Canyon of Danger - Goldtown Adventures #3

Twelve-year-old Jem Coulter couldn't be more excited. His sheriff father must escort a prisoner to Sacramento, and he's leaving the ranch in Jem's care. How hard can it be to look after a couple dozen beef cattle and a few chickens? After all, his cousin, Nathan, and his sister, Ellie, will pitch in to help, and Aunt Rose is there to keep house.

However, Jem quickly discovers that being the "man of the family" for two weeks is not how he imagined it. Everything goes wrong. A wolf threatens the herd, and an injured stranger invades the Coulter's lives. Then Jem's horse goes missing, along with Pa's good rifle... stolen right out from under Jem's nose. Goldtown's bungling miners-turned-deputies are no help. They have their hands full with the disorder and rowdiness that the sheriff's absence has sparked.

Jem won't let his father down. He'll do anything to recover his family's stolen property—even venture into a canyon filled with unexpected danger.