"It's over there." Jason waved to the far end of the pond where a flash of orange peeked through the swirl of flakes. "Hurry up, Pumpkin." He loaded the net and sticks in the back of the truck and dug around in the cargo area for their boots.

A deep, loud cracking sound reverberated across the ravine, quickly followed by Mishayla's scream.

At first, Christina thought a gun had gone off. Instinctively, she flinched and looked wildly around for her daughter. The noise of splashing confirmed her next fear. She spun toward the noise and bolted across the pond with quick, sure strides.

Jason's urgent voice cut through the thudding panic in her head. "Get down!" he commanded. "Get on your stomach before you break through!" She threw herself on her stomach and crawled closer to the hole in the ice.

"I don't see her!" She plunged her arms into the black, icy water and without hesitation swung her skates over the edge and slid into the hole.

Jason yelled, "Chrissie, no!" She took a deep breath anyway and submerged her body.