Read CHARITY'S GOLD RUSH (A Strike It Rich in Montana novel) for Free Online Page A
Authors: Cynthia Hickey
garden planted if we hope to eat during the winter .”
“The children can help.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the trunk of an aspen tree. A curl fell forward over one eye, giving him a rakish look.
Charity curled her fingers tighter around her treasure to prevent herself from reaching out and smoothing his hair away from his face. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
He scratched his head. “Do you know how to cook anything other than beans?”
“Not really.” She squared her shoulders. “Nor do I know how to sew, can, tend a garden or care for livestock.”
“Well, that’s a predicament.” He ran both hands through his hair. “But one I can remedy easy enough. Our closest neighbor is a woman who has lived on these plains for quite some time. I’m sure she’d be glad to teach you what you need to know.”
“That’s very kind of you to think of a way to help me .” Of course she knew for a fact that her learning would improve his life so they’d both benefit. She squatted next to the tub . “I’ll be up in a little while.”
“As you wish.” His footsteps faded.
Charity closed her eyes. Should she have gone? What if she made him angry enough to sever their agreement early? She’d never strike it rich, then. She needed to tell him of her plans. Maybe he would help her. They could strike up a friendship. Become partners. She grinned and pushed to her feet. She’d show him the rock right away.
Fairly skipping to the house, she withdrew the rock , and burst into the house . “Gabriel, I have a wonderful plan that would benefit us both.”
Her enthusiasm died at the sight of dirty dishes in the sink , a congealing pot of beans in the center of the table , and no family . Breathing sharply through her nose, she dropped the rock back in her pocket and rolled up her sleeves.
By the time the kitchen was in order, Charity’s temper sim m ered like a pan over a slow burning fire. What could Gabriel possibly gain by taking the children off on an afternoon romp after lecturing her about no time for fun when there were chores to do?
With a snap of her apron , she draped it over a chair, and stormed outside and around the corner. There, poking holes in the dirt with a long stick, was Gabriel. The children followed along behind him, dropping seeds in the furrows of her garden.
5
Charity’s throat stung from unshed tears. Gabriel cared enough about her workload to help her, and she’d done nothing but think evil thoughts while washing dishes. Oh, but she was a wretched woman of the worst kind .
“Surprise.” Gabriel grinned. “I thought you were feeling overwhelmed with everything, so the children and I took this off your hands.”
“Bless you.” Charity blinked rapidly. “I have something to share with you, too.” She pulled the stone from her pocket and, with a flourish, handed it to him . “We’re going to be rich.”
Gabriel’s smile faded as he took the rock from her. “This is fool’s gold. Worthless.”
“No , ‘tisn’t .” Charity shook her head. It couldn’t be. “It’s real, I’m sure of it.”
He sighed. “I’d know if there were gold in my creek, don’t you think? ”
“Have you searched?” There had to be gold. Miners used to come to Charity all the time, paying with dust or flakes, and there was very little of the precious stuff left in her trunk. Not enough to provide a life for herself, anyway.
“I’m
“The children can help.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the trunk of an aspen tree. A curl fell forward over one eye, giving him a rakish look.
Charity curled her fingers tighter around her treasure to prevent herself from reaching out and smoothing his hair away from his face. “That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
He scratched his head. “Do you know how to cook anything other than beans?”
“Not really.” She squared her shoulders. “Nor do I know how to sew, can, tend a garden or care for livestock.”
“Well, that’s a predicament.” He ran both hands through his hair. “But one I can remedy easy enough. Our closest neighbor is a woman who has lived on these plains for quite some time. I’m sure she’d be glad to teach you what you need to know.”
“That’s very kind of you to think of a way to help me .” Of course she knew for a fact that her learning would improve his life so they’d both benefit. She squatted next to the tub . “I’ll be up in a little while.”
“As you wish.” His footsteps faded.
Charity closed her eyes. Should she have gone? What if she made him angry enough to sever their agreement early? She’d never strike it rich, then. She needed to tell him of her plans. Maybe he would help her. They could strike up a friendship. Become partners. She grinned and pushed to her feet. She’d show him the rock right away.
Fairly skipping to the house, she withdrew the rock , and burst into the house . “Gabriel, I have a wonderful plan that would benefit us both.”
Her enthusiasm died at the sight of dirty dishes in the sink , a congealing pot of beans in the center of the table , and no family . Breathing sharply through her nose, she dropped the rock back in her pocket and rolled up her sleeves.
By the time the kitchen was in order, Charity’s temper sim m ered like a pan over a slow burning fire. What could Gabriel possibly gain by taking the children off on an afternoon romp after lecturing her about no time for fun when there were chores to do?
With a snap of her apron , she draped it over a chair, and stormed outside and around the corner. There, poking holes in the dirt with a long stick, was Gabriel. The children followed along behind him, dropping seeds in the furrows of her garden.
5
Charity’s throat stung from unshed tears. Gabriel cared enough about her workload to help her, and she’d done nothing but think evil thoughts while washing dishes. Oh, but she was a wretched woman of the worst kind .
“Surprise.” Gabriel grinned. “I thought you were feeling overwhelmed with everything, so the children and I took this off your hands.”
“Bless you.” Charity blinked rapidly. “I have something to share with you, too.” She pulled the stone from her pocket and, with a flourish, handed it to him . “We’re going to be rich.”
Gabriel’s smile faded as he took the rock from her. “This is fool’s gold. Worthless.”
“No , ‘tisn’t .” Charity shook her head. It couldn’t be. “It’s real, I’m sure of it.”
He sighed. “I’d know if there were gold in my creek, don’t you think? ”
“Have you searched?” There had to be gold. Miners used to come to Charity all the time, paying with dust or flakes, and there was very little of the precious stuff left in her trunk. Not enough to provide a life for herself, anyway.
“I’m