“Can you get him out?” Billie asked. She fluffed up Lou’s pillow before setting it behind her.
Lou swatted at Billie’s hand. “Quit fussing. He’d be sitting in that chair if I could get him out. I wouldn’t wish his fate on anyone. It’s a high price to pay for foolishness.” She looked at him with fondness, as a mother would a son.
Well, what do you know? Lou did have a soft heart beneath that crusty exterior. It just took Winn to bring it out of her.
Billie understood that sentiment. Winn had a way of getting into a person’s heart even when you didn’t want him to. “What sort of foolishness did he do?”
“Not my tale to tell.”
Billie looked at Winn for the answer.
“I’m not in the mood,” he said.
“Fine. What do we do now? How are we going to get him out of there?” She couldn’t tell her uncle she’d found the mirror without first getting Winn out of it. Uncle Dale wouldn’t care who was in the mirror, as long as they could figure out the magic.
“You are going to do nothing,” Lou said. “Now you know why you need to leave—before this gets more complicated than it already is. And make sure you take that uncle with you.”
“I can’t go away now that I know about this.” She waved her hand at the mirror.
“For Winn’s sake, you need to go. I know the real reason your uncle is here. I’d gone to Germany trying to find answers, and when I came back, Winn was waiting to tell me there was a man and girl asking questions about me. And they’d been to the assayer’s office.”
She looked pointedly at Billie.
“My uncle didn’t tell me anything about his plans. All I knew was that we were coming here to give you that ridiculous watch, and then we’d be on our way back to Boston.” She didn’t know if that was a good thing or not. Had there been no watch, no Winn. But she would have been home by now and happily unaware of the existence of a magic mirror except for in the family bedtime stories.
“And yet, you’re still here.” Lou turned her head as the flowers in the vase finally caught her eye. She stiffened, her features narrowing.
So, the advances of the mystery man were not welcomed. Billie would have to ask about him later. Right now, there were more important things to discuss. And not about why she and her uncle were still in town. “Did you find answers when you went away?”
“No.”
“What about this watch?” Winn asked. “What’s so special about it?”
Lou leaned over to pull the timepiece out from under the bedroll. She winced when her ankle moved.
“Careful,” Billie said.
Lou held it up. “Belonged to our other cousin who grubstaked my claim for me. The one who disappeared. Left all his things behind, including that mirror. I don’t know how the watch ended up with Billie’s father.”
Billie wondered the same thing. Along with why Uncle thought the watch was special.
“Can I see it?” Winn asked.
Lou held it like a ball she was going to toss. “Ready?”
Winn nodded, and then Lou threw it through the mirror.
Billie gasped, expecting to hear a shatter. But the surface rippled like what happens when a pebble plops into a still lake. The watch passed through.
Billie blinked. “You can send things through the mirror?”
“When I found out the window was really the magic mirror and that Winn was trapped, I tried to smash him out of there, but everything I threw at it only went through. After that we had a bit of fun.”
Staring at the watch, Winn said, “The longer I’m in, the more we figure out.”
“But the less he can do outside the mirror. He’s losing himself, Billie. Bit by bit the mirror is taking his life from him. If we don’t stop it soon, Winn will be completely trapped. You can’t let your uncle find the mirror. He won’t care who is in it as long as he can find a way to use the mirror to his advantage. It would be best for all if you convinced him to leave town.”
“But what about Winn? I can’t leave him trapped in there.” She met his gaze and held it. He returned her concern with a slight smile.
“You can,” Lou said. “Walk away. We’ll figure something out.”
“How long have you been trying to figure something out?” When her question was met with silence, she followed up with, “That’s what I thought. You need help. Besides, I’m part of the family business, aren’t I? The legacy of the mirror is that we’re supposed to keep it hidden, isn’t it? It’s all making sense now. All those bedtime stories Dad told me were to prepare me in case something like this happened.”
Lou laughed. “Liebling, you are about as far removed from the family business as you can get.”
Billie masked her hurt. She was tired of everyone discounting her. She found the mirror, didn’t she? She crossed her arms and stared Lou down. “Looks to me like I’m right in the center of it.” Which is right where she liked to be.
Winn cleared his throat, but they both ignored him. They were like two gunslingers facing off on a deserted street in the middle of town.
“Listen,” Winn said. “Since she knows, she may as well help. It’s not like she’s going to be able to forget about a magic mirror.”
Billie lifted her chin triumphantly. Two against one. Billie sat in the rocking chair. “So, what now?” As she pressed her toe into the floor to start rocking, she remembered what the girl in town said. She flattened her foot to stop the movement. “Lou, you sit in this chair every night and talk to Winn, don’t you? That’s what those girls meant when they said you were seen talking to yourself.”
Lou offered a small laugh. “I suppose I do look like I’ve lost my mind, sitting and talking to no one. It’s a wonder they haven’t run me out of town yet.”
“How long have you known about the mirror?” Billie crossed her arms in accusation.
“Hey, kid. Don’t get yourself worked up. I recently learned about it, too. Fremont shows up from Germany and stashes the mirror in the mine. When he didn’t come back I put it in the wall. No use risking it breaking back there, I thought. May as well use it, I thought. Lo and behold, I find out I’ve got a genie in there.”
Billie gasped at Winn. “I thought you said you didn’t have any magic.”
“Well, I, she—” Winn sputtered.
“He doesn’t. There’s magic there, all right,” she circled her hand around the mirror, “but it doesn’t come from Winn. We need to figure out how it works so we can bust him out of there.”
If they’d been experimenting, maybe Billie could help them experiment with finding a medical cure for her mom.
“Seems to me, this other cousin knows some things. Fremont? Perhaps we should be tracking him down.” Billie pressed her toe to the floor to start rocking. “Tell me everything about him.” She felt like she was back at home holding court with her friends. She liked to be in the know about everything, and finally, it seemed, she was getting answers.
Lou and Winn exchanged a look before Lou said, “Don’t know what you think you can do that we haven’t already.”
“I’m part of this family, too, I keep telling you. No need to keep secrets. Can we start with the watch?”
Winn examined the pocket watch. “It’s the last thing I tried to steal before I got sucked up into the mirror.” His face turned red. “Sorry, Lou. I didn’t tell you about this one. But I never even got it into my pocket before I was trapped in the mirror. One day I came up here for what was supposed to be a private Faro game—”
“In my house? Why would you think I’d allow a bunch of gamblers in here?”
“I didn’t know this place was yours. Fremont had played at my tables before.” He laughed sardonically. “I’d always admired his pocket watch. I’d hoped to win it off him one day, but he never got so low as to pawn it. When Matron told me there was going to be a private game, I hoped it would be my chance. But when I got here, there was no one around. She’d told me there was whiskey in the back and to bring
some out. I never did find the whiskey, but I did find the watch. After wanting it for so long, I couldn’t resist taking it. It’s probably what finally condemned me. As soon as I picked it up, I landed in the mirror. Scariest experience of my life. I thought I was dying.”
“You told me you didn’t know how you ended up in there.” Lou crossed her arms.
“I’m only speculating, since seeing this watch again. Do you think it was a trap set by Fremont? Maybe we’ve been going about this the wrong way. He did bring the mirror here. Maybe he was the one setting me up the whole time to take his place.”
Lou sucked in her lips and thought a moment. “No. We’re not wrong. He’s involved somehow, but I don’t know how, yet. I spent enough time with him. I would have known if he was going in and out of the mirror.”
“Not wrong about what?” Billie asked.
Winn started to answer but stopped. He and Lou exchanged looks again, blocking Billie out of the silent discussion.
“Nothing,” Winn said in a way that made Billie think it wasn’t nothing. He continued. “Lou? Any clue if this watch is important?”
“It’s got Fremont’s name on the back. Nothing special about that. And I especially don’t know why her father would have this watch. As far as I know Chester and Fremont never met.” She looked at Billie for confirmation.
“Not that I know of.”
“Can I keep it?” Winn held up the watch.
Lou laughed. “After you just telling me how you wanted it so bad you were fixin’ to steal it? Don’t think so. I need to study it further.” She held her hands out like she was catcher behind home plate.
Winn took one last long look at it then tossed the watch back to her.
Despite seeing the watch fly into the mirror, Billie gasped when it flew out. It was like the wall vomited the watch from nowhere. “Can you jump out of the mirror like that?”
Winn shook his head. “No. Something holds me until sunrise.”
Lou put the watch back under the mattress. “Fremont has always been the family outcast. He thinks it’s because of his dwarfism, but it’s really his attitude. He was born sour and never did sweeten up.”
Billie raised an eyebrow. Lou was one to talk.
Lou scowled and shook her finger at Billie. “If I’m standoffish it’s because I didn’t want you to stay.” She waved a hand at Winn. “I was trying to avoid this.”
“Sorry I messed up your plans,” Billie said, “but I’m glad I know. Maybe I can help.”
“You going to be able to keep quiet about the mirror?” asked Lou. “No one can learn about the magic mirror. Miners can get vicious when new treasure’s found. And this treasure is priceless.”
Billie thought of her uncle and his unrelenting nature. He wasn’t going to stop until he’d turned this mountain inside out. He would figure it out sooner or later.
“Sure. I can keep quiet about the mirror.”
Chapter 26
There was no sleeping after discovering Lou and Winn’s secret.
It was one thing to imagine there was a magic mirror, but quite another to discover one. Add to that shock, finding out that someone you knew was inside the mirror, and that about spoiled any chance for normalcy thereafter.
They talked until sunrise when Winn fell out of the mirror. Literally. One minute he was in the mirror, the next he was out. Lying on the floor like he’d been unceremoniously pushed out.
“I can see why you moved your bed,” Billie said. “Winn would crush you.”
He stood and brushed himself off.
“Billie, would you make us some breakfast? I normally feed Winn before he goes into town, but with this ankle.” She indicated her propped-up foot.
“Of course.”
“And Winn, the curtains, please.”
He closed the curtains, hiding the mirror, which now looked like an ordinary clear window.
“Why close the curtains?” Billie asked. “It’s always so dark in here.”
“This is a hot summer, child. I only open my curtains in winter,” Lou answered, rather quickly, her tone defensive.
The long night must be weighing on her. Billie made a mental note to give Lou a quiet afternoon so she could rest.
After breakfast, Winn stood to go. “I’ll, uh, see you tonight?” he said to Billie. He looked so awkward and sweet. Not the usually cocky Faro dealer she’d come to know. Sheepish. That was the word. He didn’t have a secret to hide anymore, and the mirror had humbled him.
Billie glanced at Lou. “I’ll stay here a few more nights, I think. Until Lou is up and going again.”
He smiled. “Great. See you then.”
“Take the alpenroses away, please,” said Lou. She handed Winn the flowers by her bedside.
“What do you want me to do with them?”
“Send them back.” She glanced at Billie then looked away.
Once Winn had left, Billie began work on the dishes. “Who are the flowers from?” She gave Lou a conspiratorial smile.
“Never you mind. They aren’t a romantic gesture, but someone trying to make a point.”
“Oh.” Billie turned back to her task. Odd way to send a message. Now she was more curious than ever to find out who sent them.
“Why—”
Lou gave her a stern look and Billie adjusted course. “I’ve never heard of the alpenrose. It’s a lovely name.”
“Also snow roses or donnerblume in German. Your papa ever tell you those names? They say the snow rose attracts thunder and lightning. No thanks. Now, make yourself useful and bring in some water for tea.”
Billie bit her tongue. “Your water barrel is almost empty. How do we go about getting more up here?”
“It’ll come up by mule today.”
“Have you ever thought about moving into town?” Billie asked, folding the towel and hanging it to dry. “You can still work your claim, and it’s much more convenient.”
“Bah. You can’t get more convenient than this.” She waved to the mine behind her.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
Lou seemed to think she had to keep up her gruff image even after Billie had discovered her secret.
“You have to admit you are a little unconventional. Is it even legal for you to be living here?” Billie slid the rocking chair so they could face each other. “As you recall, our ancestors left their little cottage in the woods to go work their mine, leaving Snow White on her own.” Billie opened her eyes wide. “That’s the first time I thought of the storybook characters as my ancestors. I’m still having trouble believing it.”
“Every family has its secrets.”
Billie laughed. “Not like ours.”
After a hesitation, Lou smiled and nodded. Finally, they’d connected, not just as distant cousins, but as family.
Later on, as the cabin heated up, Billie propped the door open to allow a breeze through. “That’s better,” she said, fanning her face.
“What is that man doing now?” asked Lou staring out the door.
Billie leaned over and saw Uncle Dale guiding two pack mules up to the shack. He waved. “Got your water, Lou. No sense in two of us coming up here when I was already on my way.” He untied the dusty water barrels and deposited them outside the shack.
Lou immediately began to fuss. “I thought I told you not to come up here again.”
“You’re welcome, ma’am.” He doffed his prospector’s hat and was gone again.
Billie touched Lou’s shoulder. “You just sit tight while I take care of the water.”
But Lou wouldn’t sit tight. She pushed herself up to get a better look out the door. “Is that mining equipment he’s got with him there?”
Sure enough, Uncle had strapped, a pickax, a shovel, and several wrapped bundles tied with twine to the mules who were clip-clopping past the door.
Why hide it. Lou was bound to find out sooner than later. Especially if Uncle Dale used explosives.
“He, uh, made a claim n
ext to yours.”
Lou maintained a steady gaze out the doorway. “For what purpose?”
“He wants to try mining in this area. He figured since you were holding on so tightly to your claim there must be something to this mountain.” Even as she was speaking, her words sounded false to her ears. How could she remain neutral to both sides until she figured out what was going on?
“Ach, what nonsense. He’s after the mirror.”
Of course, he was. Lou could have her theories, but Billie wasn’t going to confirm any of them. Billie’s loyalties to both sides of the family were strong, and she’d known her uncle her whole life. Lou, she’d only known for a short time.
However, with Winn tied up in it all, her interest leaned his way, and therefore Lou’s. She couldn’t trust herself to think clearly about anything. All she knew for certain was that it wasn’t fair for Winn to be trapped in the mirror, and that he was her best chance at helping her mom.
The open door provided a clear view of Uncle Dale staking his claim. He piled up rocks indicating where his boundary met up with Lou’s, not once glancing at the shack. With the sound of each rock hitting the pile, Billie felt Lou’s eyes bore deeper into the back of her head.
Uncle seemed to be going out of his way to show Lou what he was doing. Billie thought it was a stealth mission he had planned, but evidently not. Every move was exaggerated.
“He’s hoping I cave in and hand over my mine,” Lou said pointedly.
“Yes, probably.” That would fit her uncle’s personality. He may have been involved in field work in his younger years, but when he joined the Bergmann’s company his hands had gotten soft. It was too easy to spend the Bergmann money on hiring out the dirty jobs. If he could make Lou sell through intimidation, he’d try it.
What he didn’t fully realize was that Lou had a determined streak in her that only got stronger when threatened, as Billie had learned during the Opera House fiasco. Lou would call his bluff by not doing anything, and he’d have to start shoveling and blasting to find a vein to cross over into Lou’s mine.
Snow White's Mirror Page 15