Joansy Jones stared at her father. The man was just plain mean. With a sigh, she glanced at the soddy hut they called home and relished the fact that she was leaving, tonight. She was escaping to a new life as a mail order bride to Thomas J. Connors. Burl Macfee stared into the rippling waters of Nugget Creek. Orphaned as a small child, he belonged to no one. He couldn't take another winter in the empty cabin. He was leaving Hickory Stick. Hope you enjoy this 31,000 word novella.