The Californios - Louis L'amour

Desperate to settle the debt on their ranch, the Mulkerin Brothers follow an Indian mystic on a trail for gold. Riding hard on their trail is the greediest band of cutthroats north of the border. Killing is their business--doing it for gold would only make it sweeter.

Captain Sean Mulkerin comes home from the sea to find his family home in jeopardy. After the death of his father, Sean's determined mother, Eileen, took it upon herself to run the sprawling Rancho Malibu--until a fire destroyed her hard-earned profits. Now, on the edge of financial ruin, Eileen hopes Sean can help them find a way out.

The rumor is that her late husband found gold in the wild and haunted California hills, but the only clue to its whereabouts lies with an ancient, enigmatic Indian. When Sean and Eileen set forth to retrace his father's footsteps, they know they are in search of a questionable treasure--with creditors, greedy neighbors, and ruthless gunmen watching every move they make. Before they reach their destination, mother and son will test both the limits of their faith and the laws of nature as they seek salvation in a landscape where reality can blur like sand and sky in a desert mirage.