My fingers had gone from cold to painful and now they were numb. My legs were warmer where they squeezed the horse's sides. I'd thrown my scarf over my head and tied it beneath my chin an hour ago, but it offered no real protection from the snow. It had only been light flurries when I left the stable, but now the flakes were thick and came down so heavily I could see nothing in front of me. The wind had picked up and it blew the snow sideways, the chill biting into my very marrow. I was lost. Completely and absolutely lost, which meant I was going to die. Virginia City had been my destination when I'd set off, the town only two hours on horseback from home, but I'd been out for so much longer, and the town was nowhere in sight. Of course, nothing was in sight. My eyelashes were coated with snow and it was getting harder and harder to remain awake. Falling asleep would be bliss, especially with warm, thick blankets, a roaring fire and hot tea. Dreaming as I was did nothing to change my predicament.
