A Christmas Blizzard of Love (Preview)

Chapter One

Lily

The Ridge Inn outside of Snowpeak, Montana, was bustling with the usual activity

“Mornin’ Tiffy,” Lily called to the housemaid. “I’ll come and change the beds with you. It’s quicker with two of us,”

“Thanks,” Tiffy called back as she pulled the clean folded sheets out of the big linen cupboard.

“I’ll take these dishes back to the kitchen then come back to help,” Lily said as she balanced a tray with the glasses and cups from the night before and went down the stairs. In the year that she had been living with her aunt at the inn, she had learned how to balance a tray with full drinks through a lounge bar and how to go up and down the broad staircase without dropping anything. She navigated her way to the kitchen, reflecting on the fact that she was much happier working with her aunt than she had been at her parents’ home. Nobody at the inn mentioned her slight limp, and she managed to forget all about it herself most of the time. It made no difference to her as she worked around the hotel and wasn’t painful.

“Howdy, Gerald,” she said as she held the tray aloft to pass through the swing door to the big and well-run kitchen.

“Mornin’” the cook answered. “Thomas had a bit of a trudge through the snow to get here today even though it’s only across the corral. It’s deeper than it was yesterday.”

“Well, at least it’s stopped snowing for the moment,” Lily’s Aunt Beatrice added as she was starting to prepare vegetables. “I’ll leave these and check on the guests in the dining room.”

“I told Tiffy I’d give her a hand, and then I’ll come back to see else needs doing,” Lily told them. “I can at least wash up the breakfast dishes.”

“Thanks,” her aunt said as she left for the dining room. Lily quickly made her way back up the stairs and found Tiffy had one bed stripped. The two young women held the sheets between them and folded them under the mattress at each side. They did the same with blankets and covered it all with comfortable quilts when the beds were finished. Tiffy went around the room with her feather duster to ensure that all was clean, before they moved on to the next room. She left the water jug on the landing—it would be taken downstairs with the one from the second room. The people who had been staying the night before were leaving, their bags were already downstairs as they would be taken to town in the carriage after breakfast was over. They finished the second room and Lily returned to the kitchen while Tiffy went to clean the bathroom; the routine of the place was running along as normal.

Lily watched her aunt taking payment for the rooms while Thomas stood at the door; a sign that the carriage was ready. She went to stand beside him and glanced outside.

“How bad is it?”

“I’ll get to town and back okay, but I hear more snow’s coming this way.”

“Well, you take care out there,” Lily told him, then called goodbye to the departing guests. Her aunt stood at the door as well, and waved them off.

“Brrr,” her aunt said, as they all went back to the kitchen. “I’m sure glad that I don’t have to go out in that.”

“A day for keeping the fires stoked up,” Lily added. “The snow looks pretty but it puts a stop to doing anything much outside.”

“Thomas has stacked up enough logs to make sure we can keep warm,” her Aunt Beatrice told her. “There is just us for lunch today. I sure hope the folks leaving get through to wherever they‘re going.”

The cook, Beatrice and Lily all chattered as they worked in the kitchen. Tiffy finished her cleaning upstairs and came to join them. Lily smiled at the camaraderie they shared.

“This is what we prepare for, isn’t it?” Tiffy remarked. “It’s a good thing you always have the trees felled and the wood stored and ready for when winter hits like this.”

“That’s because when my husband Rafe and I bought the place, it was meant to be a small ranch, but the previous owners weren’t sure how to make it pay. There was plenty of woodland for fuel and for building and enough land to run a small herd, but we thought that a lodging house might make more money initially, so we extended the house.”

“And I for one am glad that you kept the cows. I really enjoy the milking. We didn’t need to milk our own cows back home, plenty of milk being sold in town,” Lily told them.

“I like the goat’s milk as well,” Tiffy added. “My mother says it’s better for you than milk from a cow.”

“She might have a point there. I hear it’s good for making strong bones,” Aunt Beatrice said. “We’ve always had quite a few chickens as well, and as it turned out, they’ve always given us food as well as eggs, and I sell the extra eggs.”

Thomas kicked the snow off his boots at the back door and came inside.

“I gave the horses all some hay and made sure the stock all have the ice broken on the water troughs. The chickens have all gone back inside the barn,” the handyman said. “We made it to town okay but whether the stage coach will get back down the trail is another thing.”

“I hope the snow goes away before the musical revue,” Lily observed.

“That’s a few weeks away still. With a bit of luck, the snow will be gone,” Gerald said as he set out bowls of stew on the big kitchen table.

“That looks like just what the doctor ordered,” Thomas said and washed his hands at the kitchen sink before they all sat down to eat together.

“There’s not a lot that we can do outside,” Beatrice said as she looked around her little workforce. “So if Gerald needs anything done in here, we’ll help with that, and other than that, let’s keep an eye on the stock outside and make sure we all stay warm and dry.”

“I need to have a little practice on the piano,” Lily said.

“And how about you sing as well, because we all like to hear your voice,” Tiffy told her.

“And you may join in,” Lily said with a grin. “I do have that dress to finish for Mrs. Macleod as well, but she won’t expect to have it finished in this weather.”

“Yes, we’ll stoke up the fires and hope the snow is not as bad as they say,” Thomas said. “I guess it won’t stop me trudging across to the cabin. Though I did bring the horse across in case I didn’t get back.”

“Wise boy. You know we do learn a few tricks living with these Montana winters,” Beatrice observed. “Now Lily, we can manage the dishes if you want to go and work on your piano pieces.”

“Thanks. I’ll do that. It’s easy to lose track and forget to practice, and then you have to work like crazy to catch up when you’re asked to play.”

Lily took the chance she’d been given to slip away to the large sitting room with the upright piano in the corner. It always made her smile to think that it came from a saloon.

“You and I, Pip, could always make a living in a bar room.” The piano, of course, did not respond to her given name, other than the sound it made when she ran her fingers over the keys. She sat on the stool and played what she called her warm-up piece. It was a jolly dancing jig and would have gone down well in any saloon bar. Resting her hands on the keys when she finished, she smiled, and played it again because it always made her feel cheerful.

She then played two more pieces—a little more sedate—that folks would listen to, and went over the accompaniment to two songs that Mickey, the local saddler, would sing in his lovely deep baritone voice.

“Play the dance tunes again,” Tiffy’s voice rang from the door and Lily smiled, and played the foot tapping music again. The others came in and clapped as she finished.

“Sorry, but I suppose play time is over, as I have to work on that dress. Thank goodness I measured the length before it began to snow. I’ll just finish the hem and press it with the flat iron,” Lily said as she stood up.

“I’ll stoke up this fire, if you’re gonna be sewing in here,” Thomas told her.

“And I brought a coffee for the piano player,” Aunt Beatrice said. “I don’t foresee many customers arriving in this weather.” She had brought a cup for herself as well, and took a seat beside the fire, as Lily went to collect the dress and her sewing things. Gerald and the other staff returned to the kitchen. Beatrice smiled as she knew they would be sneaking out cake and cookies to eat with the coffee.

Lily returned and situated herself in her sewing chair, spread out the dress on her knee and checked that the pins were still in place.

“That’s very pretty,” her aunt remarked. “Though I think she’ll have to wait for better weather to wear it.”

“I do like the material,” Lily added and looked at her aunt. “I’ve got some pretty cotton I’ve set aside. Would you like a dress for the summer as well?”

“That would be lovely, but of course I’ll pay for it.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Lily answered. “I love living here and I want to give you a gift.”

“What is different here that you love it so?” her aunt asked. “You work so hard.”

“Oh, Aunt Bea, I suppose it’s just that at home I worked at a job that I didn’t really like,” Lily told her. “My only pleasure was the piano and well, people here seem to enjoy listening to me. The people in Snowpeak have made me feel welcome. I even like working in the bar in the evenings as well. We get all of the local gossip.”

Lily looked across at her aunt and smiled. “But most of all, I love living with you. You’re so good to me. I know that the customers all like you as well. You’re always cheerful; and helpful, even though life has not always been easy for you.”

She saw her aunt register what she had said. Her aunt had a round and cheerful face with brown hair going grey, tucked back in a bun. Lily knew that her aunt had terrible pain in her feet, but the woman never talked about it, unless it was so painful that she had to ask the others to do some of the tasks.

“And for you. I know there were some people who were quite nasty to you about the limp. Such simple-minded folks. Any one of them could have an accident tomorrow.”

“That’s just it Aunt Bea. Nobody here ever mentions it. I’m sure they notice, but they don’t say anything.”

“When you joke as you bring out the beer, and play the piano and sing, they just think you are wonderful.”

“I often think I could make a living playing in a saloon,” Lily’s voice was laced with humor.

Her aunt was about to laugh when there was a hammering at the door. They both stood up, but Gerald had beaten them to the door. There stood the Deputy Sheriff Cody Gaines, covered in snow. They hurriedly brought him inside.

“Have you got a sleigh for the horse?” he asked. “An avalanche hit the stage coach, and Sheriff Hayes will need to get the passengers to shelter, and see how badly they are injured.”

Thomas was already pulling on his jacket, and headed out to find the strongest horse and the large sleigh.

“Bring them here. We have rooms,” her aunt told the Deputy Haines.

“How many were on the stage?” Lily asked.

“Six plus the driver and the guard. The driver and the guard can stay in town. If the doctor says the others are fine, we can bring them here. Thanks, Beatrice.”

The horse pulled the big sleigh around and the deputy climbed on his horse to follow behind.

Chapter Two

Gabe

The stage coach fought its way forward in the face of driving snow. The wheels were finding it harder and harder to keep moving as the four horses manfully tried to haul their load into town and safety. The passengers were all feeling worried—holding onto each other as the coach slewed from one side of the trail to the other.

“We’re almost there,” Gabriel Mitchell told his fellow travelers, to try and instill some hope that all would be well. He was a man with his own problems, but always felt obliged to try and help in emergencies. But he knew all wasn’t well. And with a sudden bang, loud enough to be a cannon, a wall of solid snow crashed against the stage window and the carriage stopped dead. The women in the coach shrieked and clutched at the person next to them.

“Oh Lord,” one woman cried as tears started to run down her face. “We are all going to die.”

“No, we are all alive and can get out of here,” Gabe said, as he tried to keep them calm. An ex-soldier, Gabe was experienced in taking stock of a situation and pushing on. He continued to calm them down with his steady way of talking. “Everyone just take a few deep breaths. We’re going to be fine.

The horses screamed as they were pulled against each other and the reins that held them. They were kicking wildly as the driver shouted to his guard, hoping he was still there.

“Grant!” Gabe heard the driver yelling.

“Yes. What do you need me to do?” Grant. the guard, called back.

“I’m okay,” the driver shouted. “One side of the carriage is clear.” Gabe could hear the driver’s shouts, and looked out to see him climb down.

The driver called out again. “One side’s got a wall of snow piled against it but the other side’s free.

“Everyone in one piece?” The driver, Matt, shouted out to the passengers.

“Yes.” Gabe was the only one to reply, as the others were simply at a loss. “What do you need us to do?”

“Climb out on the right side, it’s clear, and find shelter. The coach might be swept away.”

Gabe climbed out first, and helped the other passengers out, then turned to watch as the guard threw what bags he could reach from the rear of the coach to the ground and then climbed down himself.

“How far is it to town?” one man asked.

“Only half a mile. I’ll go and find help. I need you all stay in one place,” Matt told them. “Stay together though. Thankfully, it was a small avalanche,” he added. “The worst of it has bypassed us.”

“Find a place that’ll keep us out of the driving snow,” the guard added. Matt asked Gabe and Grant to help cut the horses free before he set off for the town. The other passengers went and found shelter under some trees to keep out of the snow that was still falling. They huddled together and an older man, who seemed to be traveling alone, talked about something and nothing to make everyone keep themselves alert.

Grant stood on the driving seat of the stage and held on with one hand as he sliced the nearest of the leather reins that held the horses in the shafts. Gabe went around to the side of the stage that was covered in snow. It was still possible that the carriage could be swept away, and he wanted to be out of danger.

At least the snow was doing some good in that it kept the flying hooves from finding a target as Gabe slashed at the reins on that side. Matt had managed to cut the other side free and escaped to come around behind Gabe to safety. The guard jumped down on the same side as Gabe, who sliced the last rein as the horses kicked wildly and scrambled to their feet.

“It’ll take a few minutes for them to settle down,” Matt said. “Then I’ll head to town.”

“When they’re quiet, we’ll try and tether them,” Grant said. They watched as the horses calmed down, and Matt set off for the half mile trudge into town to find help. Grant and Gabe stepped away from the coach as they heard an ominous creaking sound. Gabe called out a warning as the weight of the snow pushed the carriage and it made a nasty breaking sound as it slid down the slope with the snow on top of it.

“Oh Lord. We were so lucky,” one older woman said, and her husband put an arm around her. “Thank you, sir, for pitching in like that.”

“We are lucky at that, Ma’am. And the name’s Gabriel Mitchell,” he added with a nod, knowing it would be a distraction for everyone to introduce themselves. He knew from experience that talking had kept away the shadows from those awful battles in the winter conditions of the year before. He forced himself to think about the matters in hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Gabriel. I’m Harriet, but you can call me Hattie, and this is my husband, Jeremy.

“And I’m Jack, the older man answered. The others gave their names as well and they all managed to keep talking to steady their nerves, but it did seem like eternity before they heard voices calling out to them. They all turned to look, and smiles broke out all around.

“A sleigh. What a marvelous idea,” Harriet remarked. Gabe noticed that she was quite calm now that they were out of the stagecoach.

Gabe was quite pleased to see the large sleigh as well. It was clever, he knew. And it was driven by two men, one of whom had a badge. The sheriff most likely.

“Come on folks,” one of the men called out as they drew the sleigh to a stop. The other man, the sheriff he thought, held out a hand to help the first woman onto the sleigh. “Ladies first,” he added and then pulled the men on board as well. There were two other men in the back of the sleigh that had come from town, and Gabe watched as they hopped down and collected the horses that had been cut free, then attached them to leading reins. The bags were stowed wherever there was a space or on someone’s knee and the big, working horse stepped out toward the town with the sleigh sliding silently along behind him. They were followed by the two men leading two carriage horses each.

At The Ridge Inn.

Lily

“There could be as many as six passengers, and if they all come here, we’ll need all of the rooms. Girls, please go and check them all,” Beatrice told them. “Gerald, please put some soup on as they’ll need to be warmed up. I’ll check that the fireplaces have logs and are ready to be started in the bedrooms. Heat is what they’ll need.”

“Poor souls. They’ll be terrified. Avalanches are horrible and often kill people,” Lily said as she and Tiffy started on the rooms. Lily glanced out of the window. The snow was quite deep, and she hoped the people from the stagecoach were not injured.

“They’ll have been lucky if the snow didn’t break the stagecoach apart, but they will surely feel a reaction to having a near brush with death.” Lily went on.

“Then we’ll just have to take care of them and help them through,” Tiffy nodded. “If there’s more snow coming, they may be caught here for some time. I do hope the horses on the stagecoach were saved. They must have been terrified as well,” Tiffy pointed out.

After inspecting each room, the girls returned with Beatrice to help light the fires in all of them. Lily looked out of the window and saw the sleigh, with Cracker, their big strong horse, pulling it up to the entrance to the inn.

“Are they here?” Tiffy asked, peeking over Lily’s shoulder.

“Looks that way! Come on. Let’s do what we do best girls,” Beatrice said, and led the way downstairs, to fling open the wide front door and welcome the rescued guests inside.

***

Gabe

The sleigh came to a stop in front of a warm and inviting looking house with a sign above the door. A boarding house. Hopping down, Gabriel eyed the snow packed entry. He could see that Hattie and Jeremy were worried about making their way through the snow to the safety of the house and tipped his hat to the woman.

“Let me save your legs, Hattie,” Gabe said and lifted the woman from the seat. He strode to the door being held open for him by a pretty young woman. He strode inside, and followed her directions to set Harriet down in a large armchair, then went back to help the others. Hattie’s husband passed Gabe at the doorway and paused, seeming to want to say thanks, but Gabe was already helping Thomas and Gerald with the other guests, and the luggage they had managed to save from the coach. The pile of bags was in the hallway and Gabe looked around.

He took in the warm and comfortable refuge from the snow.

“Welcome, all of you,” the middle-aged woman with the cheerful face said. Gabe knew this must be the woman in charge. “I’m Beatrice Jackson, and The Ridge Inn is my place. We are happy to give you shelter here until the snowstorm has passed. My cook has fixed you some hot soup to help you recover, and the girls will show you to your rooms so we can make sure that you are fed and kept warm. This is my niece, Lily, our housekeeper Tiffy, our cook, Gerald and you already met Thomas with the sleigh. Girls, please see that the visitors have what they need.

Gabe noticed Lily ask Harriet if she could manage the stairs, and he went across to help without hesitation.

“Shall I carry you again, Hattie?” he asked.

“I think I can manage. It was the snow that was the problem. Thank you, Gabe,” Hattie said. She stood up and Lily hovered in case she needed a hand, but Hattie headed for the stairs. Gabe picked up three bags and put one under his arm.

***

Lily

“Lead on, Lily,” the man Hattie called Gabe said, but oddly, he didn’t smile as he uttered the words. Lily smiled at him but there was no response. It irked her of course. But she led the way upstairs to open a door and let Hattie and Jeremy, her husband, into one the room. Gabe put their bags inside the door.

“Which one for me?” he asked Lily, again, no smile, and this time, she saw the impact of the dark and piercing blue eyes that looked directly into her own. She smiled again but the man still had a serious expression.

“There is a single room at the end of the hall,” Lily told him as she led the way, and opened the door at the other end of the corridor, at the top of the stairs. He went inside and dropped his bag.

Lily exhaled, and tried again to keep her friendly demeanor.

“If you want to freshen up and come down, we can serve you some hot soup and let you all get back your breath after the shock of the avalanche.” She’d seen the shadow cross his face and thought perhaps he was still shaken from the accident.

“Thanks,” he said quietly. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She smiled at him again, and again she received no response from this stern looking man with dark blue eyes who had carried Hattie through the snow. She turned and went away to the stairs, feeling his eyes upon her for a second before she heard the click of the door closing.

Tiffy had shown the other couple to a double room and was guiding a man who looked to be in his fifties to a single room on the ground floor. Lily noticed he was smartly dressed in a heavy topcoat over a three-piece suit that showed a gold watch chain across his chest. She was waiting for Tiffy to come back from the room to join her when she saw Gabe come down the stairs.

“Thanks for all of the help, girls,” he said, and Lily thought she almost detected a smiled, but his face remained solemn.

Lily pointed to the dining room. “Come and have something to eat,” she said, and observed as he joined the visitors who were already in there.

Gerald was ladling chunky soup from a huge cooking pot into bowls, and she watched Gabe take one and sit at a side table by himself. The older man from the room at the ground floor headed over.

“Do you mind if I share your table?” he asked Gabe. Lily waited to see what the somber man would do.

“Not at all,” Gabe answered and held out the plate of fresh bread that was to go with the soup. Lily shook her head thoughtfully. Maybe it was just her he didn’t want to befriend. Once everyone was settled in and eating the girls went to the kitchen.

“Well, I guess we’re full up for a few days,” Beatrice observed.

“And we thought we might have an easy time,” Gerald remarked with a smile. “There is sponge cake with fruit conserve and pouring cream for dessert.”

They chatted a few minutes, peeked into the dining room and as the visitors seemed to be finished with their soup, they cleared their bowls, and then brought in the dessert and served the guests.