On Friday, December 4, Martha walks with Ephraim to Mill Creek Bridge to see him off on the surveying trip Judge North has forced on him. The departure matters because Martha needs Ephraim to return in time for her testimony in Rebecca Foster's case, and she fears North is using the assignment to keep her from defending Rebecca. At the bridge, Martha worries openly about the timing, the weather, and North escaping justice if Ephraim is delayed.

Ephraim tries to calm Martha. He says he will stay at Fort Halifax at night, ride to the site each day, and return within two weeks. He insists he has taken precautions and reminds Martha that after nearly thirty-five years of marriage, she should trust that he will come home. Martha does trust him, but she distinguishes trust from fear, especially as she sees the storm building and the winter gear packed onto Sterling alongside the hooded falcon, Percy.

The farewell becomes a moment of deep intimacy. Martha reflects on their long marriage, on the certainty that one of them will someday bury the other, and on her determination to value the time they still have. Ephraim kisses her goodbye, mounts Sterling, and rides across the bridge. Martha watches until he disappears from sight, trying to master her anxiety.

As Martha turns back toward the house, she stops when she sees the silver fox again nearby in the snow. Struck by the animal's beauty and steady gaze, Martha calls her Tempest, understanding that naming the fox creates a sense of care and obligation. The fox comes a little closer while Martha kneels and offers her bare hand, but then the animal startles and bolts into the woods.