Susan K. Marlow

Join Andrea Carter for more adventures in the Old West Spunky ranch girl Andrea Carter is back in six short stories inspired by ideas from fans of the Circle C Adventures series. In this revised edition, readers will find three new stories about Andi's life with friends, family, and her horse, Taffy, on Circle C ranch in 1880s California. From saving an orphaned calf to having a close call in the big city, Andi is bound to wind up in an adventure. Full of wholesome fun and clear Christian messages throughout, Andrea Carter and Other Tales from the Circle C Ranch is a must-read.

Is escape even possible when you've been shanghaied? Jem Coulter, his family, and Strike-It-Rich Sam journey to San Francisco with the newfound gold to see if surgery can fix Nathan's broken legs. The uncertainty of Nathan's recovery leaves Jem bored and worried, so he heads how to the waterfront to explore. The merchant ships look exciting--where could they be sailing? A sailor's invitation turns into an unexpected kidnapping that forces Jem into the life of a cabin boy. Forced to eat awful food and filled with a fear he'll never see his family again, Jem wonders if he can escape by jumping ship. Join Jem on the deck as he navigates the rough seas.

The hunt for the lost gold is on Jem Coulter and his friends celebrate the end of the Civil War in their town with firecrackers, parades, and anticipation for a bear-and-bull fight. But chaos ensues when a bull breaks loose, causing wood splinters and fence posts to rain down and break his cousin Nathan's legs. With the Coulter family unable to afford a San Francisco surgeon, the family and their friend Strike-It-Rich Sam devise a plan to raise money. Jem, his sister Ellie, and Strike embark on a quest to recover lost gold. Will they find their treasure in the valley, or will they have to strike more gold in order to help Nathan?

When Fresno is hit with an unexpected outbreak of deadly scarlet fever, Andi Carter is scared. Her town friends are getting sick and school is closed until it passes. Far from the danger, at least Andi has her horse Taffy and plenty of work on the Circle C ranch to distract her. But is she really safe? First one ranch hand, then two, and then her brother Mitch fall ill. Mother is convinced that the only way to protect Andi from this terrible disease is to send her far away to fussy Aunt Rebecca in San Francisco. The noisy city and Aunt Rebecca's bossy ways may be worse than scarlet fever. But then Andi has an idea that might help save her friends back home . . .

Andi Carter has gold fever! Someone near town has struck it rich. Now Andi can't stop wondering if there might be some of the glittery metal in the creeks on the Circle C ranch. Her brothers agree that she might find something that sparkles. But they laugh whenever they talk about it. Andi is determined--when she finds gold, she'll be the one laughing! Her friend Cory is excited to track down treasure too, and together they set off on an adventure. Panning for gold is cold, wet, tiring work. But Andi and Cory won't give up. Success! Just when they discover what they're looking for, real trouble shows up: a spring storm, a missing horse, and a frightening bear. And those are just the beginning.

Andrea Carter is no stranger to trouble, but her carefree ranch life is about to be turned upside down in ways she never could have imagined. Who is the half-dead man Andi and her friends find lying in the creek? Who are the travel-weary young woman and three unruly children who suddenly show up at the Circle C? Why has Andi's family been keeping such an important secret from her? Angry and hurt at being left out, Andi saddles Taffy and sets out to find some answers--answers she wouldn't have guessed in a million years. How far will Andi go to rescue those she loves, whose lives depend on her protection?

Everywhere twelve-year-old Andrea Carter goes, trouble follows. Even in the middle of the main street in Fresno, California. When Andi takes part in a reckless, impromptu horse race with her friend Cory, she nearly tramples her new teacher--not a good way to start the fall term And that mishap is only the beginning. Good intentions just aren't enough to keep Andi out of trouble. When an escaped prisoner forces his way into the schoolroom, Andi must make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Should she deliberately walk into danger to save a tormenting, mean-spirited schoolmate? Or is the price of following the Golden Rule just too high? This anniversary edition of another exciting adventure in the Old West of the 1880s with beloved heroine Andi Carter is sure to be a favorite addition to schoolgirl bookshelves.

When the Circle C ranch decides to host a rodeo competition with two other ranches, dozens of cowboys are eager to prove they're the best riders and ropers in the valley. But they're not the only ones who want to show off their skills--Andi aims to lasso her way to the prizes, even if big brother Chad says the contest isn't for kids. The roundup is meant to be a time for food, fun, and friendship. But before Andi can prove she's got what it takes to be a real cowgirl, the day turns dangerous. Will a friendly rodeo turn into a range war between ranchers and sheepherders? Can Andi and her family keep their neighbors--and themselves--safe?

This is so embarrassing. Andi's teacher, Miss Hall, is sick--and Mother is the substitute teacher. What will Andi's friends think? But it turns out embarrassment is the last thing Andi needs to worry about when two outlaws kidnap Andi and her mother after school in a case of mistaken identity! They can't even tell the kidnappers a mistake has been made without putting themselves in even more danger. Now they're being held in a remote cabin until Mother can teach the man in charge how to read--and he's willing to go to any length to make it happen. Andi must escape and find help. But can she lead a rescue party back to Mother before the outlaws take their new teacher--and disappear forever?

Thirteen-year-old Andi Carter wants to surprise her mother with the perfect birthday gift. But earning the money for it proves harder than she expects. It takes time, but at last, one of Andi's ideas is working out. . . until the day she witnesses a back-alley crime that places a beloved citizen at the scene. A divided town and the suspect's vengeful younger bother put pressure on Andi to admit she made a mistake. When her horse, Taffy, disappears, Andi must reexamine her conscience and make a decision: Is the price of telling the truth worth losing Taffy forever?

The summer after Andi Carter turns nine the circus comes to town. She can't wait to get in line to see the elephants, acrobats, and--most of all--the champion bareback rider. What could be more thrilling than riding your very own horse under the big top?When the Carters see the show, Andi meets Henry Jackson, a small boy selling concessions. Andi thinks his job must be perfect, hanging out with happy clowns, exotic animals, and excited visitors. But it's not all fun and games. Henry shares a secret with Andi: he ran away from home to join the circus--and now he's trapped. Andi wants to help him get free. But helping him may mean losing something very special to her.

Andi Carter has just turned nine. She and her palomino, Taffy, are old enough to be a real horse-and-rider pair at last! With a beautiful new saddle, Andi's sure she is ready to learn to trick ride like her friend Riley used to do before he left the ranch. Sadly, big brother Chad knocks down any trick-riding plans, but Andi cheers up when she discovers a new friend at her special spot. Her fun with Sadie is soon threatened, though. They are caught in the middle of a boundary quarrel between the two families. Both Sadie's pa and Chad are stubborn as mules and neither will back down. Can Andi and Sadie hang on to their friendship while the adults are fighting?

Includes never-before-seen chapters Twelve-year-old "Andi" Carter attracts trouble the way her palomino horse, Taffy, attracts flies on a hot summer day. Lately, she can't do anything right, from forgetting important chores to putting herself in danger with her brother Chad's wild stallion. After a particularly scary incident where Andi gets in trouble once again, she wonders if her family would be better off without her. So she saddles up Taffy and leaves the Circle C ranch. But her escape quickly leads to frightening encounters with a horse thief and a vicious young lady. Turns out life on her own is downright terrifying Home is where Andi belongs, but how can she go back without her beloved mare? Susan Marlow's captivating characters have even more to say in this newly expanded anniversary edition of one of her classic Andi tales.

Join Andrea Carter for more adventures in nineteenth-century California! The independent tomboy Andrea Carter and her beloved horse, Taffy, were first introduced in Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home in 2005. Since then, popular author Susan Marlow has penned five more books in the Circle C Adventures series, filled in Andi's early years with the Circle C Beginnings series, and started a chronicle of Andrea's teen years in Circle C Milestones. Published to celebrate the tenth anniversary of this positive role model for girls, Andrea Carter's Tales from the Circle C Ranch is a collection of short stories inspired by fan questions that fills in many of the gaps between Circle C Beginnings and Circle C Adventures. Taking place between 1873 and 1880, each story is prefaced by an explanatory note that pinpoints the action of the story in relation to events in the existing Andrea Carter books. Wholesome fun, and with a clear Christian message throughout, Andrea Carter's Tales from the Circle C Ranch is a must-read for fans of the series and a fun introduction for those who haven't yet discovered these historical gems.

Jem Coulter's pa, the sheriff of Goldtown, is away on a trip to deliver a prisoner to Sacramento, and he has left Jem in charge of the ranch-along with Aunt Rose, that is. No sooner is the sheriff gone then trouble starts-a dead calf, a mysterious stranger, and then Pa's horse and his prize rifle are stolen. Jem and his cousin Nathan find Copper's tracks end at a dark canyon up in the hills. Jem remembers an old Indian legend Strike-it-rich Sam is fond of retelling about people disappearing and no one ever seeing them again. What is the real story of the canyon of danger? Have thieves found the perfect hideout?

When Jem Coulter is caught in a miners' riot, he learns the worst: the Midas mine is no longer producing the gold the town relies on to stay alive. Will, the son of the mine's owner, tells Jem the only way to get the Midas working again is to blast deep into the ground. This means a nearby abandoned mine must be reclaimed for an air shaft.But Jem discovers that Chinese miners, including his friend Wu Shen, are working those old scavenger diggings. Even the arrival of James Carter, co-owner of the Midas, and the his son Chad can't convince the Chinese to give up their claim.When Jem's father, farmer-turned-sheriff of Goldtown, is ordered to evict the Chinese from their mine or lose his job, Jem is caught in the middle. Then Will comes up with a solution. If Jem goes along with it, Pa can keep his job and the Midas will get its air shaft. What Jem doesn't realize is that Will's risky plan may lead to disaster deep in the heart of the old mine.An exciting follow-up to Badge of Honor (book 1), Tunnel of Gold will entertain readers ages 8 to 14 with its fast-moving plot and colorful characters, and teach them historical details about life in the post-Gold Rush days of 1860s California.

Twelve-year-old Jeremiah "Jem" Coulter knows that Goldtown, California, has seen the last of the gold rush. But the flecks of gold he and an old prospector, "Strike," find in their played-out claim on Cripple Creek spur Jem's hope of striking it rich. In the meantime, he and his sister, Ellie, sell frog legs and firewood to bring in extra cash. When Jem's father accepts a job as sheriff of lawless Goldtown, Jem is suddenly saddled with an additional responsibility--to run their broken-down ranch. He faces a hard path as he tries to be a man and make his father proud, but then Cripple Creek mysteriously dries up and Strike suddenly disappears. Jem is determined to find out why. Can anything be worse than being a sheriff's kid? Will outlaws use his father's badge for target practice? Is that silver star just a target . . . or truly a badge of honor? Readers ages 8 to 14 fell in love with Susan Marlow's Circle C Adventures. Now the same adventurous spirit and historical lure are back in a brand new series featuring a new cast of characters and exciting escapades. As educational as it is entertaining, the Goldtown Adventures series is one the whole family will enjoy.

Written for reading level 2.0-2.8, the Circle C Beginnings series combines fun illustrations and six-year-old Andi's signature curiosity. In Andi's Circle C Christmas, Andi's fun holiday break is spoiled when a grumpy, bossy visitor arrives. No more running. No catching spiders. No wearing overalls. But just when Andi thinks the fun is lost forever, she learns that she can help this unwelcome guest in a way she never imagined.

Written for reading level 2.0-2.8, the Circle C Beginnings series combines fun illustrations and six-year-old Andi's signature curiosity. In Andi's Lonely Little Pony, Taffy is growing up too quickly. Soon Taffy will have to leave her mama and stay by herself at night. When a mean boy tells Andi about the scary things that happen when a foal is separated from its mother, Andi wonders if she can keep her little horse safe!

Exciting adventures for early readers! Written for reading levels 2.0-2.8, the Circle C Beginnings series combines fun illustrations and six-year-old Andi's signature curiosity. In book three, if Andi can't take her new foal, Taffy, to the 1874 California State Fair, she doesn't want to go. But once she's there, there are so many exciting things to see that she's glad she came . . . until her big brother tells her she can't keep the prize she won fair and square!