The sun was blinding on the thick blanket of new snow that covered the fields like icing. Karen rocked in the saddle as she road silently alongside Cody out to the far pasture to check on fences. Of all the things about farm life, she missed this the most. Riding the winter fence line to check for breaks. Karen reached down and patted the neck of the big gelding trying to keep from thinking about her own horses-the ones that weren‟t hers anymore. Cody‟s farm was magnificent. Grander than any dream she and Wayne had ever had for their modest little place. The patch of fence they were headed for was in an area that was almost inaccessible to vehicles in the summer months, but when snow hit, there was only one way to get there; and that suited Karen just fine. It was a wonderful morning for a ride. In spite of the cold she was warm atop the steamy animal as they rode. "Where‟s your head, Karen?" Karen jerked to look at her riding partner, she had been off in a different world; she frowned, she must have been ignoring him a long time. "Sorry. Guess I was just day dreaming." She sighed, she didn‟t want to admit it, but it was more than just her horses she missed. She had been off in a different world all right, off in a world of sunshine. Thinking about California, the pool, the parties, Mona, Alex-Isaiah. "Uh huh." Cody reined in his horse suddenly. Karen looked back as she pulled up several paces past him. She studied his face; his features had a sad, drawn down look. She waited while he sat quietly, looking around the clean, white fields, drinking in the sunlight and fresh air; she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. He looked like the"Marlboro Man‟.