The Orchardist's Secret - Paperback

by Ray Mathews (Author)

Orchardist Sean Kerry, believes his fruits are 'gold' -- until the Maidu Indian boys who help him with his harvests, promise him gold nuggets. Afraid he will start a gold rush if he displays the gold, Sean hides it. Before he can tell his family where the gold is hidden, he is killed by two white men bent on the rape of a Maidu Indian girl when he intervenes. Intent on avenging his father's killing, Sean's son, Finn, must learn to shoot a gun before he can hunt down the killer. He learns about gun-handling from old Indian fighter, Wild Bill Mackey who turns Finn into an adept shootist. During the California Gold Rush, the Kerry Orchards become wealthy, then decline, and eventually the orchards are going broke. Can Finn survive a duel with a killer and find the gold in time to save the family orchards?