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“Honey, I thought I made myself clear. Even if this pup pulled like Balto, I just don’t have time to train a puppy right now.”
    Fern’s face fell.
    Lizzie felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.
    “I’m sorry, girls.” Tim spoke more gently. “I’m sure he’ll find a good home with someone who’s looking for a pet.” Then he put on a smile and clapped his hands. “Hey, how about a ride? I’m about to hitch up my team to the tandem sled. Maybe Lizzie would like to try driving them.”
    Lizzie knew he was just trying to cheer them up by changing the subject. But she couldn’t help herself. “Really?” she asked. “I would love that!”

CHAPTER TEN
    “What a racket.” Mom had her hands over her ears. It was the next day, and Lizzie was back at Fern and Tim Carter’s — along with the rest of her family. It was time for their sled ride.
    Tim and Fern were ready for them. Fern had harnessed her team of dogs and hitched them up to her sled. The dogs were so excited. They could not wait to run. Lizzie could hardly believe how loudly they were barking. It sounded like six
hundred
dogs instead of six. Tongues hung out, tails wagged, ears were on high alert. The dogs pawed at the ground and lunged at their lines. It took both Tim and Fern to hold them so that they would not take off by themselves.
    After Lizzie put Bear into the puppy pen, she helped Mom into the sled, then settled the Bean on her lap. “You are not going to believe how fun this is.” She tucked a blanket around them.
    “What about you?” Mom asked.
    “We’ll be right behind you,” Lizzie said. “I’m going to help Tim hitch up his dogs.”
    Fern climbed onto the runners on the back of her sled, and the dogs went crazy with barking. “Hike!” said Fern. Tim let go of Sitka’s harness, and they were off. The dogs stopped barking the instant they began to run. They took off, dashing like lightning across the snowy field.
    “Wheee!” Lizzie heard the Bean cry. Lizzie laughed. She could just imagine Mom’s face.
    “Okay, Lizzie. Let’s get our team ready.” Tim went to the gate of the pen, grabbed two eager dogs by their collars, and turned them over to Lizzie, who let them drag her over to the sled where the gang line and tug lines were laid out,ready for the dogs to be clipped in. She attached Tater and Spud to the lines nearest the sled. They were the wheel dogs, the ones who helped steer the sled around corners. Tim brought out two more dogs — Donut and Waffle — and clipped them in front of Tater and Spud. Donut and Waffle were the point dogs, the strong ones who helped power the sled. The dogs were raring to go, just like Fern’s team. “Maybe you could help hold them!” Tim shouted to Charles and Dad over the wild barking.
    Dad stepped forward and grabbed Spud’s harness. “Got him!” Charles grabbed Tater’s. Tim was already bringing the last two dogs over to get clipped in. Muffin and T-Bone were the lead dogs, strong and bold. They were well trained to pay attention to Tim’s commands, but also smart and confident enough to do what they knew was right in any situation. Watching Tim clip them in, Lizzie thought Bear could have been a lead dog someday, if he’d only had the chance.
    Tim held T-Bone’s harness. “Okay,” he shouted. “Lizzie, help your dad and brother into the sled.”
    “What about you?” Dad looked up at Lizzie as she tucked a blanket around him and Charles. “Where are you riding?”
    Lizzie smiled and pointed to the back of the sled. It was Tim’s tandem sled, the one she’d been on yesterday, when she’d had the time of her life helping to drive a dog team. “I’m driving!” She headed back to stand on the runners. Her brother and father craned their necks around to stare at her. Charles’s mouth fell open.
    Lizzie cracked up. “Don’t worry! Tim’s in charge. But I’ll be your copilot.”
    “She almost
could
drive alone, if she wanted to.” Tim yelled over the