Sophia, trying to concentrate on a term paper in the library, gets a phone call from a panicky Marcia. Luke has shown up at the sorority house. Brian is there with some buddies and they have been drinking. Sophia heads across campus. When she gets to Greek Row, Luke is indeed in a confrontation with Brian, who slugs Luke. Sophia intervenes, and the two retreat to her room, where Luke tells her that he has decided to retire from bull riding. He asks Sophia to go away with him to the cabins for a couple of days, so they can decide whether they can start over. Sophia agrees.

At the cabin, it is snowing. Luke hints that Big Ugly Critter was at the Florence competition, but tells Sophia nothing else. Swept up in the renewal of their love, the two have sex. Sophia relishes the “warm and peaceful” (352) feeling. On the way back from the cabin, the road is icy. Luke suddenly pulls over and tells Sophia to call 911: There’s a truck off the road with someone trapped inside.