Horseback Librarian

In last month's installment, Lanette found herself snowed in at the Colton place. This week we will discover what has become of her situation.

Chapter Six

November 4, 1934

Dear Maisie,

After what I'm about to tell you, you will probably come out here yourself just to persuade me to leave. I'm simply warning you to prepare yourself for what has happened around here lately. Don't worry too much, for I'm not hurt or anything like that. I'm simply cold, terribly cold. Winter has fallen upon these mountains and I'm feeling it down to my bones. Even the horse and mules look miserable.

I managed to finally leave the Colton place, but I was trapped there for three whole days. Two of those days it did nothing but snow continuously. The third day it let up enough that Mr. Colton spent the better half of the morning shoveling a path to the barn and another path leading away from the place. The snow is thick and high around here. Growing up I never thought the Appalachians got snow this bad, but maybe this is one of those odd years. Are you getting lots of snow?

The Coltons were very hospitable and I will forever be grateful to them for hosting me during those blizzardy days. While I may have felt a bit anxious being holed up there and falling behind on my route, I still enjoyed my time with the children. When they weren't busy with chores I was showing them more letters in the alphabet and introducing them to new words. So we spent quite a bit of time leafing through the books in my packs. They had a marvelous time, so much so that they were thoroughly disappointed to see me leave this morning.

Well now it's late afternoon and I haven't traveled as far as I would have liked to. The snow has made it difficult for the horses to traipse through. A couple times I even dismounted to help them through a tight spot or to ease their load when climbing down a steep hill. Journeying through these deep draws with several feet of snow is no picnic. Despite that my whole trip has been interrupted with all this snow I'm still finding beauty in it. Have you ever been alone in forested hills in the wintertime? There's some magical air to it that I can't quite describe. The stillness and silence of the air...the softness of the snow. This is the right place to think about all sorts of things. Only the occasional pine crow, or snort of my horse might interrupt the turning wheels in my mind. Especially when snow falls from a tree branch and rains on you. That will shake you out of your thoughts.

By now you're probably dying to know what it is that could be so terrible for me to tell you. I reckon I'm afraid to, considering once I do it will make it absolute. The truth of the matter is that...I believe I'm lost. All this snow has covered the paths I'm used to taking and obstructed the landmarks I've picked out myself. That is why I believe I might have taken a wrong turn somewhere because the world looks different when there is snow everywhere. I mean a lot of snow. I could try to backtrack. Maybe I would find the Colton place again, but it's been several hours since I left there and I know I wouldn't make it back by dark. I don't have any sort of light with me you see, so I can't travel in the dark. Unless there were to be a moon out tonight, but I highly doubt it based on the gloomy white sky above.

Based on this situation and that twilight is upon me I've decided to make camp beneath a fir tree. There may be some snow underneath, but it isn't as deep as everywhere else. I have a blanket, a slicker, and all the warm clothes I've been wearing these last few weeks. The saddlebags are bulky and uncomfortable, but they will make a pillow. I tied the horse and mules to some nearby trees and they are huddling up next to each other. There is a terrible biting wind. Luckily, I've been able to start a fire, so I have a little bit of warmth. Basically enough to help my hands and feet. I have a feeling it is going to be a long night, but I really don't want you to fret for me. I have shelter and some leftover bread Mrs. Colton sent with me.

My hope is that tomorrow I will either be able to back track or figure out my current location. Maybe I'll even see someone who knows where I am. Trust me, everything is going to be fine.

Your Dear Friend,

Lanette