Crystal's Mill Town Mystery

By Stephen Bly and Janet Chester Bly

Crystal Blake and her friends discover a locked safe in a burned-out lumber mill and find they are not the only ones interested in its contents. Why is the Snake River Lumber Company offering Crystal a huge reward for an old safe no one can open? Crystal and Shawn Sorensen are determined to discover what’s inside. Now, if only they could figure out the combination. With the mystery of the safe to solve, Crystal’s finding it hard to concentrate on the upcoming rodeo with Pendleton, her biggest rodeo yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bly Books
• Release date: Apr 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370616114

Stephen Bly

Stephen Bly (1944-2011) authored and co-authored with his wife, Janet Chester Bly, more than 100 books, both historical and contemporary fiction and nonfiction. He won the Christy Award in the category western novel for The Long Trail Home, from The Fortunes of the Black Hills Series. Other novels were Christy Award finalists: The Outlaw's Twin Sister, Picture Rock, and Last of the Texas Camp. His last novel, Stuart Brannon's Final Shot, finished with the help of his widow, Janet Chester Bly, and three sons--Russell, Michael, and Aaron--was a SELAH Award finalist. She just completed her first solo adult Indie novel, Wind in the Wires, Book 1, Trails of Reba Cahill.

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Crystal Blake Adventures

Book 4

Crystal’s Mill Town Mystery

Stephen and Janet Bly

SMASHWORDS EDITION

* * * * *

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For a list of other books by Stephen and Janet Bly write:

Bly Books, P.O. Box 157, Winchester, ID 83555

Or check website: http://www.blybooks.com/

Copyright©1986 by Stephen and Janet Bly

Cover illustration by Paul Turnbaugh

Cover Book design by Chris Patchel

Dedication:

For the real Gabrielle ... hang in there, kid

Chapter 1

The Glory Days of Winchester Mill

"I wonder, what’s the difference between a routine and a rut?" Crystal Blake threw the saddle across the back of her tall Appaloosa gelding, Caleb, and reached under him to grab the cinch.

I suppose, she answered herself and the horse, it depends on whether you like what you are doing or not. She walked Caleb to the gate, closed it behind them, and headed toward the house.

For over two months she followed the same daily schedule. Ever since she and her family moved from Southern California to the little mountain town of Winchester, Idaho, Crystal got up at 6:00 a.m. to take care of Caleb.

Every morning.

Whether rain or shine, wind or cold, or heat, though in Winchester it never really got what Crystal considered hot. Now, even in the snow.

Every morning.

Then, each afternoon, she’d ride Caleb. Around town. In the Indian pasture with Gabrielle. Over to Teresa Patterson’s indoor arena with the high school rodeo team. Or across the prairie with Shawn Sorensen.

Every day, the same.

And she absolutely loved it.

She left Caleb by the front of their wooden deck sidewalk. Inside the tri-level house, Crystal’s little sister, Allyson, covered the living room couch with dolls. Upstairs older sister Karla argued with their mother.

Mom, I can’t wear yellow. You know that doesn’t look good on me unless I have a good tan, and there is no way anyone here can have a good tan without a tanning lamp.

Tanning lamps are dangerous. Catherine Blake sorted through clothes in the closet.

Crystal stood at the door. Hey, you can wear one of my new western blouses, she suggested, half kidding. She knew Karla had no interest in western clothes.

The green one ... the silky-looking green one with lace? Karla sounded serious.

Yeah, sure ... Crystal stammered. You kidding me?

No, I’m desperate. Do you think it will fit me?

Well, it’s only made for freshmen. Crystal snickered. But I suppose you could survive for a few hours.

Thanks, Crys. I’ll go to your room and get it. Karla raced down the stairs.

Mrs. Blake sighed. If I can get Karla dressed every day, I think I’ve got it made. She did want something special tonight.

Another Friday night date with Michael? Crystal asked.

Not just any date, tonight she’s going to The Ponderosa with Michael and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Flannery.

Wow, bringing her home to Momma. This is serious. Shawn and I are going to ride around the lake. If we have time, we’ll run some practice rounds in the pasture.

Mrs. Blake walked Crystal to the living room. Are you dressed warm enough? It’s cold today. Why don’t you ride by Norton’s and bring home that meat I ordered?

Can we buy some jerky?

Sure, but please don’t be late for dinner.

Crystal hurried out the door, grabbing gray felt cowgirl hat and ski gloves. She hurried down the steps and past the Ponderosa pines scattered in their yard.

Shawn waited for her by Caleb. Hey, city girl, ready to ride?

Yup.

Aren’t you afraid of Caleb wandering off? Shawn teased.

The big, gray horse stood with reins hanging to the ground.

Nah, he couldn’t get along without me. She mounted up. He wouldn’t have anyone to boss around.

Crystal heaved a sigh of pure pleasure. A great day. Fridays were her favorite, except maybe for a tie with Sundays. This was the kind of day Crystal found difficult to describe to her friends back in southern California.

She and Shawn rode down the hill toward the highway and around toward the state park that adjoined Winchester Lake. A dark, clear blue sky above looked like it could pull them right off the planet and into space. The brilliantly bright sun didn’t warm them a bit. Snow from a storm two days before almost melted. Only a thin crust remained in shady areas among the forest pines, firs, and tamaracks.

Crystal’s California friends, like Megan and Patty, would freeze. Crystal might too, except after a couple months, she’d adapted to the weather. Thirty-nine degrees and sunny seemed a decent weather day.

Shawn worked his horse back and forth in an imaginary slalom course, then said, Hey—where are you? You look like you could be at the National Finals.

I guess I was in California. She trotted Caleb closer to Shawn.

Homesick?

Oh, no—not at all. But I do miss my friends, Megan and Patty. It’s not that I want to be back there. I just wish they could come here for a visit.

Invite them up for Christmas break. Is Patty as cute as Megan? Shawn teased.

No way. They are not coming up here. Crystal galloped ahead of Shawn.

Crystal could tell Caleb felt good and liked to run in the crust of snow that dotted the road back to the campgrounds. He held his head high and twisted to see everything in sight.

When they reached the far side of the lake, the road ended. They headed up the inlet where Crystal, Shawn, Betsy Jo, and Brad found a buried journal the first week of September. The lake had been drained then. Now, water covered the point of their discovery.

Shawn, Crystal said. Am I too old to learn how to rope?

Rope what?

Learn to rope for the team. I feel kind of out of it around Gabrielle and the others. Do you know she’s going to enter five events?

Maybe six, Shawn added. If I can’t find a guy to rope with me, I'm going to ask Gabrielle. She could be the header and I’ll grab the heels.

What about me?

"Sure, you could learn—but it would take years before you really get it down. Meanwhile, you're doing great with barrel racing and learning pole bending. I think that’s enough. But if you want another event, try cutting. Caleb’s a natural.’’

Ha! I’m barely getting used to horses. I don't think I’m ready to understand a steer.

You don’t have to. Caleb knows more about steers than you or I ever will. Next week, ask Mr. Duffy if you could learn how to cut. Could be what you're looking for.

They crossed the creek deep in the woods and headed along the far side out to the lake.

I like the view from here, Shawn commented as they again reached the shore. Everything looks so different from this point. The town’s so far away you can imagine what it was like at the turn of the century. Picture a big lumber mill up there on the hill next to the water tower and a long, wooden walkway across the road into town. The Camas Prairie Railroad ran right up to the mill.

Would you have liked to live here back then?

Not really. After all, they had no National High School Rodeo Association and no cute blonde girl from California. Come on, let’s race around the lake to the water tower. Shawn hit the flanks of his horse and headed down the trail before Crystal could respond.

Crystal started after him. She didn’t expect to catch up, but it was fun just the same. Caleb was fast enough, but she didn’t want to try to pass on the narrow trail. Besides, she had something to think about: the cute girl from California? So that's what he thought of her.

When they rounded the far end of the lake and started up the embankment, Crystal saw an opportunity to catch Shawn. He was headed down the trail and up a steep incline. She pulled off the trail and pushed Caleb up the hill on an angle and beat Shawn to the top. The race to the