Jessica turned the key again and still the car whined but would not start. The sun was going down and she knew she should not leave her car but she decided she could not make it overnight. She was going to have to try to walk to the house she remembered passing about a mile back.

She pushed with all of her might but could not get the driver side door open. The wind was strong and had created a snowdrift on that side of the car. She slid over to the passenger seat and used her feet to push that door open. She stood up and the wind burned as it blasted snow across her face. She wrapped an extra sweater she had in the car around her face and head and started toward where she thought the house was.

The combination of deep snow and wind gusts caused her to lose her balance and she fell into the snow. Jessica new she had to make it. She managed to get back to her feet and start walking again. Each step felt like walking in quicksand as the snow swallowed her legs.

Finally, she made it to the semi-plowed driveway of the house and she walked up the hill to the front porch. It was an old farmhouse but it seemed well kept. She really did not have much choice so she walked up to the door and rang the bell.

As the door opened, Jessica saw a slightly older man staring back at her. The look on his face was one of confusion as she unwrapped the sweater from around her head.

"Now what's a pretty little thing like you doing out here on a day like this."