A Treasure Concealed Read Free

of gold mingled with blue pebbles. It wasn’t nearly enough to get excited about. She sighed.
    â€œNow, don’t go gettin’ all sad,” her father said. He came outof the water to take a seat on the bank of the river. Once seated, he placed the pan between them. “I’ll add it to what I already have, and at this rate I’ll be able to head into town tomorrow or the next day and get a few supplies. Just remember, any color is proof that there’s a whole lot more somewhere upstream.”
    â€œOh, Pa. We’ve talked about all of this before. There was a gold strike here last year, so of course there’s gold, but you know as well as I do what everyone said about it.”
    â€œI do know. I just don’t happen to agree.”
    Emily handed him his lunch and sat down beside him. “It’s played out around here, and what’s left will take too much energy and money to retrieve. We don’t have a whole lot of either commodity.”
    He laughed and pulled apart one of the biscuits. Bending a piece of the thick bacon in two, he sandwiched it between the biscuit halves. “I got plenty of energy left, and I’ll show ’em all. I ain’t giving up.”
    Emily had heard this speech on many occasions. He’d never quit looking for that next strike—that big find. Henry Carver was absolutely convinced that God himself had ordained it. And God knew better than anyone that her father had looked for just such a treasure in every nook and cranny in the western United States.
    â€œOh, I just about forgot.” Emily withdrew the can of peaches. “Millie sent this as a gift.”
    Her father took the can and smiled. “Good ol’ Millie. I’ll get this open right now and we can share it.” He unsheathed a knife he kept on his belt. “Yes, sirree, nothin’ quite as good as peaches.”
    In no time at all he had the can open and offered Emily a small peach half at the end of his knife. She took the slimy piece and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness made her smile.Her father had always had a sweet tooth, and this would no doubt offer some satisfaction. Of course, it didn’t take much to give Henry Carver satisfaction. Emily had never known her father to be all that unhappy.
    Now, Ma on the other hand  . . .
    As if her father could read her thoughts, he asked, “How’s your mama doin’?”
    â€œShe’s fine now. I picked up her laudanum at Millie’s.”
    â€œOh, that’s good. She’ll rest better now.” Her father wiped peach juice from his graying beard. “She’s quite a woman, your ma. Never complains. Ain’t seen any woman who could come close to bein’ as patient in adversity.”
    Their peaceful lunch was disrupted by the sound of rustling in the trees beyond the riverbank. Emily put her hand in her pocket to reassure herself that the pistol was still there, but her father stood and took up his rifle. Scouring the area for any sign of life, he waited. More than once they’d been surprised by a bear, so there was no need in taking any chances.
    â€œI ain’t a grizzly,” a man’s voice called out in amusement. A big man, bigger than any of the regulars in Yogo City, came out from behind a clump of pines.
    Emily watched him, careful to keep her hat low so he couldn’t see her face very well. In spite of the heat, she was grateful for her heavy coat. Her father lowered the rifle. “That’s a good way for a man to get shot,” he answered.
    The man crossed the distance between them in what Emily thought was no more than ten steps. His long legs made strides that would have taken at least two and possibly three for most folks. She looked up, shielding her eyes by bending the brim of her hat down a little lower. The stranger had to be at least six and a half feet tall. Her own father stood at six feet, and this man was another head