Ransacker

by Emmy Laybourne

  Hanne turned to Sissel, who was helping her dress.

  “Is this all too fancy?” she asked Sissel in sign language. “Too much?”

  Sissel smiled. “No,” she said. Miss Early insisted that Sissel speak and sign at the same time, just like her siblings. “You deserve a beautiful wedding, my sister.”

  Hanne peered into the mirror. She smoothed her hands down the skirt of her bunad.

  McKray had sent the Hemstads’ beloved trunk by wagon right after the shoot-out. In it was the traditional Norwegian costume that Hanne had sewn, embroidered, and beaded for herself over the course of many long winters when she was a girl. First, there were the voluminous white petticoats, embroidered at the bottom. The skirts that went over them were black, with rows of red and gold braid at the bottom. A white shirt with full sleeves and a crisp, high neck was to be worn under a tight-fitting vest. It was the vest that Hanne had poured her attentions into, month after month by the fireside back in Norway. Two panels patterned with diamonds ran up the sides, framing a V-shaped panel right in front, which was worked with starflowers and square Norse crosses in gleaming white and gold floss. The finishing garment was a crisp white apron edged with more embroidery.

  This splendid getup, back home in Norway, would be topped with the bridal crown, a tall, majestic antique that belonged to the town’s church. The bride’s hair was always worn loose, brushed out and gleaming, with the crown set atop her head. Here in America, there was no such crown to be found.

  Hanne wouldn’t let herself be sad about that—she had every other thing she wished–most important a loving and devoted fiancé waiting at the church.

  There was even a fiddler waiting to play her to the church. A nervous young man dressed in his Sunday best could be heard tuning his instrument outside the window right now. The only thing she worried about was that her head might look too plain.

  “Should I put my hair up?” she asked Sissel in sign language. “Is it too strange down this way?”

  Hanne’s mouth felt dry. Her heart was pounding.

  “Wait,” Sissel said. She slipped out the door, going to her own room next door and came back holding a crown!

  She handed it to Hanne. It was ingeniously made—not of metal, but of gold metallic lace.

  “I made it with Alice,” Sissel said.

  Hanne turned the delicate crown in her hands. They had built the crown onto a circle of copper wire, standing the lace up on its edge and reinforcing it with wire. It was nothing like the tall crowns from home, but it was lovely and special. A crown made just for her.

  “Sissel, thank you. It’s beautiful.”

  Sissel took the crown from Hanne and placed it carefully on Hanne’s head, securing it with several hair pins. Sissel arranged Hanne’s thick blond hair so that it fell in waves over her shoulders and down her back.

  “You’re perfect. Now it’s time to go,” Sissel said.

  Hanne clutched at her sister’s hands. Suddenly she felt shy and nervous. Why had she insisted on wearing her bunad? Alice had offered to make her a lovely American dress.

  “It’s too much,” Hanne said. “The dress. Oh, I wish I had an American dress!”

  She was horrified to find tears pricking the corners of her eyes.

  “Breathe, Sister. Take a breath,” Sissel said. She smiled at Hanne.

  Hanne was struck by how efficient and grown-up Sissel looked. She had matured years in these past few months.

  “Do you think the Gods would want to see you wed in some silly, lacy American dress?” Sissel joked. “No, today you are in your best Norwegian clothes, telling everyone who sees you where you are from and who you are.”

  Sissel gently turned Hanne and directed her to look in the mirror hanging above the washbasin.

  “Look how radiant and beautiful you are, Hanne Amundsdotter ‘Hemstad.’ You make us all proud today. And…” Here Sissel’s eyes began to match Hanne’s with glimmering unspent tears. She whispered the rest: “If our mother and father could see you, they would be bursting with pride.”

  * * *

  KNUT AND STIEG were waiting downstairs.

  “Oh, Hanne! Look at you!” Knut cried. He and Stieg both wore matching charcoal-colored suits that Alice and her mother had sewn.

  Stieg seemed to have no words. He nodded and gulped, fighting tears himself.

  After today, things would change. Stieg was going to Norway in a few weeks to join Björn. The two young men had plans to found a small boarding school for Nytteson with the money that the Baron had left to Björn.

  Hanne and Owen had invited Knut to live with them at the ranch, and he accepted their offer. He had plans to farm some of the former pasturelands, and Owen was happy for him to do so. Owen wasn’t going to raise cattle, but work on training cow dogs, as he’d always wanted to do.

  As for Sissel, Hanne wasn’t sure what her sister wanted to do, but judging by the long visits that Isaiah McKray had been making to the ranch, she felt confident Sissel would be married within the year.

  Hanne liked to watch them walking together. Sissel seemed completely relaxed and herself around him. McKray’s sign language was the best of all of them. He could make Sissel laugh, and the sound of her giggling was a golden, glittering gift to her siblings. Hanne imagined she and McKray would live here, in Carter. Close enough to visit, but far enough away for Sissel to have as big a life as she wanted.

  Stieg took Hanne’s right arm, and Knut took her left. Sissel walked ahead with the fiddler, who set a lively pace. He was a good Norwegian boy and knew all the traditional wedding songs—the Telemark bridal march and “The Miller Boy’s Wedding March” and “Spring Dance Song.”

  * * *

  THE SCANT PEOPLE in town who hadn’t been invited to the wedding—some prospectors who still lingered in town, and several families passing through—came into the street to clap and cheer for them as they went by. Hanne watched Sissel marching ahead, laughing and clapping out of time with music she couldn’t hear.

  A raven was perched on the eaves of the church building. Hanne saw it and stopped for a moment. Stieg saw it as well. “Heill, Odin,” he said quietly. “The All-Father comes to see you wed, Sister.”

  Hanne murmured, “Heill, Odin,” and bowed her head.

  There was a small gaggle of Stieg’s former students waiting outside the church. They cried out joyfully, seeing the procession, and the raven took wing.

  In what felt like a very short time, the procession reached the church.

  The fiddler began to play the wedding march, and slowly walked up the stairs and into the church. The children rushed around him to get inside.

  Hanne felt her body trembling. Stieg patted her hand on his arm reassuringly. They all stepped into the small foyer.

  Inside, the church was beautifully decorated with the looping garlands of fabric and ribbon and filled with people—their friends—standing, craning their necks to see her. There were the Oswalds and there was Mr. Collier, seated, improbably, next to Lucy, who was grinning her lopsided smile.

  Sissel took one last look at her sister over her shoulder. She gave Hanne a wink, then straightened her shoulders and walked down the aisle, with no trace of a limp. Isaiah McKray was standing in the first row, waiting for her.

  Everyone rose as Hanne and her brothers stepped into view. Between the three of them—Stieg, Hanne, and Knut—they were too wide to fit down the aisle. There was a laugh as they sought to adjust themselves; Hanne was glad for the laugh because it broke her own nervousness for a moment. Stieg and Knut ended up stepping just behind her so that Hanne stood alone at the top of the aisle.

  She looked up and saw Owen Bennett waiting at the end of the aisle for her, standing in a fine black suit, next to Reverend Neville. His face was turned to her with such hope and delight, she thought her heart might burst with the joy of it.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I have many people to thank, but before I move into gratitude, I first want to mention that I’ve ta
ken liberties with the geography and history in this book regarding the small town of Carter, MT. I’d like to speak directly to the residents of Carter, MT. By the US Census, I see there were 58 of you as of 2010. I’ve made your town a bit bigger, relocated it somewhat and played with its timeline. I hope you’ll forgive me for these liberties. To make it up to you, email me proof of residency and I will send you a copy of Ransacker for free. Now, on to the festivities!

  I am indebted to my agent, Susanna Einstein, for her endless confidence in me and in this book. I’ll never forget the way she stood with me as I wrote draft after draft of this darling novel. Thank you, Susanna.

  The support and enthusiasm of my manager, Eddie Gamarra, was also invaluable during the writing process. I’m so excited to be storming Hollywood with you, Eddie. I am terrifically fortunate to be working with you and everyone at Gotham Group.

  I have a secret weapon and her name is Kristin Bair. Thank you, Kristin, for your tireless reading and your excellent notes. Both Sissel and I would have been truly lost without you.

  I have another secret weapon (every author/mom needs at least two) and it’s my brother, Sam. Brothers, your friendship and advocacy sustain me and make my work possible. And while I’m on the topic of making my work possible, I’m forever thankful to my parents, Geraldine and Kit Laybourne, for their unfaltering and exuberant support.

  I’ve had a wonderful run with Feiwel & Friends and this seems like the perfect time to express my gratitude.

  Jean Feiwel, thank you for believing me and taking so many great risks with me.

  Liz Szabla, I’m truly grateful for your vision and for helping me keep the faith. I’ve loved getting to work so closely with you.

  Holly West, many, many thanks for the care and attention you gave me and my first books.

  Alison Verost, thanks for your advocacy and for the many cocktails we’ve shared on the road!

  Molly Ellis, you wonderful lady, you’ve been such a joy to work with all these years. Thank you.

  Greg Ruth, thank you for another perfect illustration. When I see Hanne and Sissel in my mind, I see them as you’ve drawn them.

  Liz Dresner, thanks so much for your work designing the cover and the interior.

  Anne Heausler, you’ve made each of my books better in a thousand ways. My gratitude always!

  Morgan Rath, it’s been such a pleasure to get to know you. Many thanks for all your work to get the word out about Berserker and Ransacker.

  And my endless gratitude to everyone else at Macmillan who helped to produce, market, and promote this book and all my others. You guys love books and it shows!

  Thank you to my rock-star assistant, Melissa Jolly, at AuthorRX and to Caitlin O’Brient Bauer and the team at Royal Digital Studios for my awesome new website. I also want to thank Sandy Hodgman at Hodgman Literary and Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management for their fine work on my behalf. I’m also thankful to Lauren Festa, who was instrumental in promoting Berserker and ran a truly fierce street team. She even bought a Viking helmet!

  I love belonging to the YA community and I want to take a moment to speak to my author friends—thank you for your companionship and your counsel. This wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without you. Anna Banks, Leigh Bardugo, Libba Bray, Jessica Brody, Ava Delaira, Adam Gidwitz, Mallory Kass, David Levithan, Marie Lu, Alex London, Jennifer Mathieu, Gretchen McNeil, Danielle Paige, Mary Pearson, Mitali Perkins, William Ritter, Leila Sales, Tamara Ireland Stone, R.L. Stine, Greg Cope White, Kiersten White, and Jeff Zentner. You all inspire me to be a better writer and I love hearing your stories.

  I’m thankful to Ed Manning and David Conway for writing with me once a week for, oh, the last three years. Thanks also to those who’ve joined our group along the way-Donna Miele, Stacey Hascoe, Larry Grossenbacher, Seth Gable, and Katherine Gates.

  Ellie and Rex, I’m so proud of you guys I can’t even say.

  Greg, you’re every romantic lead I’ve ever written rolled into one and I couldn’t have written any one of them without your love and support. Thank you.

  Lastly, I want to thank all the readers, librarians, teachers and booksellers who have connected with me over the years. Your enthusiasm in getting the word out about my books means so much to me. I am honored you choose to spend your time with me in the pages of my books.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Emmy Laybourne is a screenwriter, lyricist, and actress. She has acted in movies, television, and improv groups including Chicago City Limits. She lives in Chestnut Ridge, New York, with her husband and their two children. She is the author of the Monument 14 trilogy. You can sign up for email updates here.

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  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Copyright

  A FEIWEL AND FRIENDS BOOK

  An imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC

  175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010

  RANSACKER. Text copyright © 2019 by Emmy Laybourne. All rights reserved.

  Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Laybourne, Emmy, author.

  Title: Ransacker / Emmy Laybourne.

  Description: First edition. | New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2018. | Sequel to: Berserker. | Summary: Sixteen-year-old Sissel Hemstad and her siblings have been living peacefully in small-town Montana, but two men, one a mine owner and one a Pinkerton spy, are courting her, knowing her gift as a Ransacker could doom them all.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018003164 | ISBN 978-1-250-134
14-1 (hardcover) | ISBN 978-1-250-13415-8 (ebook)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Ability—Fiction. | Supernatural—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | Frontier and pioneer life—Montana—Fiction. | Immigrants—Fiction. | Norwegian Americans—Fiction. | Mythology, Norse—Fiction. | Montana—History—19th century—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.L4458 Ran 2018 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018003164

  Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto

  First edition, 2019

  eISBN 9781250134158