Page 2 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)

Doctor Eliza Gladstone stared out the large front window of the Eagle’s Nest restaurant, watching the blizzard rage outside.

Snowflakes swirled wildly in the gusting wind, reducing visibility to mere feet.

Sighing, Eliza sipped her coffee, the hot liquid providing scant comfort against the icy chill seeping through the glass.

This infernal storm had stranded her here in the remote town of Splendor for two days. Each morning, she rose hopeful the snows had abated, only to find the skies still leaden with foreboding clouds.

As she picked at her breakfast, Eliza contemplated her predicament.

She’d planned to pass straight through Splendor on her journey west to San Francisco.

Now, it seemed she might be trapped here.

The delay irked her, but the isolation troubled her more.

Back east, in bustling New York, she’d always been surrounded by people.

On the frontier, the empty vastness often overwhelmed her.

What was she to do in this tiny town until the stagecoach resumed service? She had no friends here, no family. The locals seemed pleasant enough in their rustic way, but they were simple folk, uneducated. They reminded her of characters from the dime novels she secretly enjoyed reading.

Eliza sighed again. The beauty of Splendor was losing its luster. She longed for someone to talk to, someone who could understand her sophisticated East Coast sensibilities. Sighing, she knew the chances were as remote as the prospect of escaping this snowbound purgatory.

Nick Barnett and his wife, Suzanne, entered the restaurant, noticing the lone woman sitting by herself. Her refined clothing and posture marked her as an outsider. Nick approached her table.

“Pardon me, ma’am. My wife and I couldn’t help noticing you’re dining alone. We’d be honored if you’d join us for breakfast.”

Eliza looked up, surprised by the invitation. The man had a somewhat sophisticated appearance, with a patch over his left eye, and his smile appeared genuine. Before she could respond, the cafe door opened again, admitting the sheriff, Gabe Evans, and his wife, Lena.

Gabe tipped his hat. “Morning, Nick. Mind if we pull up chairs at your table?”

Eliza hesitated, torn between her desire for company and her natural reserve. She looked at Nick. “You’re very kind, but I’d prefer to dine alone this morning.”

“We’re here if you change your mind,” Nick said. “We don’t stand on ceremony here in Splendor. Any newcomer is always welcome at our table.”

Eliza found herself drawn to the large window to observe the townsfolk passing by outside. Men tipped their hats to the ladies, who gathered in clusters to exchange news. Even in the storm, they stopped to talk to each other and exchange news.

It was all so different from the streets of New York, with their hurried crowds and strict social structure. Here, in this rugged frontier town, a sense of community prevailed. Status didn’t seem to dictate one’s worth. Eliza found it both puzzling and intriguing.

Part of her yearned to stay here and learn more about these gracious people. The other part still felt the pull westward to the opportunities awaiting in San Francisco.

Eliza sighed, her breath fogging the chilled windowpane. The snow continued to fall steadily outside, erasing the familiar shapes of the town. Perhaps it was intentionally hiding Splendor from view, forcing her to pause her headlong rush to the future.

She knew she couldn’t continue her travels until the passes cleared in spring. So, she was trapped here, at least for now. Eliza wondered if she was trapped by the weather or by the faint stirrings of hope this town had rekindled in her heart.

“More coffee?”

Eliza started at Nick’s voice behind her. She turned to see her new companions watching her with friendly concern. Their open faces showed no judgment, only a wish to make her feel welcomed.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Eliza managed a smile. “Yes, thank you. That would be lovely.”

After finishing her breakfast, Eliza returned to her room upstairs. She stood at the window, staring out at the back alley and the snow steadily falling beyond. Everything was muffled and softened by the blanket of white.

She’d hoped to occupy her time with a book, but found she couldn’t focus on the words. Her mind kept returning to the unexpected encounter with the two couples downstairs. Their friendliness was so different from the polite distance of New York society.

With a sigh, Eliza set her book aside. She’d always prided herself on being a rational person, not one to make decisions based on emotions or whims. The cold pragmatism that served her so well in the city now felt more like a prison.

Perhaps it was time to take a chance. She would return to the restaurant. If they were still there, she would accept their offer to join them. It was time to embrace this unexpected new beginning.

After gathering her resolve, Eliza made her way back downstairs to the restaurant. Relief washed over her when she spotted the two couples, still chatting over steaming mugs of coffee.

Despite her lingering reservations, Eliza found herself softening.

It had been too long since she had enjoyed easy conversation.

And she had to admit, her curiosity was piqued by these pleasant Westerners.

She almost turned around when she saw a third couple had joined them.

Gabe, Nick, and a third gentleman stood at her approach.

“Is the invitation to join you still open?”

“Most certainly,” Nick answered, already moving to pull out a chair.

“Well, if you’re certain I won’t be a bother, I would be delighted to join you.”

After introductions, she sat down, feeling the gloom and heavy mantle of loneliness of the past week lifting. The third couple turned out to be Dax and Rachel Pelletier.

Settling into her chair, Gabe signaled the waitress for another coffee. Eliza took a deep breath, ready to embrace whatever surprises this town and its people had in store for her.

“We’re so pleased you came back, Doctor Gladstone,” Lena said.

Eliza smiled. “Thank you. So am I.”

The conversation resumed, with Eliza hesitant to open up too much about herself. The genuine interest and kindness of her new acquaintances soon put her at ease.

“What brought you out west, Doctor?” Dax asked.

“Please call me Eliza,” she insisted. “I came in on the stagecoach. The storm has delayed my travel to California.”

“Well, the St. James Hotel is a wonderful place to be stranded,” Rachel said.

Eliza nodded. “Yes. It is more elegant than I’d anticipated. My understanding of the frontier included visions of dilapidated buildings, poor food, and primitive conditions. Splendor is not what I expected.”

Gabe chuckled. “We may be somewhat isolated, but we take care of our own. I moved here from New York after the war. Lena came from New Orleans. Splendor offered us, and many other residents, a fresh start.”

Lena nodded, touching Gabe’s hand. “We met and were married here.”

As the conversation went on, Eliza found herself captivated by her new acquaintances.

Strong, resilient, and full of humor and wisdom, they embodied the best of this little town.

She felt connected to people on a deeper level than she’d found possible during her many years of education or her brief medical practice in St. Louis.

To her surprise, Eliza realized she hadn’t enjoyed the company of others since before entering university.

Their dedication to community service inspired her, and their easy warmth made her feel welcomed. She found herself wondering if all the people in Splendor were so open.

Eliza enjoyed the growing sense of connection as she conversed with Nick, Suzanne, Gabe, and Lena over coffee. Though they came from different backgrounds, she found common ground with the group. Their lively discussion brought her out of her shell.

Eliza laughed at Nick’s humorous anecdotes, Gabe’s dry wit, and Dax’s stories about his ranch. Listening to their various stories, she admired the women’s resilience living in a remote frontier town.

St. Louis had the railroad to deliver supplies, including food, clothing, and medical supplies. As far as she knew, Splendor only had the stage, which couldn’t bring large stores of meat, vegetables, and staples. How did they obtain such essentials?

Watching the snow continue to fall, Eliza took in the elegant restaurant and the smiles around the table.

Though the storm had stalled her travels, it had brought an unexpected gift—a better understanding of the type of people who ventured away from their familiar lives to begin again in an unfamiliar land.

Eliza lingered at the table, reluctant to end the interesting conversation. There was still so much more she wanted to learn about her new acquaintances and their charming town.

“We should get going, Lena. I need to check back at the jail.” Gabe stood, nodding at the others. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Eliza.”

“The pleasure was mine.” She prepared to leave when the sound of approaching boots with spurs caught her attention.

She turned to see a towering figure in a sheepskin coat walk toward them. Eliza didn’t recognize the man’s grim visage as one of the few people she’d met since being stranded in Splendor.

Gabe held out his hand. “Lucien Hunt. I didn’t know you’d returned.”

Grasping the outstretched hand, he didn’t return Gabe’s grin. “Just rode in with a group of cowboys from Big Pine. With the storm, we darn near didn’t make it. The weather is a wretched beast.”

Dax chuckled at the wording. “Why didn’t you wait until the storm passed?”

Lucien reached into a pocket, pulling out a wanted poster. He handed it to Gabe. “You’ve probably seen this.”

Looking it over, Gabe’s mouth twisted in disgust before he handed the paper to Nick. “The Tom Wolf gang. They’re supposed to be a bad bunch.”

“They aren’t just bad,” Lucien said. “I’ve seen some real bad characters. Wolf’s gang is a breed of outlaws equal to Quantrill’s Raiders or Bill Anderson’s bunch.”

“Why are you showing me this?” Gabe asked.

“Sheriff Parker Sterling asked me to deliver this and tell you to be on the lookout for them.”

“Why didn’t Sterling send me a telegram?”

“You don’t know?” Lucian asked.

“Know what?”

“The storm has taken down the telegraph lines between Big Pine and Splendor.”

A hush fell over the group before Nick spoke. “Bernie Griggs hasn’t said anything.”

“I doubt he knows about it unless someone has tried to send a telegram from here.”

“Best we get moving,” Gabe muttered. “Come on, Lena. I need to let my deputies know to be on alert.”

“I’ll talk to Horace,” Nick offered, mentioning the bank president, Horace Clausen.

Nick stood, holding out his hand to Suzanne. “Eliza, may I escort you to the stairs?”

Eliza was still reeling from the news brought by Lucien Hunt. “Thank you, but I’ll finish my coffee before returning to my room.”

She watched as the three couples, plus Lucien Hunt, left the dining room, feeling the familiar sense of isolation.

Eliza leaned back in her chair to stare again out the window at the continuing storm.

She’d spent most of her life alone. As an only child, as one of two female students in her class at medical college, and as a lone traveler after leaving New York.

Her life had always been one of isolation.

Even after the wonderful conversation, Eliza felt a jarring letdown. Standing, she reminded herself how she’d long ago reconciled herself to the fact she was a woman destined to always be alone.