Mountains. I was intrigued by the whole idea of hiding a fortune and seeing what would happen. Who would find it? How would they find it? And what would someone be willing to do in order to find it?
I hope to write more books featuring the men and women of the Bristle County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol. I’m fascinated by the lore and the mystique of deputies and volunteers on horseback. For this series, I couldn’t resist setting my stories in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. There’s something so very authentic about the rugged mountains and the people who live there.
I hope you enjoyed this first book, and until we meet again in the pages of another book, may God bless you greatly.
Terri Reed
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
Thank you to my editors, Emily Rodmell and Tina James, for your patience and encouragement through a difficult time. I appreciate you all so much.
Thank you to Leah Vale for your endless support and to my family for your endless love.
Contents
“Maya! Maya!”
The crack of the office door bouncing off the back wall reverberated throughout the hardware and feed store.
At the front counter, Maya Gallo braced herself and gave the customer she was helping an apologetic smile. “Excuse me, Ethan. Apparently, Brady has something to tell me.”
“No worries, dear,” the older gentleman replied and wandered off toward the tack room. There was no pity in his voice, but Maya could feel the empathy and sympathy radiating off of one of Bristle Township’s most stalwart citizens.
Maya’s fifteen-year-old brother, Brady, skidded down the aisle between the bags of goat and backyard flock feed of the Gallo Hardware and Feed. Their parents had opened the establishment shortly after Maya was born. She couldn’t remember a day when she wasn’t in the store. She missed them so much.
It had been ten years since that tragic night when her mother and father were on the road coming down from a day of skiing on Eagle Crest Mountain, Colorado, and hit a patch of ice. The resulting car accident had taken both their lives, leaving eighteen-year-old Maya to raise her five-year-old brother.
Brady’s almond-shaped eyes danced with anticipation as he halted in front of her and Maya’s heart filled with love for her little brother. Though he had Down syndrome, he functioned at a high level and was smarter than most people gave him credit for. He was also a hard worker, opinionated and determined. But, more important, full of joy. A joy that at times broke her heart.
She could guess today’s excitement meant another clue in the “Treasure Hunt of the Century” had been uploaded to the blog of the wealthy and eccentric Patrick Delaney.
Knowing
