Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9 In a blink, everyone in the beanery seemed to be on their feet. Janie leapt up and joined the search. People raced around the little shack, calling for Violet. They searched under tables, behind barrels, in dusty corners. But there was no sign of the little girl. Suddenly, Janie remembered what Violet had whispered to her: I'm going to build a snowman.

"She's outside!" Janie shouted, racing toward the door. "No, she couldn't have gotten out!" Mrs. Kayden gasped. But, of course, Janie knew how easy it was to slip away when no one was looking. To disappear. With so many people coming in and out of the beanery, Violet could have snuck outside without anyone noticing. Without even thinking, Janie opened the door and plunged into the blizzard. Frederick, Mr. McBride, and Miss Wade rushed out after her, along with John and some others. "Violet!" they called. "Violet!" Only the wind and snow answered them. The cold drilled through Janie's thin wool coat and up through the patched holes in her flimsy boots. Her bones seemed to freeze. Nobody would last long out here, she thought. Especially not a little kid. Janie thought of those many freezing nights she'd spent shivering behind

buildings, hiding out from the police. How her hands would get numb. How her teeth would chatter so hard she was afraid they'd crumble to dust. "Violet!" she hollered, as loudly as she could. "Violet!" She heard a sound, like a cat mewing. But no cat would be out here in the snow. Janie listened more closely. She narrowed her eyes, peering through the swirling snow the way she scanned the streets of Spokane for police and stray dogs. But all she saw were snowdrifts. Until… one of the snowdrifts seemed to move. Janie lurched forward and thrust her arms into the snow. She felt a warm body. Violet! Janie lifted the shivering little girl out of the snow and held her tight.

"Janie found Violet!" Frederick shouted, punching his fist in the air. "Brava!" cheered Miss Wade. Janie smiled—a real smile. The first one since Dash left.

They warmed Violet up in front of the crackling fire. Her mother had peeled off her soaking dress. Harry, the chef, had found a thick flannel shirt for Violet to wear and a blanket to wrap around her. Pretty soon the little girl was smiling and back to her bossy self. "I want more pancakes!" she demanded, climbing on Janie's lap. "I just cleaned the grill," Harry said. "But for you, sweetheart, I'll fire it up again." "Thank you," Mrs. Kayden said gratefully. "But I'm going to take Violet back to the train." Her baby boy had started to yowl. "Poor little Billy is exhausted. He needs a nap." "Go, Mommy!" Violet commanded. "I stay with Janie!" Miss Wade put a hand on little Billy's bald head. "Take the baby down to the train. We can keep an eye on Violet here." After Mrs. Kayden left, Violet devoured a stack of pancakes. When she was finished, she let out a

little burp, curled up against Janie's chest, and fell asleep. Harry stepped away from the grill, took off his apron, and plopped himself down on a stool. "I'm ready for my nap!" he said, rubbing his hands through his shaggy beard. "We've been working since three o'clock this morning." "You'll have some peace and quiet soon," Mr. McBride said with his usual smile. "Our train will be leaving in the next hour or two." Harry's eyebrows slid up. "Who told you that?" "The conductor. Mr. Pettit," said Mr. Riggins. "He's a good chap." "He is," Harry said. "One of the best on the Great Northern line. But I'm afraid he's dead wrong. Your train isn't going anywhere today. Probably not tomorrow either." "But we were told the tracks were just about cleared," Mr. McBride said with surprise. Harry shook his head. "There are slides happening up and down the line. The snowplows