Lone Star Cinderella by Debra Clopton

aperfect time to be a robber with all the well-known gangs wreaking havoc on the territories stretching from Nebraska to Texas. This sick man could have been anyone and the money could have come from who knows what holdup! And, of course, I haven’t read this entire journal. I was too excited to come show you first, but so far there’s no name or anything. I’m thinking there won’t be. If that’s so, we may never know who this guy was.”
    Seth stared at her. “Man, you know your stuff.”
    â€œOh, there is just so much to know. It is fascinating.”
    He smiled. “But you really like this.”
    That stumped her. “Well, yes. I love it. I mean, I’ve always loved history, and I used to think it would even be fun to search for treasures, but well, there really wasn’t an opportunity. But we can now. Isn’t that exciting?”
    â€œWait. You mean actually look for this?”
    â€œWell, sure.”
    â€œNo.”
    She blinked and reared back as if he’d hit her. “But, it’s right there.” She tapped the map. “Written out. You must look for it.”
    There was a part of him that was excited beyond measure, but he had a practical side and it kicked in. As did his wary side. He was looking at his worst fear…yes this very well could be his great-grandfather’s campfire tale, and that meant if word of this got out he could kiss his peace and quiet goodbye.
    Still, there was a part of him that wanted to grab the map, grab Melody and head for the ravine in search of lost treasure. “Look, Melody. I really don’t want this getting out. I’d rather you said nothing to anyone aboutthis. You said it yourself there might be no way of knowing who this mystery man was. Or where the money came from. I don’t want word getting out that this is here or the loonies will come. Do you see what I’m saying?”
    She was looking at him like he had two heads. “You don’t mean that you really want to pretend I didn’t just find this.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I want.”
    â€œNo way— you have to say something about this.”
    â€œNo. I don’t,” he said emphatically.
    â€œWait. Look at what’s copied here. Do you have any idea what some of these things mean?”
    â€œThe guy’s talking about my ravine. But I have no idea what the other stuff is. Do you have any idea how big that area is?”
    â€œNo. Take me to see it.”
    â€œMelody. Be rational here. Yes, we have a map. But the ravine is a massive area. There are streams, and its several hills all run together, densely wooded, too. Me and my brothers camped there growing up, and it’s great for hunting and fishing. But I’ve never seen a cave. Not that we didn’t think there might be one. We did, but if there is one, it is so well hidden that we never ran across it nor did anyone else in my family or they’d surely have passed down that they had. If this dead guy found it by accident and buried treasure in it then he was one lucky guy.”
    â€œIt could happen,” she huffed, crossing her arms.
    She wasn’t listening. Her mind was on the treasure. “So you’re saying he just happened to be riding across the land, sick, found this cave accidentally, hid the treasure then came here and died. It’s too convenient.And even if it did happen like that the odds of us coming across it are—”
    â€œâ€”highly improved because we now have a map! Come on, Seth. At least show me what we’re talking about. Please.”
    He sighed. The mouse had turned into a bulldog—though she was way too pretty to be compared to a short, snub-nosed creature. He figured the best way to dissuade her was to show her. “Come on, get in my truck,” he said. She startled him all the more by rewarding him with a jubilant hug.
    Â 
    Ever since she’d discovered the map, she