Snow Angel by Jamie Carie

Author:Jamie Carie
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2009-08-12T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

April 27, 1890

Dear Mrs. Rhodes,

Your lack of presence here leaves me with little choice but to keep researching on my own. Thus far, I have not been able to obtain the name of the adoptive family. I received the letter you sent regarding the reward. It is quite generous. While this approach may work, I wonder if you couldn’t make the trip?

I remain your devoted servant.

Sincerely yours,

Jeremiah Hoglesby

Private Detective for Hire

Thirteen

The chilly breeze that blew off the ice-laden water of the Gastineau Channel stung her cheeks as Elizabeth leaned against the railing of the river steamer The Stars and Stripes. Dark forests passed by, stark against the white backdrop of the mountains. Everything was so startlingly contrasted here, the colors of the land and the water vivid and opposing, as if they were competing to see which one could outshine the other.

Turning from the natural resplendence, Elizabeth’s eyes swept over the passengers on deck. She saw two of her party, the twins, playing a game of poker around an overturned wooden crate. She had hoped the pair wouldn’t get themselves into trouble but was convinced they wouldn’t smell danger if it sat down in front of them, which looked to be the case now. Her gaze shifted to the dark-haired man sitting between them. He had the slow, lazy smile of a professional gambler, complete with thin mustache and cigar clamped between his teeth. With a sigh, she turned from the brilliant view of the ice-strewn water and strolled over to the boys.

Tilting her head to one side, she fluttered her lashes and drawled in her best southern imitation, “Now boys, I just know one of you promised to escort me around the deck. Why, I feel just perfectly silly standing here all by myself.” She let her gaze slide to the man in black and saw him staring thoughtfully at her. He winked. Turning her attention quickly back to the twins, she said, “Come on, fess up, which one of you promised? Ya’ll know I can’t tell you apart.”

She waited patiently, eyebrows raised, hands on her hips, tapping one foot, while they looked stupidly at each other. When Josh started sputtering, she held up a hand and puckered her mouth. “Now I know you’re real involved in this here card game, but boys,” she leaned down and whispered, “I’m getting stares, if you know what I mean. Standing around all alone and all.” She almost grinned at their sudden scramble to rise. “Since you can’t decide which one, why don’t you both join me?” They looked uncertainly at the other players. Elizabeth turned back to the gambler and dimpled. “I’m sure you’ll spare these gentlemen from the game? I am in such dire need of their assistance.”

He placed his fingers on the brim of his black hat and drawled mockingly, “Of course, ma’am, I’m sure I’ll sleep better tonight knowing you are in such … capable hands.”

“Thank you, sir,” she replied tartly. Like most gamblers, he was too sharp for his own good.

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