The ride was exhilarating; the near hyperthermic cold air emasculating.

They were on a trail of some kind, she knew, because she could see tracks in the snow; horses and snowmobiles or quads, as well. When they seemed to reach the top and ready to go down the other side, Mitch turned left, and they rode along the ridge. Ronnie looked left and then right in search of the perfect tree. There were small clusters of trees and then some lone ones. She could see right away why they were ...