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“Welp, if this isn’t the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, I’m not sure what is,” I said, surveying the equipment laid out on my back porch. With a sigh, I began, for the fiftieth time, to double-check them against the list I downloaded off Pinterest.
“Rope, check.
Helmet with light, check.
More rope, check.
Extra flashlight, check.”
I scratched my nose. One item left that I didn’t have. A map. Hmmm, wonder if I can download that off Pinterest too?
“A HA!”
I jumped at the exclamation. Cathe Swanson and Sandy Barela stood on my lawn with triumphant looks on their faces. Two horses, fully saddled, and a mule, laden with mining gear, stood behind them, nipping at the grass.
“Huh?” The shock of seeing them and their transportation threw me for a loop. “Where’d you two come from?”
“We knew you had it,” exclaimed Cathe, completely ignoring my question. “Hand it over, April.”
She made a grabby motion with her hand, pointedly looking at the paper I held. I blinked a few times and then looked down my equipment list.
“You want this?” I waved it at her. Cathe’s eyes lit up. I wrinkled my nose and said, “It’s nothing more than…”
“We know what it is,” whispered Sandy, looking around like a fugitive.
“Ooookay.” I tucked it into my back pocket. “I’m sorta confused. Why are you two in my backyard with horses…”
“And a mule,” added Sandy.
“And a mule,” I nodded, “and wanting my list?”
Their backs went straight and the two women exchanged a look.
“What do you mean, a list?” asked Cathe, her voice cautious.
I pulled the paper out of my pocket and showed it to them. “It’s just a list of spelunking gear I downloaded off Pinterest. You don’t really need it, do you?” I waved it at the horses, who took no notice of me. “You look way more prepared than I do.”
“Hm.” Sandy tapped a finger against her chin. “Are you saying you don’t have the map?”
“Nope!” I gave them a reassuring smile. It didn’t look like they were buying it though. “But I was going to search Pinterest for one. It didn’t show up on Google Maps for some reason.”
“Of course it isn’t going to show up.” Cathe looked somewhat offended. “It’s called the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine for a reason.”
I blinked a few times. I must have looked confused because she sighed and said, “Because it’s lost. We need the map to find it.”
“Well now, I don’t have a map for that.” I bowed my head in thought then looked up again. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I don’t anyway. But you could always look in the hills.”
I pointed out to the mountain range to the east. “They’re riddled with abandoned mine shafts. Maybe the Dutchman’s Mine is one of them?”
The two ladies shook their heads, mounted their quietly eating horses, and headed back where they, apparently, had come from. After the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves faded, I pulled out my phone. Time to give a friend a call. The one I knew had the map. Hopefully, she’d be able to keep its location a secret until she was able to visit it herself!
The Rush Is On To Find The Lost Dutchman’s Mine
The troubles with the Ever After mysteries continue with Rebekah Jones’ book The Lost Dutchman’s Secret, a Christian historical fiction novel! A bunch of treasure seekers are looking for The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine and are trying to figure out who knows. Follow along this week to find out which author has the location to goldmine!
Sandy Barela – November 2
Cathe Swanson – November 3
April Hayman – November 4
Liz Tolsma – November 5
Chautona Havig – November 6
Marji Laine Clubine – November 7
Denise Lauren Barela – November 8
Rebekah Jones – November 9
Giveaway
Don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway on each author’s blog!
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