Mountain Ice (David Dean Mysteries)

Dean couldn't think of a polite response so for once he kept his mouth shut. He didn't even bother to search his mental library under pithy, tasteless and nasty retorts. Cynthia too was peeved. Dean could tell when she refrained from offering tea and crumpets to the new arrivals. She excused herself to prepare supper for the three residents. Claire pulled Effie by the arm and led her upstairs, after pronouncing they would return to claim their purchase after an hour's rest. The children's game broke up and Martha began to don her coat to go home but Cynthia coaxed her to stay for supper. Donnie's mother Edith still hadn't returned and the boy was beginning to look worried, glancing frequently toward the door. But he obviously idolized Martha and she seemed to be a calming influence on him. He too was invited to join them at the table.

Supper was pancakes and eggs, with conversation directed to the children, interrupted by confirming calls from ice climbers who would begin arriving on Thursday. When the meal was over, Martha excused herself to leave. Dean insisted on driving her home. While the distance to her aunt's trailer was only a half dozen blocks, once the January sun had retired after its day's work, it would be a cold walk. Before leaving, Martha whispered something to Donnie and gave him a friendly pat on the back. It was a nice gesture.

The pair drove down Seventh Street, crossed over the Uncompahgre River and followed the dirt road to the small cluster of mobile homes. When they arrived at Jane's unit, Dean noticed the trailer was dark. This didn't faze Martha in the least as she alighted from the jeep, with a wave and a thanks.

"Whoa," Dean called, "Isn't your aunt home?"

"Naw. She goes down to the bar on Tuesdays. And Wednesday and Thursdays, sometimes too. And weekends."

"When will she be back?"

"Depends."

"Look," he said. "Why don't you come back to Bird Song. You can spend the night."

Martha hesitated. "Naw, I can stay here alone. It's no big deal. I do lots of times."

"We've got empty rooms, at least until the ice climbers start coming tomorrow. You could play with Donnie some more."

"Janet told me not to 'impose'."

"It's not imposing if I ask you. It's like helping us out."

The young girl thought a moment and agreed. Dean penned a note to her aunt and Martha went inside to leave it, as Dean directed, in plain sight on the kitchen table. She skipped back to the jeep, her earlier reluctance nowhere in evidence.

To Dean, she seemed a tad pensive as she sat next to the window. She turned toward him. "You and Mrs. Dean are sort of like pals of mine, you know?" He smiled and nodded. "You're nice to me."