No Greater Treasure

by Amy Lillard

Coming soon

  Loving Jenna

  Romancing Nadine

  AMISH MYSTERY

  Kappy King and the Puppy Kaper

  Kappy King and the Pickle Kaper

  Kappy King and the Pie Kaper

  For a complete listing of Amy’s books go to

  www.amylillardbooks.com

  And now a sneak peek at Book Two in the Gold Diggers Collection, The Trouble with Nancy by Chautona Having:

  THE TROUBLE WITH NANCY

  July 1860

  Edna Harrison glanced up from wiping down a row of still-steaming jars of canned peas as her daughter entered the kitchen. “Whew! Mama, this is hotter than the oven. Does that have to be done in July?”

  And will you never learn that life need not be lived in a state of italics?

  Nancy passed her a letter before beginning to unwrap her parcel. “Looks like it’s from Papa’s lawyer, though why he’d be writing us so long after Papa’s death, I don’t know.”

  Edna stared at the envelope, her throat constricting and heart racing. I hope Mr. Lyons has found proof that we don’t have to pay that tax. We’d never come up with enough in time!

  “What do you think, Mama?” A glance up at her daughter transformed into a gape. Nancy had tied a ribbon among her curls, and the effect... one could only call it startling. “I thought it might look well with my vermilion dress for Louisa Pankhurst’s party.”

  Saffron and vermilion? Have I taught you nothing? In addition to the girl’s rather unfortunate planned color combination, the yellow gave Nancy’s complexion a rather sallow, sickly hue. “I thought you’d decided on black or a lovely chocolate?”

  “I did, but I saw this, and it was so cheerful, I just had to have it. Don’t you think I’ll look well in it?”

  A glance at Hattie sent the girl scrambling. Edna stepped forward and put an arm around her daughter. “I’m afraid it’ll get lost in your hair, dearest. Such similar colors... I would have thought more contrast...”

  The girl dashed for the mirror in the hallway and returned. “You may be right, Mama. I’ll go see what Lewis thinks.”

  At that, Edna couldn’t hide a wince. He’ll tell her how terrible it looks. And her feelings will be hurt. She sent a quick prayer for patience and diplomacy heavenward and turned her attention to the letter.

  My Esteemed Mrs. Harrison,

  I write with rather unfortunate news. Despite arguing the case before half a dozen clerks in offices from here to the capital, the verdict has come back at each endeavor. The tax is valid and must be paid.

  Knowing what I do of your husband’s estate and the terms and amount of your annuity, I recommend taking a small mortgage with a repayment over four years. With small economies, you should manage to repay without a significant impact on your finances each year.

  I do wish I could have given better news, and if there is any other service I can perform for you, please do not hesitate to ask.

  Yours Respectfully,

  Charles H. Lyons, Esquire

  A wail sounded upstairs, followed by the distinct sound of tears, and a door shut with much more force than necessary. The thunder of footfalls on the stairs warned of Lewis’ impending arrival. He’ll be upset. I can almost hear the argument now. “Why does she—”

  Her son burst through the kitchen door and collapsed into a chair. “Why does she ask a question if she isn’t interested in the answer?”

  “Lewis...”

  “Mama! Did you see her in that hideous saffron? What happened to the chocolate?”

  Why Edna defended a decision she didn’t support, she would never know, but their family had done it for just shy of two decades now. “She saw the saffron and thought it looked cheerful.”

  “Doesn’t she care how terrible it makes her look. She’s not a pretty girl. The last thing she needs is to take away from her only...” His words grew quieter as he saw the return address on the envelope that lay on the table. “Is that word from Mr. Lyons? What did he say?”

  Guilt turned a knife in her gut as Edna passed the letter to her son. He’s too young for cares like this. But I can’t confide in Nancy without upsetting her, and I can’t decide these things alone.

  The slow, deliberate way Lewis refolded the letter as he finished reading told her he’d come to a decision. Edna knew what it was, and she didn’t like it. “Lewis, no...”

  “Mama, I have to. We have no other choice. Uncle Wilhard won’t loan us the money, and we can’t sell this house. Papa meant it as provision. We need it. So, I’ll go sign up tomorrow.”

  “It sounds so dangerous, Lewis. There could be...” She dropped her voice so if Hattie or Nancy were nearby they wouldn’t hear. “...Indians. What will you do, then?”

  Her boy—just sixteen and already taking over as man of the family. He cupped her face in his hands, kissed her forehead, and hugged her with the ferocity he had a s little tyke. “They have outposts every ten or fifteen miles for the riders to change horses. It must be safe with people manning those stops. I’ll be fine.” When Edna couldn’t quite manage to hide her fear, he kissed her forehead again. “I promise, Mama. I’ll be fine.”

  ***

  —don’t think it’s very kind of you to criticize everything I do. I have feelings, you know. You two laugh at me behind my back, but I hear it. “Oh, that Nancy. She can’t choose a simple length of ribbon without choosing the worst one for her complexion.” “That’s the trouble with Nancy. She has no sense of the proportion of things.”

  “And I’d say it, too. If they’d listen.”

  The silk, saffron ribbon lay abandoned on her counterpane as Nancy cried and paced, plotting and planning rebukes she’d never give. She snatched up the ribbon and wrapped it around her head a few times. She peered at her reflection and sighed. The ribbon could go to Hattie. She would look well in it with her green eyes and dark hair.

  Nancy had green eyes, too—pale green with so much gray you sometimes didn’t see the green at all. Sage her father had called them. My hair isn’t dark. But it is pretty.

  That had to be true. It just had to be. She’d heard it all her life. “Well, she does have lovely hair, Edna, but the trouble with Nancy is that she looks more like a boy than a girl. Why, Lewis looks just like she did four years ago!”

  They’d all hoped—trusted, really—that the day would come when her face would fill out a little, her skin wouldn’t turn sallow when she couldn’t find just the perfect color of cloth or trim. Lewis always said they just wished she’d listen when they made suggestions.

  I would. I would! But they have such lovely colors at the ribbon counter, and it is so tiresome never getting to wear yellows or so many of the lovely greens.

  Blue. She looked well in blue. And greens with blue undertones. Clear pinks and rich reds. How many times had those colors been drilled into her? And gray, Nancy. You’re too young for gray or lavender anyway, so for pity’s sake, don’t try to wear those colors. They make you look positively ill!

  And so she didn’t—usually.

  “And now I’ve quarreled with Lewis. Again. Her father’s reproofs for her many outbursts plucked at her heartstrings. “I promised Papa that I wouldn’t. And I did.”

  That’s all it took. Nancy dashed down the hall, but Lewis wasn’t there. He’s probably gone to complain to Mama. Again.

  She plopped herself in the chair at his desk and peered at the stack of books there. Euclid’s Geometry. The Lives of Plutarch, Intermediate Latin.

  “That’s one advantage to being a girl. I don’t have to read stuffy books.” She opened the Latin and flipped through page after page. The words made no sense. “Maybe page one. Yes, of course. He didn’t know what...” She peered closer at the word. “...somnium was when he first began learning. She peered closer. “Dream. Interesting.” The next word: somnus. “Sleep. Well, they sound related, anyway.”

  Flipping to the first page, she decided to see how it began, but a newspaper clipping caught her eye.

&nb
sp; Pony Express

  St. Joseph, Missouri to California

  In 10 days or less.

  ~WANTED~

  Young, Skinny, Wiry Fellows

  Not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily.

  Orphans preferred.

  Wages $25 per week.

  Apply Pony Express Stables.

  St. Joseph, Missouri

  “Well, he’s young and skinny, all right. Wiry, too. We both are.” She eyed it closer. “He’s even an expert rider. Can’t say that, myself. Nasty, smelly horses. Ugh.”

  But the next words caught in her throat, strangling her speech. “‘Willing to risk death daily.’ Not my brother! Sure, he’s an orphan—of a sort. But we need him.

  Had she not been confident of her mother’s ability to put the kibosh on her brother’s plans, she’d have marched downstairs and exposed his tom-fool ideas. Instead, she practiced sitting primly with her skirts spread out around her and trying to look intelligent as she watched non-existent people around her.

  “Oh, Mr. Claymore. I didn’t observe you there. I was just pondering the beauty of the light shining off Maddie Fe—” Oh, no. I can’t do that. You don’t draw a gentleman’s attention to another lady. That’s a fine way to encourage him to compare you to someone. Let’s see... “Oh, Mr. Claymore. I hadn’t observed you there. I’m afraid I couldn’t tear my eyes from the violinist. The way his fingers dance over the strings...”

  A small smile formed. Yes, that would be the way to do it. And I really do enjoy watching the musicians. There’s nothing deceptive about that at all. I’ll have to be sure to do that next time. So much nicer than watching other girls dance with beaux who all ignore me.

  Her thoughts, once turned disappointing, no longer interested her. Nancy jumped up in search of her brother. Mama will hear me apologize and see that I am not as self-absorbed as she thinks.

  But as Nancy neared the kitchen, she froze. “—I’ll be fine. I promise, Mama, I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ve seen those advertisements, Lewis. They want orphans.”

  He laughed. “That’s just so they can expect people to work for months and months without time off to visit family.”

  Nancy burst into the kitchen. “He has an advertisement in his room, Mama! And it doesn’t just advertise for orphans. It says you must be willing to ‘risk death daily.’ Daily! They’re asking boys to go to their deaths! And for what? A measly twenty-five dollars a week. It’s highway robbery!”

  Her mother paled. “Lewis, you don’t think that there are robbers on the route, do you?”

  “I’ll bring papa’s pistol. I’ll be safe.” He turned to Nancy. “Twenty-five dollars a week is a sight more than we have at the moment. Don’t grieve Mama any more than she already is. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to save this house.”

  “You’ll spend your first week’s earnings just getting to St. Joseph. And what if they don’t hire you—you’re too young or small or—?”

  “Small is an advantage this time. And I saw an advertisement just the other day for people to interview here. If they hire you, they pay your fare to St. Joseph.”

  Mama had stood there, wringing her hands and listening. But when she dropped her hands to her side, Nancy knew the time had come—the time when Mama would forbid Lewis for such a foolhardy idea.

  “Well, then. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to see if they’ll even accept you. Let’s start there, shall we?” Mama turned to Nancy. “You came down just in time to set the table for supper.” To Lewis, she added, “And we’ll have steamed peas and onions.”

  Steamed peas and onions! Just like that? He’s thinking of riding through Indian Territory with nothing but Papa’s revolver to protect him, and you’re offering peas and onions?

  But, as always, her thoughts didn’t cross her lips. Instead, she reached for three plates and flounced from the room. Lewis’ voice followed. “It will be just fine, Mama. The trouble with Nancy is she doesn’t accept change well. Papa never did, either.”

  Oh, yes. It’s always about what the “trouble with Nancy” is, isn’t it?

  COLLECTION

  The authors of the 2019 Gold Diggers Collection,

  Amy Lillard

  Chautona Having

  Jennifer Beckstrand

  Caryl McAdoo

  We hope you’ve enjoyed this story and plan to read the next!

  No Greater Treasure

  Gold Diggers Collection, Book 1

  After five years, Birdie Banks longs to return to civilization. Mining camps are no place for a lady alone. She hires Jedidiah Evans to escort them, a big man, strong and capable. There’s no doubt God sends him to help get her to her fiancé Nelson O’Neil. Like gold, love is strange, and treasure in the eye of the beholder. She must choose between the treasure she’s always known and the one God sent especially for her.

  The Trouble with Nancy

  Gold Diggers Collection, Book 2

  Nancy Harrison has finally stepped out of her prissy box and tried to do something helpful—but did she go overboard in her first self-less act?

  She can’t ride, hates horses, and is terrified of being alone. What’s a girl to do? Join the Pony Express, of course—as her brother! Otherwise, her family will lose everything. She chops off her hair and takes to the dusty overland trail to prove she isn’t a “flighty little thing.” But things go from bad to worse as she discovers that riding astride is worse than sidesaddle. Can’t she just go back home to balls, teas, and the hope of a suitor?

  Jesse and James

  Gold Diggers Collection, Book 3

  JESSIE’s hands are full helping her parents run their small farm and B&B while every fortune-seeker in the country flocks there in search of gold. Claim jumpers won’t quit trespassing, and geologist James Kelsey—intriguing and handsome for an Easterner—seems more interested in her than the mining business! She’s hasn’t the time or need for a man. One broken heart was enough. Add stolen cash, a fast-talking con man, and a pair of bandits, and Jessie is up to her eyeballs in trouble. Will she soften her rock-hard exterior? Let the geologist discover the hidden treasure in her heart?

  Jewel’s Gold

  Gold Diggers Collection, Book 4

  Can a tangled web snare two hearts and point them true north?

  A Papa’s girl from the start, Jewel Jones remembers all the things he told her. Wealthy, but far from being a snob, she finds Boaz Branson both irritating and intriguing. How can she know if the handsome confidence man truly turns from his wicked ways, or if his interest only in her gold? Papa said let God’s peace lead her. Only by God’s grace can Boaz escape the deceptions he plans to perpetrate on the beautiful heiress. While his head wants to flee the entanglement, his heart bids him stay.

  Are Jewel and Boaz building on sinking sand, or have they found the golden nugget they seek?

  The authors hope you will enjoy all four stories of the Gold Diggers Collection, and that you’ll bless them with a quick review—posted around—while the story is still fresh on your mind. No need for a long, drawn out synopsis; just a few of your own words as to why you loved it. Maybe mention a favorite character, quote, or scene. Make it easy on yourself! Thank you ahead of time!