Free Taken by Virginia Rose Richter

town (Renting or owning the house?)
    5. Bryce and I will try to go by the Colson house. I guess we’ll have to walk.
    6. Should I call police yet? (wait until you go by the Colson house and check it out)
    She looked at the list and thought it was pretty thin, evidence-wise.
    All night, Jessie tossed and turned. Every time she woke, she heard the storm roaring outside. Finally at seven o’clock, she could stand it no more. She got up, made her bed and quietly washed her face and brushed her teeth.
    Dressed in fleece-lined pants and a thick turtleneck pullover, she took a heavy quilted jacket, warm scarf, stocking cap and wooly mittens from her closet. Carrying her snow boots, she tiptoed down the stairs and set the boots and coat by the front door.
    In the kitchen, she fixed toast and cereal then sat at the table and ate.
    She thought ten o’clock would never come. Watching the clock seemed to make the time crawl. At five of ten, she put on her boots over thick wool socks, zipped up her coat, pulled the knit hat down almost to her eyes and tucked her braid inside it. She could hear Phillip upstairs talking to Mrs. Winter. Jessie pulled on her mittens, carefully opened the door and slipped out onto the porch. I hear bells. But those aren’t church bells.
    A prancing horse pulled a beautiful sleigh from Bryce’s driveway. It was red and big with a row of seats facing one another. Bells were attached to it and rang as the sleigh moved.
    Looking at this fancy rig, Jessie could hardly believe her eyes. Bryce sat on the upper seat next to Mr. Sanderson, the museum caretaker, who was driving the horse.
    The sleigh stopped in front of her house and Jessie ran to the curb. “Where did this come from?” she said. “It looks like something in the movies!”
    Bryce hopped down laughing, helped her into the sleigh and sat down beside her. “Isn’t it great?” Mr. Sanderson found it in the storage building with old museum stuff. He’s been restoring it. Be sure to fasten your seat belt.” Bryce covered their laps with a thick wool blanket.
    Jessie hooked her seat belt buckle. “Did they have seat belts on sleds in the old days?”
    Bryce laughed. “My dad had them installed.”
    Mr. Sanderson turned to them and said, “You kids ready?”
    “We’re ready, Mr. Sanderson,” said Jessie. “It’s a beautiful sleigh.”
    “Whose horse is it?” Jessie asked Bryce.
    “It’s his. Her name is Dolly. I guess he had a horse and sleigh in Sweden when he was young.”
    “Does he know what we’re doing?” Jessie asked.
    “Yes,” said Bryce. “We have it all planned. I couldn’t figure out why the dog would be in Mrs. Livingston’s neighborhood if he lived in the country.” He pulled on thick wool gloves. “So I looked at the street map in Dad’s car and the Colson house is only about six blocks from the Livingston house. It’s right over the city line and on an unpaved road.”
    “What’s the plan?” Jessie asked.
    “Mr. Sanderson will take us for a little ride and come at the Colson house from a different direction,” said Bryce. “Then, when we get close to the house, you will feel sick. I’m sure you can slump over and act sick, Jessie. Then I’ll run up to the door and knock loud. I’ll ask to use their phone to call your mom.”
    “Do you think that’s dangerous?” asked Jessie.
    “What are they going to do? Shoot me?” Bryce laughed.
    “Maybe. Don’t laugh. Daddy says people who steal a baby are real criminals.”
    “What I’m trying to do is knock so loud that it will wake up a baby,” said Bryce.
    “It’s good,” Jessie said. “If you hear a baby crying, we’re going right to the police station and show them the bracelet. We’ll tell them what we know,” Jessie said.
    “Right. I told Mr. Sanderson that too.”
    The storm was over, the sun was out and the deep snow sparkled on the streets and lawns. Dolly, the horse, stepped high and threw her head about. She was almost smiling in the