Chapter 1
The high Nevada desert sun burned down on the refreshing banks of the Truckee River in the small but growing town of Reno. On that warm mid-July day in 1901 Jason and Darlene Franklin watched their young twins and older daughter play on the rivers banks with the other children from their church. “Lord,” Darlene silently prayed. “Thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful husband and family. Please continue to give us the good health that you have blessed us with.” She looked over to where her husband sat and noticed his gaze had been drawn up the hill. “What are you looking at my love?”
“Oh I seen movement up by that shack up yonder on the hill,” Jason responded. The shack he was looking at was owned by what everyone in town called the old witch. No one really knew how long the old hag had been there or even if she had a name. Everyone tried to stay away from the area as much as possible. Unfortunately, when the young couple returned home they would pass within a few yards of the old shack, or have to go a half mile out of the way. Jason hated the thought of that since it was so hot and the team had to pull the plow in the morning for the small parcel he was hoping to plant late crops in.
“That place gives me the creeps,” Darlene whispered to her husband afraid the old witch would hear her even at this distance. “Maybe we should take the longer way home today.”
“Now why would we do that,” Jason asked. “Going up that hill is already hard on the team. Why would we make them work harder in this heat?”
“Sorry, that witch scares me,” Darlene replied
Looking up at the sun slowly dropping to the mountains Jason looked at his three beautiful daughters. “Let’s give them a half hour more,” he said to his wife. “Unless of course everyone else leaves first, I would like to get past that place before the sun goes down.” Thirty minutes later the young couple loaded their three young children, and headed home.
