One Came Home

Hours later, Georgie wakes in a fine room in a Dog Hollow hotel. Mr. Olmstead brought her and Billy there. After bathing and dressing, Georgie goes to the train station to ask about Agatha. The ticket master says he may have seen someone resembling Agatha board a train a few weeks ago but can’t be sure.

Mr. Olmstead sent the sheriff after the counterfeiters for attacking Georgie and Billy. Georgie explains her face is bruised because she fell and that she shot the thumb off one of the men. At this, Mr. Olmstead is impressed, saying, “[N]ow I see that no one should underestimate Georgie Burkhardt” (207).

Billy is alive but badly hurt, and he will stay in Dog Hollow until he’s well enough to travel. Georgie asks Mr. Olmstead to take her home. Mr. Olmstead agrees but first tells Georgie that her grandfather died two days ago.

Mr. Olmstead offers Georgie a seat on his wagon, but she opts to ride the mule home after everything the animal’s done for her. She arrives in town just as her grandfather’s funeral finishes. When Georgie’s mother sees her, she runs to scoop her up in a hug, saying: “One came home! Georgie, you came home!” (213).