The man in the yellow suit stole the horse and rode it back to the Foster house. He knocks on the door, and when Winnie’s grandmother answers, he tells her “I know where they've taken the little girl” (68).

Since it’s too dark to search for the horse, the Tucks go to bed, resolving to look for the animal in the morning. Mae makes up a bed for Winnie on the couch, but Winnie has trouble sleeping. Her thoughts whirl as she wonders about the Tucks, their story, and the spring. She doesn’t want to believe them, but she can’t bring herself to call them liars. Mae and Tuck come to check on her. Both are concerned and sorry for dragging her into their secret, but they are also so glad for her presence, even if it is only temporary. Touched by their sentiments, Winnie doesn’t know what to feel.

Later, Jesse visits. He agrees that keeping the spring’s secret is important, but he also thinks eternal life can be wonderful if lived right. He proposes Winnie drink from the spring when she’s 17. He’ll come back for her, and they can have “a good time that never, never stopped” (74).