One Came Home / Amy Timberlake / 257 pages / 8 Maids-a-Milking December Challenge

Georgie Burkhardt's big sister, Agatha, left with pigeoners. The sheriff went to find her and brought back a body in Agatha's dress.  The face and both hands were missing, so Georgie refuses to accept the identification.  She determines to go to Dog Hollow to discover the truth.  Georgie is accompanied by one of her sister's beaus, Billy McCabe.  Georgie's story begins with an account of the largest passenger pigeon nesting in Wisconsin, in 1871.  Her odyssey to find her sister sees her dealing with a cantankerous old mule, a ferocious cougar, counterfeiters, and murderers.  This is a riveting, fascinating story of one young girl's determination, love of family, and attempt to understand an at times difficult world - a true heroine.