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Authors: Roz Denny Fox
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funny.”
Laughing, Seth served himself a double slice of the quiche that had spinach, mushroom, crumbled bacon and onion. He ate it and some cantaloupe and pineapple then poured a to-go mug of coffee to take to the barn. He heard the washer go on, but since Lila hadn’t returned with another shirt for Rory, he left. He got a kick out of sparring with her, but wasn’t above calling it quits while they were even.
He had turned the last of the four horses into the grassy corral by the time Lila drove off. Rory saw him and waved. Seth waved back.
It wasn’t long before the two couples staying at the B and B came out. One of the men hailed Seth and jogged up to the fence. “I know we were asking about the horses, but we’re gonna drive to the river to fish. Lila said her mom wants to buy any fish we catch to serve at the café, so we need to take a cooler. We’ll ride to the lake tomorrow and take a picnic lunch. You’re welcome to join us to fish today.”
“Thanks, but I have errands to run. Tomorrow, I’ll help you saddle up.”
“That’s not necessary. Let me apologize for assuming you worked here. Lila informed us this morning that you’re a guest.”
“No apology necessary. I came for my brother’s wedding, and they’re all good friends. I’m staying on awhile and I want to pitch in. Makes me feel useful rather than decorative.” They all laughed then parted after agreeing Seth would help ready the horses if he was out and about the next morning.
The couples drove out and Seth went upstairs to shower. Before he headed to town he took a final turn around the dining room, again thinking with all Lila did she was amazing. But it was mind-boggling to see how she gave guests free rein of her house. He knew her private quarters were locked because it said so on a card taped to the back of his room door, along with a request to treat the Owls Nest as if it “was your own home.” That bothered him some. However, it was her house. Only there was something making him want to look out for her.
Shaking off the feeling, he made sure he had his front-door key before he locked up. First item on his to-do list was to find the county library.
A phone app directed him to an adjacent town where Zeke said he’d also find the courthouse. He drove past a sporting-goods store on his way to the library. That meant he’d be able to take care of all his errands without running all over creation.
At the library he hunted up a librarian rather than poke around on his own. “Hi,” he said to a woman pushing a book cart. “I’m interested in locating any material you may have relating to sapphire finds in the area.”
The gray-haired lady studied him through wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ve lived here all my life. I only know of two such reports. Most Montana gemstones are found in abandoned gold and copper mines in the state’s heartland. Here we’re mostly about cattle and fishing. So if you came here to strike it rich, you may be wasting your time.”
“I’m here visiting family, but gem hunting is my trade. A friend said he’d read that sapphires were found near Snowy Owl Crossing. I’d like to check it out.”
“If it’s your trade I guess you know abandoned mines can be treacherous. Even though they’re closed, you’d be required to have a permit to excavate in them.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Come, I’ll show you the newspaper archives. We’re in the process of having back issues digitized, but our crew is nowhere near working on the dates you’ll want. The copper in the Rainbow Mine played out eight years ago. Some guys took clear quartz out of it last year. Opportunity Mine ran three shifts hauling gold and copper. It’s been maybe five years since they suffered a terrible tunnel collapse. Upper runs caved in on a lower cut they were digging. Eighteen miners died. There was talk of lawsuits, but the state mine board ruled it an accident. Tragic all the same for some local
Laughing, Seth served himself a double slice of the quiche that had spinach, mushroom, crumbled bacon and onion. He ate it and some cantaloupe and pineapple then poured a to-go mug of coffee to take to the barn. He heard the washer go on, but since Lila hadn’t returned with another shirt for Rory, he left. He got a kick out of sparring with her, but wasn’t above calling it quits while they were even.
He had turned the last of the four horses into the grassy corral by the time Lila drove off. Rory saw him and waved. Seth waved back.
It wasn’t long before the two couples staying at the B and B came out. One of the men hailed Seth and jogged up to the fence. “I know we were asking about the horses, but we’re gonna drive to the river to fish. Lila said her mom wants to buy any fish we catch to serve at the café, so we need to take a cooler. We’ll ride to the lake tomorrow and take a picnic lunch. You’re welcome to join us to fish today.”
“Thanks, but I have errands to run. Tomorrow, I’ll help you saddle up.”
“That’s not necessary. Let me apologize for assuming you worked here. Lila informed us this morning that you’re a guest.”
“No apology necessary. I came for my brother’s wedding, and they’re all good friends. I’m staying on awhile and I want to pitch in. Makes me feel useful rather than decorative.” They all laughed then parted after agreeing Seth would help ready the horses if he was out and about the next morning.
The couples drove out and Seth went upstairs to shower. Before he headed to town he took a final turn around the dining room, again thinking with all Lila did she was amazing. But it was mind-boggling to see how she gave guests free rein of her house. He knew her private quarters were locked because it said so on a card taped to the back of his room door, along with a request to treat the Owls Nest as if it “was your own home.” That bothered him some. However, it was her house. Only there was something making him want to look out for her.
Shaking off the feeling, he made sure he had his front-door key before he locked up. First item on his to-do list was to find the county library.
A phone app directed him to an adjacent town where Zeke said he’d also find the courthouse. He drove past a sporting-goods store on his way to the library. That meant he’d be able to take care of all his errands without running all over creation.
At the library he hunted up a librarian rather than poke around on his own. “Hi,” he said to a woman pushing a book cart. “I’m interested in locating any material you may have relating to sapphire finds in the area.”
The gray-haired lady studied him through wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ve lived here all my life. I only know of two such reports. Most Montana gemstones are found in abandoned gold and copper mines in the state’s heartland. Here we’re mostly about cattle and fishing. So if you came here to strike it rich, you may be wasting your time.”
“I’m here visiting family, but gem hunting is my trade. A friend said he’d read that sapphires were found near Snowy Owl Crossing. I’d like to check it out.”
“If it’s your trade I guess you know abandoned mines can be treacherous. Even though they’re closed, you’d be required to have a permit to excavate in them.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Come, I’ll show you the newspaper archives. We’re in the process of having back issues digitized, but our crew is nowhere near working on the dates you’ll want. The copper in the Rainbow Mine played out eight years ago. Some guys took clear quartz out of it last year. Opportunity Mine ran three shifts hauling gold and copper. It’s been maybe five years since they suffered a terrible tunnel collapse. Upper runs caved in on a lower cut they were digging. Eighteen miners died. There was talk of lawsuits, but the state mine board ruled it an accident. Tragic all the same for some local
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