Tender Treasure: The Tender Series by Tanya Stowe

Author:Tanya Stowe [Stowe, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

Erik studied the growing clouds above them. They’d been blowing in from the west all afternoon, piling in on top of each other, compounding and turning black. When the storm hit, it would be a doozy…and if he and Jordy didn’t reach the Gustafson place soon, they were in real danger of being caught in it.

“How much further do you think?” Erik asked.

“I’m hoping it’s right over this ridge.”

Erik hoped so too. Dark was coming and after a full day of traveling, the horses were tired and so was he, not to mention the cold had seeped right through to his bones and made him stiff. He gave a little kick to the horse’s side, urging him up the hill at a faster pace.

He and Jordy pulled their animals to a stop at the top. Sure enough, below them lay a small valley. Like all the surrounding areas, the snow-covered hills were bare. Long ago, people chopped down trees of all kinds and used them for mine supports, buildings, or fuel. The Chinese laborers of Bodie made good money by building camps high in the mountains where they could still find wood and turn it into charcoal to sell in town for heat.

The Gustafson claim was no different. The barren landscape made it easy to see clearly. Across the valley, a cabin and a stable nestled up against the snowy mountainside. On this cold afternoon, no smoke came from the chimney. In fact, no signs of life—people or livestock—were discernible anywhere near the homestead.

Were they wrong about the Gustafson claim? Had they come all this way only to discover they had been mistaken about the location?

Jordy leaned forward in his saddle and pointed. “Look.”

Behind the cabin, three figures in skirts strode down a stretch of snow-covered hill. The tallest was in the lead. Behind her was a shorter version of herself, right down to the long blonde braid. A smaller girl scampered around the older two, running in circles. The middle girl stopped, peered upward, and pointed to where Erik and Jordy sat atop the crest. All three figures halted in their footsteps. Then, with a quick motion, the oldest girl gestured, and all three ran for the cabin.

Jordy sighed. “Well, I guess we found her…and it’s for sure she ain’t too happy to see us.”

Erik clicked his horse. “Come on. Let’s get down there before she tries to run again.”

They pulled their horses to a stop in front of the cabin. Erik dismounted. Muscles screamed as he eased off the saddle. Several boards looked loose on the wooden porch and the steps were broken. Mr. Gustafson must have been ill for a long time to let the place come to such ruin. How long had the girls been making do in this ramshackle cabin?

No sounds came from inside. Stepping carefully over the broken boards, he knocked on the door. “Open up, Anika. It’s me, Erik.”

Would she open for him? He thought they had formed a special bond. At least, he felt that way about her.

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