Gold Fever

Nugget, I am weakened. Please be patient as I regain my strength. I know you are terrified. I know you need me. I will do my best to protect you, but I can do nothing until my strength has returned.

What has happened to frighten you so? I can listen. That is the one thing I can do now. You came back from your grazing, ready to go to the mine with your person, and you could not find him? Instead his partner saw you and chased you into your stall. It was only then that you noticed the pool of blood, glistening beside the anvil next to the wall of your shelter. How horrid!

Oh my dear, dear Nugget, please believe me – we will try to find your person. I only hope it is not too late. My power is returning, slowly seeping into me, and as soon as it is enough, we will search for him.

Now I can see you. How you tremble! And now I can stand. Let us go.

But wait. I hear hoofbeats. I hear voices. Someone is coming.

Chapter 2

It's all mine now. The gold, the wealth. Amazing riches like I never dreamed of before this year. Not that I wanted it all at first. Just half. But Frank was so stubborn, thinking I only needed a third. Why didn’t he just give me half like I asked? Then we wouldn’t have got in that fight and he’d be alive right now, telling his stupid jokes, whistling that stupid song he always whistles.

If he’d just agreed with me, I wouldn’t have pushed him – and he wouldn’t have bashed his head. I didn’t push him too hard. He was just clumsy. It weren’t my fault. I couldn’t help that his head hit that anvil.

He always was difficult. Why didn’t he just say, Okay George, you deserve half, and I wouldn’t be burying him right now? His greed got me in big trouble, but I’m the one who’ll pay if the cops think I murdered him. Wish I could just tell them the truth, but they might not believe me. No, it’s easier to bury him, and by the time they find him – if they find him – I’ll be gone.

It’s almost done now. Just a few more shovelfulls of dirt and I’ll be on my way, with Frank’s nag packing the gold to the road. Then I’ll take his beat-up old truck across the border to the States, and finally, on to Mexico and freedom.

Anyone who comes this way will think Frank gave up, after all those years of searching for gold and not finding it. They might even think he struck it rich and headed south – just like I’m going to do. Ha!

I’m going to be one of the richest men alive. Anything I want, it’ll be mine. Fancy cars, luxury yachts, mansions – they’ll all be mine. Thanks to Frank. Too bad the old codger had to die for me to get rich, but hey, if he weren’t so greedy, if he’d given me half the gold like was right, he’d be sharing it with me right now.

What’s that? Voices? Who would be this far out in the bush? No one ever comes out this way. Except – oh, great. That guy, Dave and his kid, they drop in every year around this time. Just my luck!

At least the body’s covered now. They won’t find it unless they’re walking right past, which they won’t be. They got no cause to go into the bush behind the cabin. I’ll have to get rid of them quick, though. If I remember right, that guy Dave’s a cop. He’ll get suspicious if Frank doesn’t show up tonight. I got to think up a story. Tell them Frank’s gone a couple days and to check in on their way home. Yeah, that’ll work.

Why’d they have to show up today of all days?

Chapter 3

Karlie reined Silky to a halt in front of the cabin. The blood-bay mare snorted and pawed the ground with a dark hoof. Karlie stroked her powerful shoulder and slipped from the saddle. Frank! she called out. Hello! Frank! Are you here?

They must be out at the digs still, said her dad behind her, dismounting from his dun gelding, Cowboy. They should be home soon. It’s almost quitting time. The horse immediately lowered his head to graze.

Karlie pulled the reins from around Silky’s neck. We could set up camp while we wait, she suggested.

Good idea, said her dad. We won’t be going any farther today.

They always stopped for the night whenever they were in Frank’s vicinity, especially since Frank and his business partner, George, lived out in the bush. The prospectors’ cabin was almost a full day’s ride from the nearest road, so they hardly ever received visitors. Frank always appreciated their company. Karlie knew he’d greet them with a loud, jovial hello and an enthusiastic handshake when he saw them.

And just like last time, George will stand back when he sees us and look like he’s sucking on a lemon, she remembered. He’s the opposite of Frank in every way.

Karlie smiled. She loved visiting with Frank. After George skulked off to the cabin, she, Frank, and her dad would sit around the campfire until the early morning hours, telling tales, exchanging news, joking, and laughing. Karlie would finally stagger off to her sleeping bag a few hours before dawn touched the sky. There was nothing quite like curling up in a toasty warm sleeping bag, breathing the fresh night air, and listening to the deep voices of two old friends catch up on a year’s worth of news.

This year especially, I can use some funny stories, she thought. I need to get my mind off Tara. She untied her jacket from Silky’s saddle. The air was cool in the waning afternoon. As Karlie slipped on her ugly but comfortable old coat, she wondered what Tara would say about the jacket. She was so into clothes and things like that now, she’d probably say the jacket was totally not cool. Karlie hugged the jacket close. It made her like the old thing even more.

She still felt angry whenever she thought of Tara and the evening, two and a half weeks ago, that her friend stood her up. Karlie always went over to Tara’s every Wednesday night, rain or shine. Always. But that Wednesday, after she’d walked all the way to Tara’s house, she’d found no one there. Karlie sat down on the porch steps to wait, sure that Tara would be back soon. Her best friend hadn’t told her she had other plans that night. Or had she? As she sat there, Karlie remembered Tara saying something about going to the movies with Ryan. Karlie hadn’t really listened at the time – she hated it whenever Tara talked about Ryan, but she was positive Tara hadn’t meant that night. She wouldn’t make other plans for their Wednesday night, especially to be with a boy. Would she?

She waited for half an hour, then angrier than she’d ever been, Karlie stomped home. When she got there, she detoured around the house and went out to Silky’s paddock. She didn’t want to answer the questions she was sure her mom and dad would ask if she came home early. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about how Tara would rather hang out with Ryan than with the friend she’d had since kindergarten.

Silky had been understanding, and as Karlie rode her along the ravine trail, the mare’s quiet strength and steady step soothed her. She rode to the lake, then slid from the strong bare back, and while the mare grazed the spring grass, Karlie looked out over the water and watched the sun set. As the fiery red faded to pink and then gray, she thought of Tara and Ryan, of how her friend had been so excited when Ryan sat by them one night in the movie theatre – and of how she’d changed since that night.

And now she’s even ditching me to be with him, she thought and unfastened the leather straps that held the tent behind her western saddle. She carried it back to Silky’s head and dropped it on the ground, then sighed and laid her head against the blood-bay’s neck. The soft black mane caressed her cheek and Karlie shut her eyes. Things hadn’t been the same between her and her parents since that day either. By the time she’d gotten home that night, it was pitch-black outside. Her parents’ frantic calls turned to anger when they saw her ride into the yard.

Where have you been? Karlie’s mom had demanded in a heated voice.

One thing Karlie knew for sure was that she didn’t want to tell them about Tara’s betrayal. She knew what they’d say and she didn’t want to hear how it was natural for her friends to get boyfriends and that she would too one day. She just knew they would take Tara’s side and say she hadn’t done anything wrong, because she’d told Karlie about having plans earlier that day.

So Karlie lied. First, she told them she decided to ride Silky to Tara’s house instead of walking over, and she’d been there all evening. Little did she know they’d already phoned Tara’s number, and when there was no answer, her dad had jumped into his car and driven over to find Tara’s house deserted. She could tell they knew she was lying. She saw the doubt in their eyes, the betrayal, and speculation. When they demanded the truth, she was momentarily stunned. They’d never questioned her before.

After another moment, a second lie popped from her mouth. It was as if it had a life of its own, and she couldn’t have stopped it if she tried. She said she’d been so busy lately she hadn’t had much time to spend with Silky, so she decided not to go to Tara’s at all. Again they didn’t believe her, not really – it was obvious from the hard expressions on their faces – but they couldn’t prove otherwise, so they dropped the subject.

Things had been different ever since, and it didn’t make her feel any better to know she deserved it. She’d clung to the injustice of not being believed for a few days, but couldn’t hide from the truth for long. Finally she admitted to herself that they’d questioned her for the first time because she had lied to them for the first time. And now that their trust was broken, there was no going back to the way things were before. She was just glad her father hadn’t cancelled their annual camping trip. That would have been unbearable.

I wish I could tell Mom and Dad the truth, she whispered to her beautiful bay mare. Silky nickered sympathetically and Karlie ducked her head to brush away her tears. It’s all Tara’s fault. If she’d acted like a real friend, this never would’ve happened. All she cares about is stupid Ryan and clothes and being pretty. I don’t care that she told me she’s sorry and still wants to be best friends, she whispered.

Silky stretched her head out and yawned. I know you’ve heard it all before, girl. Sorry to be such a bore. The mare shook her head and snorted. Karlie couldn’t stop from smiling, just a little. I’m glad I still have you, you big goof. You’d never abandon me for some dumb boy and you know I’m still a trustworthy person, even though I lied that one time. Well, twice, I guess. She ran her fingers through the ebony forelock.

I’ll start the fire and get supper going while you put up the tent, said her dad, coming