'll be stuck on this train until it switches in Carolina."

"Well..." Mr. Sayers said turning his attention to a book in his lap. "Why don't you steal a bit of it now?"

"What do you mean, steal?" Beatrice asked holding her bag tighter.

"Well you said you wouldn't be able to enjoy the good weather outside until you get off in North Carolina. So why not get your fill of it now? Go on, open the window and stick your head out."

Beatrice looked at the window in the carriage door. "Is that allowed?"

Mr. Sayers shrugged. "No one is around..."

Beatrice jumped up from her seat and lowered the window. The roar of the rails rushed in at her and her pink ribbon waved like a flag unfurled. Closing her eyes she stuck her head out and felt the wind smack strong, but liberating against her. A smile cracked her stubborn face. "This is amazing!" she shouted and laughed. "Mr. Sayers you have to try this!" The wind swept her voice away down the rails the way she had came but she wasn't looking back now. She had no regrets.

/

As Ladybird road up to the church her heart sank to her stomach. Samantha was there on the steps with her horse but Beatrice wasn't with her. Wysteria was seated on the steps nearby and stood when she saw Ladybird coming.

"I see you didn't find her either," Samantha said.

"I just don't understand where she could have gone," Ladybird said as she dismounted. "Oh, Beatrice."

"I think I may know," Wysteria said. "After I searched the park I went back to the house. Ladybird, you remember the map Younger Mr. Candlewood's friend left us? Well it's gone. The map had a message from Pa on it and he gave a sort of list of things we would need to follow it. I looked and Beatrice took those items with her. She also smashed her pig bank."

"You think she's gone after that treasure?" Ladybird questioned.

"Her note said she was going to get close to Pa," Wysteria said.

"Wait a moment," Samantha said. "What map, what treasure?"

"It's complicated, Samantha," Ladybird said. "I'm going to ride over to Silas' house and speak to his friend. You two meet me back at the house." She mounted the horse again and galloped out of the churchyard.

/

When Ladybird reached the Candlewood house she wasted no time knocking. When no one came to the door she knocked again until it opened. "Mr. Candlewood I need your help, is Silas home?"

"He is," Reuben said. "Is something wrong Miss Winters?"

"Beatrice has gone missing." She closed her eyes but not in time enough to catch her tears.

"What's wrong?" Silas asked as he came to the door.

"Miss Winters says Beatrice is missing," Reuben said.

"I'm sorry, Ladybird but I've been home all morning and she hasn't been by here," Silas said.

Ladybird nodded. "Wysteria thinks she may have run off after that treasure map your friend left us. Is he here now? I'd like to speak to him."

"Tennessee is out but he should be back soon," Silas said. "I'm sorry to hear this. When Tennessee gets back I'll send him over straight away."

"Thank you," Ladybird said. "Thank you both."

The brothers watched her go down the steps then Reuben closed the door. "Treasure map?"

Silas held up his hands. "I don't know what she's talking about."

"Sure you don't," Reuben said following him back into the parlor. "You're not thinking about running off again are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Reuben," Silas said. "Whatever business Tennessee has with the Winters is classified information between them." He picked up the book he had been reading and quickly occupied himself before his brother could ask any more questions.

Reuben sighed from the doorway. "I just don't want to lose you to the wilderness again. But I can't stop you from choosing the life you want."

Silas lowered his book. "I'm not going back to that. I promise you, Reuben." He watched his brother give a shallow nod then walk away. Promise, he had always told himself not to use that word too loosely.

/

Ladybird set the tea tray on the table between her guests and let them help themselves as she took a seat next to Wysteria who was holding Breakfast.

"She couldn't have gotten too far," Tennessee said. "I'll catch the next train out and try to cut her off in Louisiana. Most likely that is where she will be going first."

"She may go further than that," Wysteria said and all eyes turned to her. "We figured out what the next stop on the map is. Hands raised in praise. That's a Joshua tree."

"And she knows this?" Tennessee asked.

"Yes."

"Well then I had better hurry," Tennessee said. "I shouldn't have left that map here. She won't be the first to find it irresistible. I've become obsessed with it."

"What should we do?" Ladybird asked.

"Stay here in case she returns," Tennessee said. "She may lose heart."

"Not Beatrice I'm afraid," Ladybird said.

"I wish there was more I could do," Samantha said. "I feel it partly my fault for not helping her."

Ladybird touched her hand. "I thank you for your help," she said. "Just keep her in your prayers.

Samantha nodded and stood. "Well I had better get home then before my mother worries," she said. "I hope you find her. Keep me informed." They all bid her goodbye as she left the house.

Tennessee looked down at the list Wysteria had given him that was the map's decoded message. It would seem he was right to involve the sisters for they had provided a large missing piece.

He stayed discussing the situation with the remaining two sisters into the late afternoon then he took a long walk around the park to gather his thoughts. As darkness settled on the land he packed his saddle bag and mounted his leopard appaloosa. The horse's hooves echoed on the quiet cobblestoned streets as he rode through the town. He had a pretty good visual of the map in his mind. Take the train.

/

Wysteria climbed out of bed holding a purring Breakfast to her chest. She crossed the cold hardwood floor to Ladybird's bedroom and slipped inside.

"You can't sleep either?" Ladybird's voice greeted her. She raised the blankets and Wysteria slipped in next to her.

"I just feel like we should be doing something," she said.

"We are doing something," Ladybird said. "Mr. Wellbeloved is going to bring Beatrice back for us."

"But what if he doesn't find her?" Wysteria asked. "Maybe...maybe we should go help him."

"I don't think we could assist him much," Ladybird said. "And he seems to know what he is doing."

"But the map," Wysteria said. "Pa's message, it was directed to us. I think he wants us to follow it together."

"Wysteria," Ladybird sighed tiredly. "What a wild notion. Now tomorrow is Sunday and we have to get up early. Please, get some sleep." She rolled over and pulled the blankets to her shoulders.

Wysteria faced the other wall. "I think I'm right. What do you think Breakfast?" she whispered to the black cat. "Pa wants us to find that treasure. I just know it."

Breakfast looked up at her with round amber eyes purring in what Wysteria took to be an agreement.