Page 3 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)

Eliza stood in the lobby of the hotel, watching as large flakes of snow wafted through the air, creating a festive atmosphere.

Over the last few days, she’d been surprised to see shop owners hang wreaths, garlands, and hand-painted signs wishing Merry Christmas in their store windows.

With a sigh, she walked upstairs, determined to get through an article on a new surgical procedure.

She’d been relaxing in a chair by the window when a knock on the door had Eliza looking up from the book she’d been reading, a little annoyed at being interrupted from her studies in one of her medical journals.

Setting it aside, she pulled the door open a few inches, revealing Rachel and another woman standing in the hall.

“Hello.” Eliza tried to put warmth in her voice.

“Hope we’re not interrupting you,” Rachel said.

“Not at all. Please come in.” Eliza gestured toward two chairs.

“This is my sister-in-law, Ginny.” Rachel picked up her skirt, attempting to keep the rug from getting wet from the soaked hem. “Ginny, this is Doctor Eliza Gladstone.”

“Pleased to meet you, Doctor.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Eliza.”

Ginny sat down next to Rachel.

“We wanted to see if you’d join us for a bite to eat at the boardinghouse restaurant. It’s owned by Suzanne Barnett.”

“Ah, yes. Nick’s wife,” Eliza said.

“Yes. Suzanne has a fine way with simple, hearty meals.”

Eliza nodded, tucking a strand of raven hair behind her ear. “How thoughtful of you. I confess, I’m eager to try one of the other establishments in town.”

The three women chatted as they maneuvered the icy boardwalk the short distance to Suzanne’s, glad for the break in the storms keeping them confined.

Inside, the warmth and low voices of the few diners welcomed them. Suzanne greeted them, her face glowing. “Sit anywhere you like. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

They settled at a table near the window, removing their coats and gloves. Before long, Suzanne arrived with steaming mugs of coffee. “Now, what can I get you? The meatloaf’s real nice today.”

“I haven’t had meatloaf in a long time. Sounds perfect,” Eliza said.

“It comes with mashed potatoes, gravy, and carrots.”

“I’ll have the same, Suzanne,” Ginny added. “And save me a piece of pie. I don’t really care what kind.”

Rachel nodded. “I’ll also have the same. Thank you, Suzanne. Do you have time to join us?”

“Wish I could, but my cook couldn’t make it to town, so I’m doing her work and mine. I’ll get these to you as quick as I can.”

Soon, the women were tucking into the hearty fare, savoring the rich gravy and seasoned meatloaf. Eliza smiled as she ate. “My compliments to the chef. Delicious.”

Rachel looked at Eliza. “So, what brought you out west to the Montana territory? I can’t imagine it was for the fine dining.” She chuckled.

Eliza dabbed her mouth with a napkin. “I stayed in New York for about a year after receiving my medical training. Some doctors would allow me to practice with them. Most were skeptical of my skills. The hospital only called me in when no one else was available, and those were for minor issues. At least they were minor for me.” Taking a sip of coffee, she set down the cup.

“It was time to venture out and put my skills to use where they’re most needed. Traveling west seemed a good idea.”

Ginny’s eyes widened. “It must have been difficult for you.”

“What?”

“Well, taking all those classes, then struggling to prove yourself all over again. Being competent and smart, then dealing with people who believed you were neither.”

“How kind of you to say.” Eliza swallowed a bite of potatoes and gravy.

“It’s a struggle sometimes, but I knew it would be when I made the decision to attend medical school.

The doctor I worked with in St. Louis was understanding.

He had me work with patients, women mainly.

Still, I was never able to use my surgical training.

I made the decision to continue on to California.

” She looked outside at the gently falling snow.

“And now…” She spread her hands. “Here I am.”

She set down her fork to stare out the window. After a bit, she let out a breath. “And what brought you ladies here?”

Rachel cradled her cup of coffee in both hands and leaned back in her chair. “Well, my story begins back east during the war. I was a nurse for the Union Army, tending to the wounded and ill. When the war ended, my uncle invited me to work at his clinic in Splendor.”

A wistful look crossed her face. “Dax was a Confederate officer during the war. Afterward, he left the south and traveled to Texas with his brother, Luke.” She nodded at Ginny.

“They became Texas Rangers. When a fellow Ranger was killed, he asked them to make sure his ranch in Montana went to the legal owners. So, they came here and discovered their friend had left them the ranch. We butted heads at first. But over time, we fell in love.”

“What a nice story.” Eliza turned to Ginny. “What about you? How’d you meet your husband?”

Ginny blushed slightly. “Well, my younger sister and I ended up here after our parents died. I actually worked for Suzanne for a while before Rachel offered me a job. I was in the kitchen at the ranch, putting up supplies in the cupboard, when Luke returned from an assignment. He’d been working for the Pinkerton Agency.

He thought I’d snuck in and was stealing.

Well, we worked it out and fell in love. ”

Eliza smiled at the two women, touched by their stories. She set down her coffee cup and straightened in her seat, becoming uncomfortable at the somewhat personal discussion. It was her own fault for asking.

“Where did you go to medical school?” Rachel asked.

“I grew up in Syracuse, New York. My father was a doctor, so I was immersed in medicine from a young age. I attended Syracuse Medical College and was one of two women in my class.” Eliza gave a wry smile.

“Needless to say, it was a challenge to gain respect in such a male-dominated field. I persevered and graduated with honors.” She gazed out the window, noting the storm had let up some, allowing her to see the mountains in the distance covered in snow. “The rest you already know.”

Rachel leaned forward eagerly. “Well, we’re glad to have you, even if it’s for a little while. Since you are here, I should introduce you to the doctors at our clinic. Their backgrounds are quite impressive.”

“We’ll see. I don’t know how long I’ll stay.”

“With this much snow so early, it would be impossible to cross the pass toward San Francisco,” Ginny said.

Rachel grinned at her sister-in-law. “She’s right.

I doubt you’ll get out of here for at least eight weeks.

I was thinking. Why don’t you come out and stay with us at the ranch for a spell?

It’ll give you a taste of life on a large ranch.

I know Luke and Dax would be pleased to have you as our guest.”

Eliza hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to be a bother.” She wasn’t thrilled about the idea of staying at a rustic ranch cabin for even one day, thinking they probably didn’t have running water or enough wood stoves to heat the rooms.

Rachel pressed on. “You’d be no bother at all. There’s a guest room already made up. Oh, do say you’ll come, if only for a couple nights.”

Inwardly groaning, Eliza forced a smile. “Well, how can I refuse such a gracious invitation? I’d be delighted to accept your hospitality and see the ranch.”

Rachel beamed. “Wonderful. I can’t wait to get your reaction to Redemption’s Edge.”

When Eliza’s brow lifted, Ginny clarified. “It’s the name of our ranch.”

“Such an interesting name. I’m looking forward to learning all about a working ranch. The few I’ve seen have been quite small, with a few horses and maybe a couple cows.”

“Well then, this is going to be quite enlightening.” Ginny laughed.

After packing enough for three or four days, Eliza sat on the wagon bench on one side of Rachel while Ginny sat on the other. The storm had cleared, though she knew it could be a temporary respite from the harsh weather.

The scenery on the road to Redemption’s Edge was spectacular. Turning a winding corner, a large ranch house came into view.

“Over there is the main ranch house,” Ginny said as the wagon wheels crunched through the frozen mud.

Eliza’s eyes widened as she took in all the buildings. “It’s rather large.”

Rachel chuckled. “We’ve added to it over the years. It has ten bedrooms.”

“Ten?” Eliza’s brows rose.

“We have company quite often. Ginny and Luke have two children and so do Dax and I.”

Dax, Luke, Bull, and Spencer were standing near the barn, deep in discussion, as the wagon approached.

At the sound of the approaching wagon, the men looked up. Dax and Luke lifted their hands in greeting, rushing over to help their wives to the ground.

“Afternoon, ladies,” Dax said, grinning at Rachel as he lifted her by the waist. “Have a nice lunch in town?”

“We did,” Rachel replied. “And we’ve brought back a visitor. Eliza’s going to stay with us for a few days.”

“Wonderful.” Dax introduced her to Luke and Spencer.

Spencer stepped forward, offering to help Eliza down. “Allow me, ma’am.”

Eliza hesitated before giving a curt nod. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Doctor Gladstone.”

She turned away, following Rachel and Ginny into the house. Behind her, she heard Spencer heft her satchel and fall in step several paces behind them.

Stepping into the warmth of the ranch house’s front parlor, she glanced around at the homey décor. A fire crackled in the massive stone fireplace, radiating heat. Rachel and Ginny removed their coats and hats, motioning for Eliza to do the same.

“Make yourself at home, Eliza,” Rachel said. “I want to check the guest room.”

Setting down her satchel, Spencer touched the brim of his hat. “I’ll leave you ladies be. Good day, Doctor Gladstone.”

Eliza inclined her head. “Mr. Haglund.”

As he left, Rachel returned from down the hallway. “Come, let’s get you settled in.” She picked up Eliza’s satchel, motioning for her to follow her.

As Eliza got settled, she noticed the sky had darkened, indicating the approach of another storm. Releasing a deep sigh, she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, ready to join the women in the parlor.

The next morning dawned bright and cold, the sun glinting off the frosted meadows surrounding the ranch. After breakfast, Rachel bundled up, leading Eliza outside for a tour.

“The main bunkhouse is over there,” she explained, pointing out the long, low building. “The wranglers and ranch hands live there, except the married ones. They live in the cabins behind the bunkhouse.”

She gestured toward a larger cabin not far from the main house. “Bull Mason, one of our foremen, lives there with his family. Our other foreman lives at the ranch house several miles east of here. He oversees operations in the eastern section of the ranch.”

Rachel pointed to another cabin. “The cabin over there is where Billy Zales and his wife, Shining Star, live with their son. They’re expecting another baby soon.”

Eliza peered with interest at the cozy cabin, smoke wisping up from the chimney. “How wonderful for them.”

“I’ll introduce you to them at supper tonight.”

Rachel next showed Eliza the largest of the three barns. As they approached, Eliza heard horses neighing inside.

“This one serves as our main stable.”

Eliza stepped into the dim interior, the smell of hay and horses enveloping her. Her eyes adjusted to the light and widened at the sight of the beautiful horses in their stalls.

“Magnificent, aren’t they?” Rachel said. She walked Eliza along the stalls, introducing some of the ranch’s prized stock. “We breed horses, as well as raising cattle.”

Eliza reached out a hand to stroke the velvety nose of a chestnut mare. The horse nuzzled her palm.

“She’s one of our brood mares. We’ve had her for years,” Rachel said.

“She seems very gentle. You obviously take good care of her,” Eliza remarked.

“We do our best,” Rachel replied. “They’re the heart and soul of this ranch.”

Eliza nodded, feeling a newfound respect for these hardworking ranchers. She could see beneath their rough exterior lay a deep love for the land and animals in their care.

As they left the barn, Rachel looked at Eliza. “I hope this gives you a sense of how we do things around here. We may seem backwoods to some, but we do know our business.”

Eliza smiled, realizing she felt more at home around these people than she had anywhere in a long while.