The Timber Treasure

Tom rides into the ragged frontier town of Oakley after a long, mud‑caked stagecoach journey, his breath visible in the crisp pine‑scented air. The settlement is a scattering of log cabins and a bustling post‑office where rough‑handed woodsmen, French habitants, and a few quiet Indians trade stories over a stove’s glow. Dressed in his travel‑worn flannel, Tom feels out of place, his city‑grown skin paling against the rugged faces that surround him.

He’s come to meet his uncle Phil, who ran a remote homestead deep in the Canadian woods, but the locals have no sign of the Jackson family. A terse exchange with the postmaster reveals a long‑unopened letter waiting for Phil, and whispers that the family may have vanished from the area. As Tom pieces together the clues, the looming forest seems to hide more than timber—perhaps a secret that could change his life forever.