Matt kept driving. “Oh, you mean the dog team Darby asked me about. No comparison.”

“Did you even have dogs?”

“No. I admit I was teasing Darby, but my neighbors did have a dog. They had a big mutt named Lucky. But Ma, I mean Grandma, didn’t believe in keeping dogs unless they were smart and useful. She grew up where dog sled teams were used for transportation along the frozen Yukon River.”

Jorden’s jaw dropped. The rivers in New Jersey almost never froze. Milder temperatures, and also pollution, kept them open. “You’re not kidding this time, are you?”

“No. Back in Grandma’s youth frozen rivers were how her family traveled in the winter. They used frozen rivers like we use roads. Of course, in the summer they used boats.”

Jorden knew from his tone he wasn’t being playful; he was talking about a very cold place. “How does anyone live up there?”

Matt patted her hand. “Believe me, they have for thousands of years. Don’t you think you’d like to try it?”

“No way! I’ll take the green grass and warm temperatures over frozen rivers.”

“Too bad. You’re missing a lot of fun.”

Matt drove up to a major intersection, stopping at the red light. He leaned over and turned up the radio when “Crystal Blue Persuasion” started to play. “I like this one.”

Jorden sat back and tapped her feet to the music. Soon, Matt pulled into the last parking spot on her side of the apartment complex. “Remember, next Wednesday. Same place—same time.”

“It’s a deal,” Jorden replied.

“Hold on. It’s dark, I’ll walk you up. Have you seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?”

“No.”

“Want to go Saturday night?”

Jorden hesitated. Her inner voice said no. Instead she replied, “Sure. I haven’t seen a movie in a long time.”

Loud voices and laughter boomed out when Jorden reached the second floor. She looked at Matt. “It’s always like this. Want to come in?”

“I think I’ll pass. See you Saturday around seven.”

A voice from inside called out, “Who’s out there?”

“It’s me and Matt.”

“Come in and join us,” Emma Lynn shouted.

Matt shook his head, waved, and skipped down the stairs.

“Where’s Matt?” Emma Lynn asked as Jorden stepped inside.

“Gone.”

“Too bad.” Emma Lynn turned back to Kyle.