Blackwater Creek — Deborah Kent

CALIFORNIA, 1849 AND THE GOLD RUSH IS ON . . .

Erika Nagy's family has come to California from Hungary to pan for gold. But when they don't find any nuggets and cannot pay the rent, Erika must go to work for their mean landlord, the rancher Hart Latham. At the ranch Erika forms a special bond with an injured filly, named Arany, that she nurses back to health. When Arany escapes from the corral, Erika sets out to search for her at Blackwater Creek -- and finds much more than she bargained for!