Author(s): Ralph Compton

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It’s the bitterest winter anyone can remember, and Earl Tyrone can barely hold back the wolves preying on his family’s last few cattle. He gets no help from his older brother, Byrd, who’s only interested in striking out for California. Leaving Earl the sole protector of their ma and sister, Byrd finally reveals the secret source of the funds for his ticket West: he found gold on the ranch, and now it's Earl’s fortune to mine—if he’s strong enough and smart enough to hold on to it.

Earl realizes he’ll have to weave a fabric of lies to protect his family and keep prospectors from swarming his land. He hits on a clever plan, but its unintended consequences are rife: painful misunderstandings, conflict with the Utes, and outright murder.

Earl’s stash of glittering gold has become instead a black cloud over his family. Can he come up with a new plan to dispel that cloud and find peace and stability at last?