Watching her mother rub circles on a scrap of Agatha’s dress, Georgie remembers the day of the pigeon migration a few months ago when enough birds flew over town to darken the sky. While Georgie panicked at the onslaught of birds, Agatha wandered out among them with a parasol and spun in circles as the birds barely missed her. Georgie could only watch, transfixed by Agatha. The memory makes Georgie cry, and she runs from the funeral.

As Georgie shoots glass bottles with her rifle, she remembers an argument from several months ago. For her Christmas present, Agatha asked their grandfather for money to attend the University of Madison. Their grandfather refused, saying “the only thing she’d get at the university was a husband, and that could be found in Placid, Wisconsin, for free” (17-18). Instead, Agatha received embroidery needles from him, as well as the blue-green gown the body in the coffin was wearing. Agatha wore the gown to the New Year’s ball, where she danced with Billy. The neighbors bet that Agatha and Billy would wed. Georgie hated the idea because it meant Agatha would move to Minnesota with him.

Georgie also recalls a discussion with Agatha from a week after she saw Agatha kiss Billy. Agatha was upset with Georgie for telling Mr. Olmstead about the kiss, but Georgie argued it was the right thing to do. Georgie is set to inherit her grandfather’s store because she’s the more responsible worker and has a head for numbers. Though Agatha hates the store, Georgie is willing to offer her a full partnership and do the bulk of the work if Agatha will stay home. Agatha doesn’t agree; she tells Georgie she will love her no matter where she goes. A few days later, Agatha disappears.

Back in the present, Georgie sets down her rifle and starts to make a list of what she’ll need to find Agatha. The only item she writes is a horse, which stops her because she doesn’t know where she can get one.

That night, Georgie fills out her list by lamplight, taking advice from a book her grandfather has on traveling. Since Georgie’s never traveled before, she takes some of the advice, such as packing sewing supplies, but ignores others, such as only bringing cured food. The only item she still doesn’t know where to find is the horse. Finally, she decides to ask Billy for help since his family raises horses.

Georgie and Billy argue about Agatha—Georgie insists she’s alive while Billy says she’s dead because Agatha would have otherwise written him a letter. Georgie asks Billy about the kiss they shared. Billy seems shaken, so Georgie insists that she’s sure the kiss is related to Agatha’s disappearance. She says she’ll go on foot to find Agatha if she has to. She offers Billy five Bechtler gold coins for a horse, claiming they are worth $20. In reality, Georgie doesn’t know what they are worth, though she has heard her grandfather say they are more valuable than other money. Billy relents, and Georgie tells him to deliver the horse to the cemetery at midnight in two days.

For the next two days, Georgie squirrels away provisions and avoids her mother and grandfather as much as possible. When it is time to meet Billy, he is an hour late and brings Georgie a mule, not a horse. Georgie is irritated by this. Still, she is grateful when he gives her the gold coins back and helps her load up the animal with her supplies. After several failed attempts as the mule prances around, Georgie manages to mount the animal and tells Billy to leave. As he does, she notices his horse is loaded down with saddlebags, and she realizes he invited himself along.

Despite Georgie’s efforts, the mule doesn’t move until Billy turns his horse onto the road; immediately after, the mule relentlessly follows the horse. The two travel a mile before stopping at a spot with lean-tos and a fire pit. As Georgie settles into the largest shelter, Billy cares for the animals and then joins her. By the light of the moon, Georgie watches Billy prepare for bed. She is astonished to find he is very capable and moves with a fluid grace. Finally, Billy lies down. His back touches Georgie’s, and at once, Georgie feels an ache in her heart because she and Agatha “often slept back to back” (52).

Lying in the dark, Georgie thinks back to the first spring day after this past long winter. She and Agatha ran outside to enjoy the day. When they met up with Billy, Agatha told Georgie to stay behind while she went off with him. Georgie was annoyed and confused; she was certain Agatha would come back to announce that the two were engaged. Georgie came upon a group of pigeons—early scouts for the greater migration. She shot one with her rifle and tucked the bird into her coat to bring home.

On the way, she spotted Agatha alone, waiting for her, and demanded to know if Agatha would marry Billy. Agatha said she turned down Billy’s proposal. When Georgie asked if she and Agatha would run grandpa’s store together, Agatha said yes; though her response was unenthusiastic, Georgie thinks that “the fact she said it at all made me happy” (63). At home, Georgie’s grandfather praised her hunting skill while her mother fussed over her coat that was ruined with pigeon blood.