Russell and Momma and I were back at Silver’s house a month later for Windy Sunday. It was my turn to make plans. I hadn’t told Silver or Aunt Marianne what we were going to do, but I was excited about it. Maybe a little bit nervous, too. But I wasn’t afraid. And that might have been a first.

“Can’t you even give me a clue?” Silver asked, as we started out across the pasture. “I mean, there’s really nothing to do out here unless you’ve got a horse.”

“Yeah,” said Russell. “This totally stinks without a horse.”

Aunt Marianne and Momma laughed behind us. “A horse?” Momma said. “Don’t tell me you two are regular riders now.”

“Oh yeah!” Russell shouted. “And not just riding, Momma. Flying!”

Momma laughed again and shook her head. “You’ll have to promise me that you’ll show me the next time we come.”

I watched her, smiling. She was a different person since she’d been home. Happier, lighter. As if something that she had been carrying for years had finally let go. I knew someone else like that, too.

“Wren!” Silver said. “This is driving me nuts! What are we going to do?”

“Just hold on,” I said, giving her a poke in the ribs. “You’ll see.”

“I’m starving,” Russell muttered. “I hope you packed pancakes.”

We were halfway across the tall grass when I spotted the pink scarf moving toward us. Loose strands of white hair fluttered out from under it like pieces of milkweed, and something red was tucked under one arm.

“Who’s that?” Russell asked.

Silver stopped walking.

“Come look.” I pulled both of them forward and grinned.

“Who is that?” Russell dug his heels into the ground, refusing to budge. “She looks weird.”

“It’s Bedelia Weatherly,” I said, talking to Russell. “And she’s not weird. She’s nice. She’s going to let us fly her kite.”

“A kite?” Russell’s eyes got huge. “I love kites!”

“How’d you get her to come down the mountain?” Silver’s voice was hushed.

“I walked up to her house yesterday, and I just asked.” I looked over at Momma. “I told her there was someone who really wanted to meet her again.”

Momma smiled at me.

Bedelia Weatherly came closer. She lifted one hand and waved.

We waved back and began to run.