Treasure at Trail's End by Dorothy Bodoin

Author:Dorothy Bodoin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Colorado territory, inheritance, treasure, civil war veteran, apparition, centennial year, cattle rancher
Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
Published: 2023-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

THE NEXT MORNING NICHOLAS left on the Denver-bound train, undoubtedly taking the pendant he’d given me with him. Andy waylaid me on the street that afternoon to give me the news. With Nicholas gone and Emmett apparently keeping his distance, my thoughts turned once again to Trail’s End.

I planned to exorcise the ghosts of the past with mop, soap, and water. I believed that the treasure existed. If Jules Carron had hidden it in his house, a thorough cleansing would uncover it. My decision was inspired by a dream I had one night of washing a begrimed wall, only to discover that it was made of silver.

“Why are you dressed like that?” Viola asked, as she joined us at breakfast.

I wore a plain garment of gray and white and had an apron in my hand.

“It’s time I did some work at my house. I’m hoping you’ll offer to join me.”

A familiar pounding on the door interrupted us.

“That’ll be Emmett,” Miss Eulalie said. “Will you let him in, Mara?”

I had a minute to wish I’d chosen one of my new dresses to wear this morning, but Emmett appeared not to notice my garment. He stood on the doorstep with his Stetson in one hand and a bouquet in the other.

“You’re up bright ’n’ early after bein’ out so late last night, Miss Mara,” he said. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Miss Eulalie set the special cup she kept for Emmett on the table. “Come have coffee with me, Emmett. What pretty flowers! Are they from the X Bar G?”

“Close enough. I picked ’em on the way. They’re for your table.”

I took the bouquet and put them in a glass of water, wishing he’d said they were for me. But how could I expect such a display of regard from Emmett after dining with another man last night?

He watched me arrange the flowers, all of his good humor restored, making no attempt to mask an infuriatingly smug look.

“I heard your Eastern friend left town this morning, Miss Mara,” he said.

“That was his plan. I’m going to ride over to Trail’s End, do a little cleaning and throw the trash in a bonfire. Viola is coming with me.”

I glanced at her doubtfully. She, too, was plainly dressed, but her dark blue garment looked stylish and almost regal.

“As soon as she changes clothes and finds an apron,” I added.

Miss Eulalie looked from Viola to me and finally to Emmett, as if in supplication. “Oh, my dear, who knows what you’ll find in that dreadful place?”

“I hope it’ll be something good.”

“I washed my hair last night,” Viola said. “I thought I’d help Miss Eulalie with her sewing today.”

“You can cover your head. Say you’ll go with me. It’s too nice a day to sit inside.”

“Of all the dam’ fool schemes,” Emmett said. “Why clean a house that’s goin’ to be torn down?”

I glared at him. “I may not do that. I have a notion to entertain my friends in my own home.”

“Your friends are welcome here, Mara,” Miss Eulalie said.

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