The good news?

The sky has cleared and gone from gray and gloomy to blue and sunny. It’s less cold, and the bit of snow on the ground and trees is pretty.

Also: The bears have not followed us. At least, not yet.

The bad news? We haven’t found Goldie.

But we did find her footprints in the snow. Prince sniffed them out. So we’re following the footprints back up the hill.

It’s so slippery. I wish I was wearing my boots. Maybe that’s what Goldie was looking for. Snow boots.

“Too bad we can’t sled up a mountain,” Jonah says, clutching his skateboard. Prince whimpers, as if in agreement.

I keep checking over my shoulder for the bears, but there’s still no sign of them. Ugh. I’m worried they’re going to pop out from behind a tree at any minute.

“Why were those bears even awake?” I ask. “It’s winter! Shouldn’t they be hibernating?”

“If they have their own food and houses, they don’t need to hibernate,” Jonah explains. “Bears don’t hibernate in zoos.”

Oh. Right.

We keep following Goldie’s footsteps in the snow. And then —

“Hey, Abby,” Jonah says. “The footsteps stop right by that tree.”

I look at where he’s pointing. He’s right.

Suddenly, someone jumps out from behind the tree. Ahhh! It’s one of the bears!

Oh. Phew. Never mind. It’s Goldie.

“Why are you following me?” she demands, hands on hips.

“We …” I take a step back. “We just want to make sure you’re okay.”

“Really?” She narrows her eyes. I can tell she doesn’t trust me. Prince barks at her, and Goldie takes a step back from him. She doesn’t seem that comfortable around animals.

“Well, to be honest, we were worried something was wrong,” I explain. “You were searching for something at the bears’ house. Why were you there?”

“Why were you there?” she counters, jabbing her finger at me.

Whoa. I take a step back.

“We crashed into it by accident,” Jonah answers. Which is the truth.

“Oh,” she says. “Well …” She tosses her long hair behind her shoulder. “The bears stole a book of mine. I wanted to get it back.”

“Can bears read?” Jonah asks.

Goldie stares at him. “Of course they can read. Why wouldn’t they be able to read? Can you read?”

“Yes,” Jonah snaps.

“Do you need help getting the book back?” I ask Goldie, trying to keep us focused.

Her eyes widen. “Uh, no.”

“Goldie, if you need help, just ask,” I tell her. “That’s why we’re here.”

“Huh?” she says, looking from me to Jonah and back at me. “What do you mean?”

“I just mean that we’re happy to help you,” I say quickly. She doesn’t need to know all about Maryrose and the magic mirror.

“What were your names again?” she asks us, still sounding suspicious.

“I’m Abby,” I say. “This is Jonah, and that’s Prince.”

“That’s right,” she says. “I remember now. I’m Goldie.”

She sticks out her hand and I shake it. Then she lets go.

“Maybe we should write the bears to ask for your book back,” I offer. “Do you have a paper and pen?”

She stares at me for a second, then looks at the ground. “Um, no, that’s okay. Maybe the bears didn’t steal my book after all. I’m not sure. I have to go. Nice to meet you!” she says. “Later, gators!” Then she turns around and hurries down the hill and out of view.

Hmm.

“That was weird,” Jonah says.

“Yeah,” I say. “Super weird.”

“If Goldie doesn’t want our help,” Jonah says, “should we just go home?”

“I guess so …”

I look down at my watch.

My wrist is empty.

Wait. Where’s my watch? Wasn’t I wearing my watch before? My heart races. Yeah. I was definitely wearing my watch before.

Did it fall off?

I look all around me on the ground. I don’t see it.

“What’s wrong?” Jonah asks.

“My watch is gone …” I say.

“Maybe it’s buried in the snow somewhere between here and the bears’ cottage.”

“But how did it just fall off?” I always make sure it’s on tight. I need that watch.

I try to think about the last time I looked at it. Was it when I was at the bears’ house? Was it outside, when the mailbox-portal was swirling? I can’t remember.

Did something brush against my wrist?

Hmm.

Goldie. Goldie shook my hand.

Did Goldie steal my watch?

Goldie said the bears stole her book. But maybe she’s the one who steals things … ?

Argh. No wonder she made such a quick getaway and acted so sketchy!

I need my watch back. Now.

“I think Goldie stole it,” I say through gritted teeth. “We have to find her.”

Jonah whistles and shakes his head. “She’s something, all right.”

Woof! Prince agrees.

We run the way Goldie went, down the hill. My heart is beating so fast, and not just from running.

“I see her!” Jonah cries.

I look up and there she is, sprinting straight toward the metal fence we saw before, the one separating the forest from the town.

“After her!” I shout.