A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson

was up, and Caeden felt no different about his childhood home.
    â€œSorry to keep you waiting.”
    He turned to see a raggedy and stocky woman where earlier had been youth and beauty. Emily smiled from beneath the wide brim of an old hat.
    â€œI know your father said you tried to disguise your . . . beauty, but I didn’t see how that was possible.” Caeden continued to take in the sight.
    â€œBut now you can,” Emily replied. “It’s hard to wear all of this in the heat of summer, but I have little choice. I’ve lived in mining camps all of my life, and women are always scarce. If you have any looks at all, you’re in for constant attention.” She laughed. “Fact is, even if you don’t have looks, you tend to get plenty of attention if you’re a woman.”
    â€œSo why wear the disguise? If you’re only going to get attention anyway, you might as well be comfortable.”
    â€œI have thought that a few times myself. Still, it seems that taking care to hide my figure and face has at least lessened those who come to pester me. Here in Yogo City it’s not so bad. Pa’s made good friends with what few men have remained. They seem to be a decent lot, but there’s always the chance that someone will arrive who isn’t so decent.” She moved to the door. “Even so, I’m content to endure. If you’re ready, I’ll show you around.”
    Caeden followed Emily outside. The heat of the day had passed, and in its place had come a pleasant evening with an occasional cool breeze. He knew as well as anyone that once the sun set, the night would actually grow cold.
    â€œThis might serve you well,” Emily said, pointing to an area behind the lean-to where Bonnie-Belle quietly munched on dried grass. “You could use the back of the lean-to to cut the wind in case of storms. The river’s just down that path about two hundred yards. The water is way down, but it’s still crystal clear and cold. Tastes good too.”
    A couple of hens clucked and pecked at the ground, while not so far away, another two sat atop their nests on a small raised platform. Emily paused to shoo them inside the small fenced area. “I pen them up at night and let them out during the day. Usually they aren’t bothered, but occasionally a fox has been known to come visiting.”
    Caeden smiled. “You have quite the arrangement here.”
    â€œI do. On the other side of the house is my garden. It helps to have your own vegetables when the pan doesn’t give you much color.” There was a hint of something negative in her tone.
    â€œI suppose it’s a hard life,” he murmured.
    She looked at him as if he’d grown horns. Her frown lasted only a moment, however. “It can be, but that’s just the way it is. I don’t suppose we have it as bad as some, and we definitely have it worse than others. A person doesn’t always get to have a say over how things will be.” She barely paused for breath. “Do you need help assembling your tent?”
    â€œNo. I can handle it. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
    Emily shook her head. “You didn’t.”
    â€œYou sounded upset. Yet not that as much as . . .” He struggled to find the right word.
    â€œCynical?” she asked.
    He met her gaze. Those cocoa brown eyes fixed on him, and her mouth tightened into a straight line.
    â€œPerhaps cynical is the right word.”
    She shrugged. “I’m tired and I suppose the worst comes out of me in such a state. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to tend to the garden before I retire for the night.”
    He gave her a nod but couldn’t help wishing she would stay. There was something about Emily Carver that held his attention as nothing else had in a long, long time.

4
    W ell, if it isn’t Jake Hoover. Millie told me you’d be making your way here.” Emily