The boys all waited. John’s heart pounded.

And then it appeared from the bushes:

An enormous …

frog.

It looked at them with its bulging eyes.

“Croak!”

They all cracked up and watched the frog hop away.

And now it was getting late, and time to head home.

“We’ll be back for you, King Rattler!” Peter shouted.

They headed back to the pond, shoulders bumping, smiling and joking as they limped along. They said their good-byes and John made his way back toward his farm.

He breathed in the smell of new grass and fresh dirt. Soon he and Pa would be planting their wheat field. If their crop was a good one, they’d have enough money to start building a real house, made of wood. With two rooms — practically a castle compared to the soddy.

There would be more work than ever as they readied their field.

John thought nervously about what the spring and summer could bring.

Thunderstorms. Hail. Prairie fires. Funnel clouds. Grasshoppers.

Dakota was a harsh land.

But they were staying here, at least for now.

Ma and Pa had talked about leaving, in those terrible weeks after the blizzard. John had heard them whispering softly at night, when they thought he was asleep. That storm had terrified his parents. They’d been so desperate to find John and Franny that Pa had gone out into the storm.

He’d realized his mistake right away; within five steps Pa was completely lost in the white swirl. He stumbled blindly. And then he heard a bell clanging over the roaring wind. It was Ma, standing in the doorway, leading him home.

Leave or stay, leave or stay. Ma and Pa weren’t sure what to do. They’d poured every cent — and their hearts — into this farm. And what would they do back in Chicago? Pa had left his job. How would they pay for an apartment? How would they buy food?

They couldn’t plant a wheat field in Chicago. Their neighbors in the city had never visited with pies and eggs and jars of jelly. This would be their one and only chance to own a farm.

And so finally, Ma and Pa decided to stay put.

And John was glad. Because how could he leave the guys?

There would be more storms ahead, John knew. But somehow they’d all made it through the blizzard. Whatever was coming, they would face it.

Maybe that’s what it meant to be a pioneer.

John was about halfway home when something caught his eye, maybe twenty feet to the side.

It was a snake. A massive snake.

John stopped breathing.

Could it be?

It was King Rattler!

The giant snake was stretched out in the grass. His diamond skin gleamed. His tongue flickered in and out.

Moving very slowly, John lifted Pa’s rifle. He took aim at the giant snake.

Imagine what the guys would say when he brought them the rattle!

John put his finger on the trigger.

He steadied himself.

King Rattler didn’t move. And lying there, he actually didn’t look that fierce. He looked like a very old snake trying to soak up some last rays of sun.

John wondered: How long had that big snake been on this land?

A very long time. Longer than any of them.

Suddenly it seemed wrong to John, that this old snake would be gone.

He lowered the gun and walked quickly away.

They’d have to think of a different present for Miss Ruell.

John walked a mile more, his feet aching.

Finally he saw their soddy in the distance. He spotted Ma digging in her garden, getting it ready for spring planting. Franny was dancing around outside. Shadow and Princess grazed on tender green sprouts. Pa was on the roof of the barn, patching up the last of the winter holes. He saw John and waved.

The afternoon sun had turned the brown grass bright gold.

Whoosh.

The warm breeze blew, pushing John along.

Whoosh. It seemed to whisper gently into his ear.

You’re home.