Treasure and Trouble Therewith: A Tale of California

"Treasure and Trouble Therewith: A Tale of California" by Geraldine Bonner is a historical fiction story that unfolds during the California Gold Rush, highlighting the challenges of greed and the search for fortune and inner change. The story begins with Danny Leonard, a Wells Fargo messenger, carrying a large amount of gold across California's dangerous paths, which hints at tough times to come when Leonard and stagecoach driver Jim Bailey are suddenly stopped by the infamous outlaws Knapp and Garland. The story paints a detailed view of California’s harsh yet lively landscapes as they are attacked on a lonely road. Leonard's serious situation becomes clear when he is shot. Once the stagecoach gets to a town close by, a series of events begins, weaving together crime and the quest for desires in California's rough lands.