Mountain Ice (David Dean Mysteries)

Dean returned to Bird Song and brought Cynthia up to date on his conversation with Sheriff Weller over a quiet lunch of soup and grilled cheese. The Deans had the place to themselves. Janet finished her chores and hurried off to her afternoon soaps. Fred was back in town, treating the children to sandwiches before returning to the library for a new dose of historical research. Edith drove off in her rental car, without a word. Gladys Turnbull was walking the town, trying to glean inspiration from the towering mountains to better describe some celestial landscape.

"It's peaceful," Cynthia commented. "I just hope it isn't the calm before the storm," she added, holding up crossed fingers.

"We can handle anything they toss at us," Dean said. "After last summer's adventures, we're up to any task!"

Cynthia smiled, remembering the early-days' confusion of opening the bed and breakfast, two newlyweds and one old man, operating on piggy bank finances and not an ounce of experience among them. And then to have Bird Song's first guest turning up dead! Once the details to that "caper," as Fred O'Connor called it, were settled, life and business at Bird Song had proceeded peacefully. The Deans referred to the episode as the storm before the calm. The trio was far more comfortable now, six months later, with enough money in the bank to keep the wolves away, and expectations, if not of prosperity, of at least a reasonably comfortable coming season. But not even in the worst of times did they ever regret for a moment abandoning their life in the East for this quiet mountain hamlet they now called home and their sometimes hectic life of running a country inn.

"I'm glad in a way Edith's husband called the sheriff," Cynthia said. "It brings the authorities into the picture in case Shipton does show up and causes trouble. I know the whole business isn't our concern, but the poor woman is staying with us and God knows she looks as if she can use all the help she can get." They both agreed to let the situation take its course now that Weller was involved. There were other guests at Bird Song and enough regular problems running a country inn without creating any more.

"And," Dean added, "our life is still top priority. Let's make the most of it. It looks like we have the second afternoon in a row to ourselves."

Cynthia had received a phone call from the Boston sisters telling her their flight was delayed and they weren't now expected until late afternoon. No other guests were due to arrive for a few days and with the housework up to date, thanks to the temporary help of Janet, the Deans decided to try out the fresh snow on the cross country trails on Red Mountain. After dressing in double sweaters, wool knickers and stockings, they racked their skis atop their jeep and drove south from town into the mountains.