Free The Swindler's Treasure by Lois Walfrid Johnson

that was the sun appeared above the horizon.
    â€œIt’s the dawning of your fourteenth birthday,” Pa said quietly. “Happy birthday, Libby.”
    Fourteen!
Libby wanted to sing, to dance, to shout—to tell the whole world,
I’m almost grown up!
    Then she remembered.
I’ve never been fourteen before. What will it be like? How will this year be different from any other year of my life?
    I’m not a little girl anymore
. Yet when Libby looked ahead to being a woman, she felt scared.
    As she thought about how Pa had planned this moment for her, Libby’s throat tightened. Blinking away her tears, Libby squeezed his hand back. “Thank you, Pa.”
    Without speaking, she and the others stood there as the orange light moved upward. When the sun grew too bright to watch, Libby looked out over the streets and buildings of Hannibal. From where she stood, the
Christina
looked like a small white toy—a plaything a child could float in any puddle of water. But for Libby the
Christina
was home.
    Down the river, then up, Libby’s gaze followed the shoreline. By the time they were ready to leave, the sun had cast a pathway of light across the waters of the Mississippi. Turning on the great jagged rock for a final look, Libby watched the waves ripple against the shore far below them.
    I’ll never forget seeing the sun rise on my fourteenth birthday
, she thought.
Best of all, the people I love most are gathered around me
.
    At the bottom of the bluff again, they drove to a grove of trees called Cave Hollow. When Caleb carried a large picnic basket from the wagon, Gran spread a tablecloth on the grass and set out the food.
    As everyone sat down around the cloth, Pa again reached out his hand to Libby. One by one they clasped hands until the circle was complete.
    Bowing his head, Pa started to pray. “We thank you, Father, that you are the one who created Libby. You are the one who gave her this special day. Even as the sun rose upon her fourteenth birthday, we ask you to watch over her. Care for her, protect her, give her your love. And most of all, Lord, help her to become strong in you.”
    When the silence grew long, Libby looked up to find Pa watching her.
    â€œIn the name of our Lord, we bless you, Libby.” His voice was husky with emotion.
    As Libby looked around the circle, the warm feeling of being loved filled her to overflowing.
Pa. Caleb. Gran. Jordan. And now Peter. My never-give-up family
, Libby thought.
We don’t always agree, but we stick together. No matter what happens, we’re a family
.
    Then, seeing Peter, Libby remembered that she had forgotten to talk on his slate. Did he understand what was going on?
    When Peter grinned at her, Libby knew. Though he hadn’t heard every word, he understood.
    Gran began offering food: boiled eggs still in the shell, slices of fresh peaches, golden pears, and the cinnamon rolls that Libby loved.
    As they were eating, Libby felt curious. Caleb was fourteen, almost fifteen now, and Peter had told Libby he was ten. But what about Jordan?
    â€œHow old are you?” Libby asked him.
    Jordan was enjoying his food so much that when he shrugged his shoulders, Libby thought he didn’t want to stop eating.
    â€œFifteen?” Libby asked. “Sixteen?”
    Again Jordan shrugged.
    â€œWhen’s your birthday?”
    This time Jordan looked directly at her. “I ain’t got no idea.”
    Libby stared at him. How could someone possibly not know his own birthday?
    â€œMomma didn’t have any way of knowing the day I was born,” Jordan explained. “And she didn’t know how to write it down. Momma said Old Master put it in his book.”
    â€œSerena?” Libby asked, even more curious now. “Does Serena know when her birthday is?”
    Jordan shook his head.
    â€œZack?”
    Again Jordan shook his head.
    â€œLittle Rose?”
    Jordan grinned. “Rose was born when the