Circle C Stepping Stones

When an outbreak of scarlet fever hits the valley, Andi is scared. Her town friends are sick and school is closed. Far from danger, at least Andi has her horse Taffy to distract her. But is she really safe from this deadly disease? Then two ranch hands and her brother Mitch fall ill. Mother decides the only way to protect Andi is to send her far away—to Aunt Rebecca in San Francisco. The noisy city and her aunt’s bossy ways may be worse than scarlet fever. But then Andi has an idea that might help save her friends back home.

Andi has gold fever! Someone near town struck it rich and Andi can’t stop wondering if she might find gold in the creeks that run through the ranch. Her brothers agree she might find something that sparkles, but they laugh whenever they talk about it. Andi will show them! When she finds gold, she’ll be the one laughing. She and her friend Cory set off to track down treasure but discover that panning for gold is cold, wet, tiring work. But they don’t give up. Just when they discover what they’re looking for, real trouble shows up—a spring storm, a missing horse, and a scary bear. And that’s just the beginning.

Miss Hall is sick, so Mother takes over as the substitute teacher. How embarrassing! What will Andi’s friends think? But embarrassment is the least of Andi’s worries. When two outlaws kidnap Andi and Mother in a case of mistaken identity, they can’t tell the kidnappers about the mix-up without putting themselves into even more danger. They are taken to a remote cabin until the “teacher” can teach the outlaw boss to read. Andi must escape and find help. But can she lead a rescue party back to Mother before the outlaws take their new teacher and disappear into the wilderness for good?

When the Circle C ranch hosts a rodeo with two other ranches, dozens of cowboys are eager to prove they are the best riders and ropers. They’re not the only ones who want to show off their skills. Andi aims to lasso her way to the prizes, even if big brother Chad says the events are not for children. The rodeo is meant to be a time for food and fun, but before Andi can prove she’s got what it takes, the day turns dangerous. Will a friendly rodeo contest turn into a range war between ranchers and sheepherders?

The circus has come to town! Andi can’t wait to see elephants, acrobats, and—most of all—the champion bareback rider. What could be more thrilling than riding your very own horse under the big top? When Andi meets young Henry Jackson, she thinks his circus job is perfect. He gets to spend every day with exotic animals and exciting circus performers. But Henry shares a frightening secret. He ran away from home to join the circus, and now he’s trapped. Andi wants to help Henry get home, but it may mean losing something very special to her.

With a beautiful new saddle for her ninth birthday, Andi is ready to learn to trick ride like her friend Riley used to do before he left the ranch. Sadly, big brother Chad knocks down any trick-riding plans, but Andi cheers up when she meets a new friend at her special spot. Her fun with Sadie is soon threatened, though, when the girls find themselves in the middle of a boundary quarrel between their families. Sadie’s pa and Chad are stubborn as mules and neither will back down. Can Andi trust God and hang on to her new friendship while the grown-ups are fighting?