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Lock hadn’t come down with measles until a full week after the outbreak started, and he was among the last to get well.

When finally he was over his fever and rash, he stepped out of the doctor’s office where he’d been recovering for two weeks.

It was the second week of October, and autumn had fully come to the Two Harts Ranch.

And winter had come to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Lock looked to the east and howled, “No! We can still go. We can still get in the treasure hunt before spring, as long as the map stays at lower elevations.”

“Those are some big if s, Lock,” said Josh, who was waiting outside the doctor’s office in the balmy autumn weather. Tilda was there, too.

Thayne hadn’t been hit as hard by the measles and had gotten well fast. He’d then worked at Brody’s side caring for eleven sick orphans, three sick cowpokes, the children of those cowpokes, one of the mothers, and little Caroline.

Thankfully, most everyone was on the mend now, but it had been a harrowing two weeks.

Nearly all the healthy folks had helped to care for the sick.

Those not caring for them got ready for the cattle drive, which would begin just as soon as the last fever broke.

“I told you we should have mentioned the snow.” Thayne sat on the boardwalk outside the doctor’s office. He looked at Brody and rolled his eyes.

“I wanted Lock to concentrate on getting well. I was afraid if he got upset by the snow, it might set him back.” Brody rubbed one hand over the back of his neck in a gesture that reminded Josh that his brother-in-law was still new at this doctoring job.

Ellie patted him on the back. “Telling him earlier wouldn’t have changed a thing. He wasn’t up to going, and none of us was available to go with him.”

All five of them turned to study Lock.

Tilda said, “We’ve studied those notes thoroughly, and Michelle has translated the Spanish.

It sounds like your grandpa found all the gold the explorers left behind.

” Mayhew Westbrook, who’d returned to Sacramento for the winter, had checked on the gold coins’ value.

“Mayhew found a man who’s willing to pay a shocking amount of money for the coins.

If you MacKenzies decide to sell them, Mayhew will handle it for you.

He also said he’d like to come back when we go treasure hunting in the spring. ”

Cord had remained at the Two Harts, moving into the bunkhouse.

Josh and Zane had hired him on for the winter.

He was a skilled rider and able to do farm chores and carpentry work.

But mostly he wanted to learn to be a cowboy.

He’d shared his dream of finding his own land and settling somewhere to farm or maybe ranch.

But he had scant roping and branding skills and the like, so he planned to spend the winter learning.

“Lock, now that the measles is about finished,” Brody said, shoving his hands deep into his pockets, “after talking it over with Ellie, we’re heading back east. I’ve written to Dr. Tibbles and told him I’m hoping to come out west again next spring, but I’ll be there to work for him over the winter.

I’m hoping Ellie and I can move back here for good after we spend the winter in Boston.

” Brody bent forward, and he stared at the ground.

“I still want you and Thayne to come with us, but you can choose. If you do come, you can spend the winter in school.”

“And, Lock,” Josh said, “if you do stay, no one is going into those mountains until next spring. We had a man ride in hunting for work just yesterday who said they’ve had over fourteen feet of snow in those mountains. Right near where Cord’s half of that map takes us.”

Lock winced. “Can the train get through?”

Josh shrugged. “Usually.”

Brody studied his brother with kind eyes, sad eyes, as if he already knew Lock would choose the Two Harts and California and MacKenzie’s Treasure.

There was a long silence as Lock showed about the second flash of maturity in his life. Finally, he gave a big sigh and said, “We’ll come back in the spring? You promise?”

Brody made sure to look the kid in the eyes before answering, “Yes, I promise. You have my word on that.”

Lock nodded. “All right then. I’ll go along. I like being with my brothers.” He gave Ellie a smile. “And my sister.”

Brody went to Lock and clapped him on the back. “We’re leaving on the train next Monday morning. You’re the last to have your fever go down. I want you to have three days to rest up, gather your strength. I’ll watch over everyone else for that long, too.”

Ellie came up to her little brother and hugged him tight. Thayne rose and slung an arm around Lock, and Ellie pulled him into the hug. Brody wrapped his arms around all of them.

Josh caught Tilda by the hand and drew her away. They started walking toward the house. Michelle had allowed them back inside as soon as she was convinced Josh and Tilda weren’t going to get sick.

“Did I tell you all of Michelle’s family is coming here in the next month?

The Stiles family, all five of them, will stay a month or more because Jilly has some building to do.

We’ve got two more cowhands who want to marry, and we promised them their own cabins.

And those archeologists will be visiting as soon as we let them know the measles is over.

We’ll stay in the house, and they can sleep in Ellie and Brody’s place while they’re here. ”

“My father wants to study the artifacts, too. He and Maddie are coming out to help with the research.”

“Seems we’ve got our lives all mapped out for us. We’re mighty lucky to never have to waste a minute doing our own thinking.”

“Yes, and you said the man is called by the Bible to do all the thinking in the family.”

Josh flinched. “Did I say that?”

She laughed, then leaned against his side. “You did. But it doesn’t look like either one of us will have to waste time on that.”

They’d left the MacKenzies behind but hadn’t reached the house yet.

“You can come along on our cattle drive. We can stay in San Francisco for a few days. The work slows down after the drive.” Josh stopped and turned to face his wife.

“So we won’t be greatly missed. Michelle has talked with her ma, and we can stay in the Stiles house in San Francisco and go see the ocean, maybe ride on a trolley car.

” He leaned down, slow as can be, giving her plenty of warning about what he was doing.

“Then we’ll come back and decide whether to build our own house or stay with Zane, and we’ll settle in. ” He kissed her.

Tilda stood on tiptoes so that her lips could meet his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then, pulling back the barest of inches, she said, “Wherever you go, I’ll go. Wherever you are is my home.”

Josh smiled. “I don’t need to go on a treasure hunt, darlin’. I’m holding my treasure right here in my arms.”