Mountain Ice (David Dean Mysteries)

It's early morning now and the noise of the loading of the pack animals down at Ashenfelter's stables has woken me. Piano George said they lost two fine black horses that slipped on the ice of the Sneffles road and I could hear the men talking loudly about it. I had slept little as Jerome Jones' band played its brass near till dawn at The Gold Belt. I miss Frenchie and Joy-Jill and our morning coffee but they've been sent up to Red Mountain Town as the mines there are working through the winter and the men are in need of the leisure the girls are able to provide. I saw them Wednesday last when I went to Dr. Rowan's for my weekly examination and both were ill from the mountain cold and drafty quarters. I read Rachael's letter again but her words tell nothing of interest. Boston seems so long ago, and so very far away.

They say a blast at the Wanaka mine killed two. They brought the remains down in a wagon this afternoon. I saw it, with its two round sacks tied tightly and men standing nearby with their hats off. I can't say if I knew the deceased but the Wanaka and all the mines send us so many of their workers I may have. I saw Mr. Vanoli in the alley on my way to the Chinese yesterday, but I cast my eyes down and looked the other way. He was coming from The Roma. I'm trying to teach one of the Roma girls her letters as she knows nothing of reading or writing. She's Irish and they call her Flag, because of her birthmark. Fat Ella thinks this notebook is our practice! Little does she know my markings are to disguise my journaled thoughts from the prying eyes of her and others.

There is much in the newspapers about closing the saloons and dance halls and even taking away the slot machines. It seems strange to read these words of some of the men whose drawers have hung on my bedpost! I think aught will come of their rantings as the miners swear they'll flee the area for a more obliging locale if such nonsense were to happen.

I tremble to write these following lines. Mrs. Martin is off to a WCTU meeting in Montrose and Joshua rented a sleigh at the Union Livery that just opened. I walked by prior arrangement to the Portland Road where he met me. I fear for his reputation if we be discovered but I have never been happier than next to him, beneath the buffalo robe that covered us. I was a lady for a long and lovely Sunday afternoon while a tan mare serenaded us with her tinkling bells as the runners wooshed along on the packed snow. I hardly minded the cold and lonely walk back after evening prayers demanded my love's return.