"Don't tell me you're that eager," Jackson called out when she darted ahead. He half suspected what was coming, but was hoping he was wrong. It was that hope that led to him eating a faceful of snow when he was too slow to bring his hand up to protect himself.

He shook his head to clear most of the snow off, then wiped his hand over his face to do away with the rest of it. "That's it," he warned her, opening his jacket to unbuckle his holster and set it aside. (Never bring a gun to a snow fight was a basic principle., even in his day). Then he adjusted his hat and rushed her.