Summary

The story resumes in late March as 17-year-old Leni drives a snow machine out to hunt. She tracks mountain sheep, and even when the most direct route crosses an unsafe section of river, she crawls over the cracking ice. Only when she tastes the blood on her face does she feel afraid. When she does catch her sheep, the kill is illegal, but she needs the food. Each year, Ernt has grudgingly left for the pipeline. He will return in a month, and though his wages have helped the family’s finances, he has changed little. While Tom and Large Marge watch, he hides his temper, but Cora and Leni must carefully observe his moods.

When Leni gets home, she finds the house cheerful: Tom and Large Marge play cards as Cora cooks. Tom helps Leni prepare the sheep, while Leni carefully ignores...