a thin crust of snow cracked beneath the hooves of their horses , with a sound like breaking bones . she had n't thought it was even possible . he had to admit , by the time hed gotten around to finishing the last twenty-five or so , he could do them without thinking about it very hard . she scrambled out of the car and swung her handbag onto her shoulder . she hugs me to her , taking a long breath in , letting it roll slowly out . 