A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson Page B

of money here and there. I seem to have a knack for finding bits and pieces but never the mother lode, but one of these days . . .” He gobbled down another cookie and again followed it with coffee.
    Emily had for so long heard the same stories of glory from her father. The entire idea left her frustrated and more than a little cynical. And try as she might to hide her feelings, even Caeden had picked up on them. “Well, for your sake and ours, I hope you’re right. I would love to see Pa sluice out something other than those pretty blue pebbles.”
    â€œTo be honest, I’ve been setting aside some of those blue pebbles that seem so plentiful. I have a feeling they’re worth something.” Jake rubbed his whiskered chin. “I’m of a mind that they’re sapphires. Not like those ugly green-and-white ones they found up on the Missouri River, but real quality ones.”
    Emily perked up at this. “You really think so?”
    Jake shrugged. “I figure it’s worth checkin’ into. You suppose that geologist fella would know about ’em?”
    â€œI suppose he would. Seems if he’s studying minerals, he’d know about gemstones.”
    Emily tried not to get excited. She’d heard tales of men uncovering everything from diamonds to rubies to gold, and it always seemed the stories were more exaggeration than substance. Even so, she had a tin of the little blue stones sitting in the corner of the cabin. She’d been collecting them since last year, when her father first brought the family to Yogo City.
    â€œWhat makes you think they’re sapphires?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question aloud.
    â€œWell, they’re harder than just about anything save diamonds,” Jake replied. “One fella in Great Falls told me they weren’t nothin’ but blue bottle glass, but I know the difference. If your geologist comes around, ask him to take a look at the ones you’ve found and let me know. I’m not sure but what Hobson will end up sending some to a friend of his for inspection. But if you can get this fella to let us know sooner, that would be helpful. Then maybe we could put our efforts on finding the stones instead of gold and make us a fortune that way.”
    Emily shook her head. “Wouldn’t that be something, now, if those cursed blue pebbles turned out to be valuable.” She couldn’t imagine what her father would think if those rocks that troubled him so much turned out to be his salvation.
    â€œWhen you’ve finished your coffee, I’ll walk you down to see Pa. He won’t be happy if you leave and don’t take time to catch him up on all that’s happening.”
    â€œYour pa’s a good man. I wouldn’t think of missing out on talkin’ to him.” He drank the last of the coffee, then put the mug down with one hand and picked up the remaining cookie with the other. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
    Emily got to her feet. “Let me check on Mama.”
    Jake’s expression sobered. “How is your ma?”
    â€œAbout the same. Doctor says she probably won’t make it through the winter.” Emily tried to sound matter-of-fact.
    She went to the closed bedroom door and opened it just a crack. Her mother was sleeping soundly thanks to the laudanum. Emily closed the door again and crossed to the crock where she’d stored the cookies. “I’d best take a few of these to Pa. He won’t care a bit about having more coffee, but he’ll feel mighty abused if I fail to deliver him a sweet treat.”
    Jake laughed and pushed back from the table. “He’s a man after my own heart.”
    Emily pulled on her broad-brimmed hat and grabbed a handful of cookies for her father, while Jake took up the sack she’d given him and cradled it like a baby. She would have laughed out loud at the sight had she not held a genuine fondness