Winter of Beauty

The winter Bride wears diamonds.

To those down below, she appears to be sleeping, locked inside a chastity belt of cold. She naps lightly behind the veil of ice and snow, letting it shield her from the sun and throw it back into the sky. 

But her chill is only skin deep. Inside her hidden folds and caves and recesses, the heartbeat of her lives and breathes and curls around the seeds of what will be. The winter Bride is pregnant, gestating the future, smiling quietly at the snores of the bears and the mountain lions, allowing all of the fertile places to well and burgeon with the life that is to come. 

The winter Bride is holding a flood in deposit for the sun's withdrawal in spring. 

This is the canvas on which Hale paints the lives of her characters. Shiney, the ranch owner;  Monte, the foreman; Rafe, the old hand; Jody, the new hand; Blake and Brenna, whocan't seem to grow up even though they have a houseful of children. These, and many more, are waiting to show you how they live, work, and play in the shadow of Bride Mountain.

Because I sleep out in cow camp several nights out of the year and because my office is a full hour from the post office, thank you for understanding that your shipment may be briefly delayed.