When the story begins, David's train is arriving at the tiny mountain crossing. David disembarks just in time to rescue a young Hoyle, named after the erstwhile doctor, David's mentor. Hoyle and his beautiful but quiet sister Cass take David home to mother because the night has fallen, with fresh snow. At their cabin, David tends the mother's broken hip.The next day, David travels another mile, up the trail to his friend's cabin. The crisp mountain...