Free Whatever After #6: Cold as Ice by Sarah Mlynowski

really hope Jonah and Gerda are just a little up the road. “Oh,” I add, my hands going to my icy ears, “I left my polar bear mask in the basement again .”
    “Take these, Abby,” Sharon says. She hands me a pair of earmuffs from her duffel. “Oh, and these.” She hands me a pair of brown suede boots.
    “Thank you!” I say. “What else is inside? More warm clothes?”
    “Yeah. And some food. Carrots and apples and bread. And disguises.”
    “Really?”
    “Of course! If I learned anything from my time with the band of robbers —”
    I wait for Jonah to make his air-guitar motion and then feel a lump in my throat when I remember he’s not here.
    “— it’s that you always need to carry disguises. Just in case. Face paint. Sunglasses. Fake mustaches.”
    “Seriously? Fake mustaches?”
    The lump gets larger. Jonah would scream with excitement.
    “Of course. The best disguises always have mustaches.”
    I slip my polar bear feet into the boots. They are huge on me. But beggars can’t be choosers. Then I put on the earmuffs, which are nice and cozy.
    “I guess we could fly,” Ralph says.
    “Fly?” Sharon and I ask at the same time.
    “Yes, fly,” he says. “Have I never mentioned that I can fly? Most reindeer can.”
    “If you can fly, why didn’t we fly around instead of you pulling us all on the sled?” Sharon asks.
    “Did you think I was going to tell the robber ladies that I could fly? I have a bad back! I couldn’t fit you all on me, and I can’t fly with that sled. It’s too heavy. Speaking of which, I could really use a massage. Not that anyone ever offered me one.”
    “Poor Ralph,” I say, and give his back a little rub. “But why did we have to stand on you in the basement? Why didn’t you just fly up to the window? Wouldn’t that have been better for your back?”
    He shakes his head. “Reindeer can’t fly indoors. You guys really don’t know anything.”
    “So does this mean you’ll fly us to the ice castle?” Sharon asks.
    “I’ll fly you,” he says. “But are you sure really want to go there? What if the Snow Queen kisses you?”
    “Well, hopefully, she won’t be there,” I say. I don’t add, She’s not there in the fairy tale when Gerda goes back for Kai . That would require too much explaining. “And you don’t have to come in. You can just drop us all off.”
    “All right,” he says. “And then I’ll go north to find my herd! I haven’t seen them in years. When I was eighteen, I took off to explore. I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I got stuck with the robbers.” He turns to Sharon. “What about you? Where do you need to be?”
    “I don’t need to be anywhere,” she says with a slight look of sadness. “But I’m dying to see the castle.”
    Ralph bends down. “Come on, then. Don’t be shy. I’m not getting any younger.”
    “Yay!” Sharon bounces right onto his back. Then she grabs his antlers.
    “Do not touch the antlers,” he snaps.
    “But how will I steer you?”
    “You won’t,” he barks. “I am not a sled. I am a living, breathing, reindeer being. I can steer myself. Come on, Abby, get on. You go in front.”
    Honestly, I am not sure this is a good idea. There are definitely no seat belts. And I am not wearing a helmet. Maybe we should just walk.
    No. Time is ticking. I have to find my brother. And Prince. And I have to get home. Soon. If my parents wake up and find us missing, they’ll be so upset. And they’ll ground us for the rest of our lives. “Okay,” I say. I climb on in front of Sharon so I can better look for my brother and Gerda.
    First, Ralph starts to trot. Then he picks up more and more speed, going faster and faster, the bell around his neck ringing louder and louder. Then I’m tilting backward and —
    We’re in the air! We are in the air!
    Oh my gosh, we are in the air!
    I wrap my arms around Ralph’s neck for dear life. Please don’t fall off, please don’t fall off.
    “I have to