Grant looked at her. Neither spoke. Then he reached for his gloves. I'll be back before dark if I can. If I can.
Hannah hated those words. She followed him onto the porch. The air had changed. Cold came down from the mountains in sudden hard gusts, flattening the grass in long waves. Walter and three ranch hands were saddling horses near the barn.
Grant mounted a dark bay. His injured shoulder protested when he settled the rains. Hannah saw it. So did Walter. Nobody said anything.
Grant looked toward the porch. Henry stood behind Hannah. Molly beside him. Grant tipped his hat. Mind the house.
Henry nodded. Then Grant looked at Hannah. For a second, she thought he might say something meant only for her. Instead, he said, "Keep the stove going." Hannah almost laughed. "Go." He did.
The riders passed through the north gate and disappeared along the climbing road. By noon, clouds had swallowed the mountain peaks. At 1, the first flakes began. Small, dry, almost harmless. Hannah stood at the kitchen window, watching them drift past the glass.
Henry came in carrying kindling. Walter says mountain snow can stay up high while the valley stays clear. Walter isn't here. Henry set down the wood. He told me before.
Hannah nodded. That sounds like Walter. By two, the barn roof had gone white. The wind strengthened. Hannah put an extra log into the stove and checked the clock.
Grant had been gone 6 hours. Molly stopped asking when he would return. That worried Hannah more than the questions had. At 3:30, Hannah heard hooves. Henry was out the door before she could stop him.
Hannah followed. Three riders came through the gate. Walter first. Behind him, two hands, no Grant. The fourth horse came behind them.
Empty saddle. For one moment, Hannah could not hear anything. Not the wind, not the horses, nothing. Then Molly said, "Where's Papa?" Walter dismounted stiffly. Snow clung to his hat and shoulders.
His face looked older than it had that morning. Hannah walked toward him. Where is he? Walter removed one glove with his teeth. Horse slipped above the shale cut.
Hannah's stomach turned. Grant alive when we left him. Henry shouted. When you left him. Walter looked at the boy.
Listen to me. No. Henry. No. The boy turned toward the barn.