Tess wasn’t surprised when they landed, lightly, as if they’d never been flying, at all, and pulled up to Hyde Park, and Mr. Cortland brought the carriage to a stop at the corner. It was as if Comet had known where they were going. A perfect place to see the snow. Except that there was so much snow now, it was hard to make out anything else. She could see the Ferris wheel up high in the background, stationary, with snow falling all around it.

Tess thought it was the carriage they’d been following parked right in front of them, the one that she’d seen “the person who used to be Max” step in to. But the driver pulled the reins and turned the carriage around and drove right past them. He passed so closely that Tess could see that only the driver was in the front seat and there was no one sitting in the carriage.

Tess jumped down without waiting for Mr. Cortland to come around the side. She could see footprints and a path straight through the snow in the park, as if someone had recently walked there and left a path behind them. The snow was so high—she reasoned it was almost up to her shoulder now—with no sign of the snowfall stopping. And no sign of “the person who used to be Max,” just the trace of footsteps deep in the snow going into the park and she reasoned that must have been where he went except she couldn’t catch any sight of him.

~ CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT ~

venturing into the park

Mr. Cortland jumped down from the driver’s seat and quick as a wink unbridled Comet, freeing her from the carriage.

He led Comet over to Tess, gently holding onto the reins as he guided her. The horse was unsaddled but there was a blanket across her back obviously intended to help the beloved horse stay warm.

Comet’s eyes were clear and knowing and she looked directly at Tess as Mr. Cortland, with a nod, handed the reins over.

Tess realized she didn’t have a moment to consider it. There was not time to make any other choice. She put her foot in Mr. Cortland’s outstretched cupped hand, as a way to lift her on to the back of Comet as Tess threw her right leg over the horse’s back, and took her seat, holding the reins firmly in her hand.

“It’s all right,” Tess whispered to Comet. “I know that we can find them.” She used the word “them” on purpose. Tess knew that she had to find Colin in order to find Max. Or maybe it was the other way around. But it was both of them she had to find.