Maggie Fletcher, living under the thumb of her Aunt Fionnula in England, inherits a gold mine in Colorado. Along with her brother Wilson, they run away to find their gold mine. However, once there, they find the mine abandoned and the living conditions were worse than the near-slave conditions with Aunt Fionnula.
If you can believe it, the town's name is Hoodee Doo and the mine is haunted. No one is willing to work in the mine (called the Hellhole). TG Manning, who takes Maggie and her brother to the site, knows she will never get anyone sane to go into the mine. After Maggie gives him a portion of the mine, TG cleverly finds a group of ex-con women who agree to work there (for a portion of the proceeds).
Before long, there are constant problems at the mine. Eventually, even the ex-cons give up. If that weren't bad enough, Aunt Fionnula and her miserable two daughters arrive to get their cut of the inheritance (even though they were not included in the will).
TG gives up his drinking and starts paying his gambling debts while managing the women miners. Then the mine ghost starts talking to TG. By the end of this story, it had slipped into the ridiculous. Too much of this book was improbable and bordered on silly.
If you can believe it, the town's name is Hoodee Doo and the mine is haunted. No one is willing to work in the mine (called the Hellhole). TG Manning, who takes Maggie and her brother to the site, knows she will never get anyone sane to go into the mine. After Maggie gives him a portion of the mine, TG cleverly finds a group of ex-con women who agree to work there (for a portion of the proceeds).
Before long, there are constant problems at the mine. Eventually, even the ex-cons give up. If that weren't bad enough, Aunt Fionnula and her miserable two daughters arrive to get their cut of the inheritance (even though they were not included in the will).
TG gives up his drinking and starts paying his gambling debts while managing the women miners. Then the mine ghost starts talking to TG. By the end of this story, it had slipped into the ridiculous. Too much of this book was improbable and bordered on silly.
Maggie Fletcher and her brother travel to the American West to inherit a mine, and find no one will work it because it's haunted. The situation gets worse (and funnier) as she partners up with a minor who's nearly a derelict, and his well-meaning crew of female convicts, the only ones brave enough to face the trickster ghost.
Some real history and a look at what women had to face in the American West, but mostly humor and a love story to keep us guessing. A fun read.
~ Cactus Patch
Some real history and a look at what women had to face in the American West, but mostly humor and a love story to keep us guessing. A fun read.
~ Cactus Patch
