Her knock is answered by a somewhat rude young man, Stan Turner, who tells her they have no phone and that she'll have to walk to the next house half a mile away. However Stan's little sister, Margie, then comes to the door and corrects Stan on his rude behavior. He then offers to go make the call and Annette is invited inside. Stan asks the name of Annette uncle that he is suppose to call and when she says Judge Bori the siblings mood immediately changes.
Stan announces he isn't doing any favors for the Judge's family and storms out. Margie at first looks at Annette angrily but then realizes Annette doesn't understand due to her being from out of town. She then explains that Judge Bori had sentenced the Turner's father to a prison sentence for something, Margie insisted, Mr. Turner never did. Annette says she understand their not wanting to help her and goes to make the call herself. As she passes her car on the side of the rode she sees Stan fixing her spare tire himself. His mood seems to be a little bit better and she thanks him before driving off.
Annette arrives at her cousins house which is a historic mansion set in the mist of an apple orchard. She is greeted by her flighty cousin Tonia, her uncle Genio, and her aunt Betta. Soon after arriving they sit down to dinner and Annette asks her uncle about Mr. Turner. The judge explains that Paul Turner had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for robbery and murder. He had allegedly stolen a bag of gold from a prospector and was caught trying to cash it in. Although the prospector's body was not found the jury had believed Mr. Turner had disposed of him in one of the many canyons in the mountains.
Tonia has invited a few friends over for the evening and together they all sing around a piano. One of the friends is Johnny Abbott, a conceited brat who Tonia has a huge crush on. Johnny plans on singing in a contest at the town's upcoming Pioneer Days celebration and is convinced he'll win and receive a recording contract. He seems to make subtle advances as Annette which has Tonia worried.
The next morning the group goes for a horse back ride in the mountains. When Annette stops to get her and her horse a drink from a spring she ends up running into Stan Turner who is going fishing. They sit down to talk and he gives Annette his fathers side of the story; his father had moved the family to Lost Creek 6 years ago so he could hunt for gold. He never found much and the family lived very poorly. His father had also unwilling ended up in a rivalry with an elderly prospectors named Robbins.
As Stan finishes his story Johnny comes riding up looking for Annette. He appears to not like seeing the two together so he has his horse lunge at Stan which causes him to fall backward and look foolish. The two exchange harsh words before Annette breaks it up and has everyone go their respective ways.
Once Annette and Johnny are back with the group they tour a bank and hotel in the old ghost town and then go to take pictures infront of the old ore mine. By the mine one of the boys, Deke, finds a pipe on the ground which still contains burning embers. Suddenly a boulder starts falling down a cliff causing a small avalanche right where Deke is standing. He avoids getting hurt but thinks he saw someone push the boulder deliberately. The rest of the gang does not believe him except for Annette who actually saw the man but she keeps this to herself as she worries Johnny would try to show off by fighting the stranger.
Once at the river Johnny disappears with a mysterious bundle he had brought along which turns out to be scuba diving equipment. Tonia watches him dive admiringly but Annette remarks he's being foolish to dive alone and in such cold water. He emerges with a gold nugget which, to Tonia's shock, he attempts to gift to Annette. After she refuses it multiple times he offers it to Tonia who angrily throws it off into the brush. Tonia and Johnny then storms off in separate directions.
As the group is sitting down to eat their picnic lunch Tonia appears wearing Johnny's diving equipment claiming she's going to find her own gold nugget. The boys watch in amusement but Annette is the only one to realize how dangerous it is. She runs along the river bank keeping an eye on Tonia who quickly gets her flipper caught in an underwater tree root and can barely keep her head above the current. As Annette dives in to save her Tonia faints and Annette has to hold her head above the icy water as she waits for the boys to come help in the rescue. Everyone ends up safely back on shore and the near drowning dissolves the tension between Johnny and Tonia who drive home hand in hand.
The next day is the first day of the Pioneer Week Celebration. Judge Bori gets word that Tonia has been chosen by the Queen committee as this years queen. That means she'll get to ride on the official float and chose a Prince Charming at the big dance. Tonia has been expecting to get queen and has promised Johnny a spot on the Queen's float, which he has been boasting about.
Johnny doesn't get released from jail until after the parade and when he leaves he finds his car is not where Annette had left it so a police report goes out for the big, flashy convertible.
The next day is the singing contest and when Stan performs his song the crowd goes wild for it which causes Johnny, who is up next, to get worked up. When he spots his guitar case by the stage he realizes Stan is using his guitar and rushes on stage accusing him of stealing his car as well. The fight gets broken up and Stan is escorted away leaving Johnny to receive first place. After the contest is over Annette is able to clear up things with the guitar but when she finds out Johnny car had been stolen from where she left it she feels guilty and decides to go rest in her room instead of joining in the ongoing celebration activities.
She soon receives word that Stan had been released from the police station but that he was told if he "causes anymore trouble" for Johnny he'll be arrested which doesn't help his already existing feelings that he's being overly persecuted because he's the son of a prison inmate.
While on the mountain trail her car gets stuck in some mud as she has to continue the journey on foot. She walks 4 miles and is just about to approach the cabin when she hears a "psst". She turns to find an "old prospector" who tells her not to be seen by the cabin's inhabitants. He tells her from what he's heard Stan is being held a prisoner and by, what he assumes is a wanted criminal. Annette tells him the boy is Stan Turner and the man says that changes the situation as Stan Turner is the son of his prospecting partner; the man turns out to be the missing Robbins.
A few weeks later and Annette is getting ready to head home. Her and Stan have been labeled as big hero's by the newspapers and the publicity helps land Stan a record contract. His first record is called Songs For Annette and they plan on meeting up when he makes an upcoming performance in Annette's town.
- On page 142 Stan is called "Johnny". This is my 4th or 5th book in the past few months that I've seen name mix-ups in, I'm surprised at how often these mistakes whet unnoticed when being proofread.
- Annette feels partially responsible for Johnny crashing his car because "she got him angry". How ridiculous. It's not her fault he has anger problems, hates Stan, and likes to speed.
- I love that everyone thinks Annette and Stan eloped. I really would have loved to read a version where that happens.
I don't have much to say about this I guess. I really enjoyed the parts about the town and the events involving the celebration. I didn't like the group activities or the mystery at the end. In fact I think it would have been more fun to follow Tonia around. She actually goes to the ball and the box social which would have been fun events. This book did move pretty well but I found myself getting bored around the middle and I really had to force myself to power through it till the end. I think I'll be letting this book go from my collection as I don't see myself reading it again especially since its about 300 pages whereas the other Annette books are around 200.
The next morning the group goes for a horse back ride in the mountains. When Annette stops to get her and her horse a drink from a spring she ends up running into Stan Turner who is going fishing. They sit down to talk and he gives Annette his fathers side of the story; his father had moved the family to Lost Creek 6 years ago so he could hunt for gold. He never found much and the family lived very poorly. His father had also unwilling ended up in a rivalry with an elderly prospectors named Robbins.
One day Robbins, after attempting to shoot Turner, gets bit by a rattlesnake. Mr. Turner treats his bite and stays with him for several days to help him recover. To show his appreciation Robbins insists Mr. Turner take a pouch of gold nuggets. For some reason he becomes the target of suspicion when he tries to cash them in. He tells his story and when the police go to Robbins cabin in the mountains to verify the story they find Robbins is gone and does not end up appearing. This somehow leads to a robbery and murder charge. Stan hopes he can find Mr. Robbins and have him help get his father released from prison.
As Stan finishes his story Johnny comes riding up looking for Annette. He appears to not like seeing the two together so he has his horse lunge at Stan which causes him to fall backward and look foolish. The two exchange harsh words before Annette breaks it up and has everyone go their respective ways.
Once Annette and Johnny are back with the group they tour a bank and hotel in the old ghost town and then go to take pictures infront of the old ore mine. By the mine one of the boys, Deke, finds a pipe on the ground which still contains burning embers. Suddenly a boulder starts falling down a cliff causing a small avalanche right where Deke is standing. He avoids getting hurt but thinks he saw someone push the boulder deliberately. The rest of the gang does not believe him except for Annette who actually saw the man but she keeps this to herself as she worries Johnny would try to show off by fighting the stranger.
A few days later the gang arranges to go gold panning at the river. Mrs. Bori accompanies the group to a spot she had found some gold the previous year. Once the gang has assembled at Tonia's house for the outing Johnny tells Annette he wants to take her picture. In an attempt to spur his romantic advances she calls Tonia over telling her that Johnny wants to take their picture. Johnny's unfazed and makes it clear he wanted just Annette's picture. When Tonia tries to get him to take her picture alone he unconvincingly pretends to run out of film.
Once at the river Johnny disappears with a mysterious bundle he had brought along which turns out to be scuba diving equipment. Tonia watches him dive admiringly but Annette remarks he's being foolish to dive alone and in such cold water. He emerges with a gold nugget which, to Tonia's shock, he attempts to gift to Annette. After she refuses it multiple times he offers it to Tonia who angrily throws it off into the brush. Tonia and Johnny then storms off in separate directions.
As the group is sitting down to eat their picnic lunch Tonia appears wearing Johnny's diving equipment claiming she's going to find her own gold nugget. The boys watch in amusement but Annette is the only one to realize how dangerous it is. She runs along the river bank keeping an eye on Tonia who quickly gets her flipper caught in an underwater tree root and can barely keep her head above the current. As Annette dives in to save her Tonia faints and Annette has to hold her head above the icy water as she waits for the boys to come help in the rescue. Everyone ends up safely back on shore and the near drowning dissolves the tension between Johnny and Tonia who drive home hand in hand.
After receiving this message the Judge tells Betta that he thinks Annette should be crowded queen as recognition for saving Tonia's life. He talks to the committee who think it should be Tonia's decision. She cries over it for awhile before agree to let Annette have the honor. Annette is shocked and embarrassed about the decision but it's too late for her to decline as the announcement has already gone out. She immediately plans to have Stan be picked as Prince Charming but Tonia insists it will cause a scandal. However Annette believes if Stan wins the singing contest he might be considered an acceptable Prince.
Stan wants to compete but each contestant is required to have a guitar and he can not afford one. So Annette sets out on a mission to try to acquire one for him. She originally plans on borrowing Johnny's spare one but realizes that will never work after Johnny makes a big scene of tripping Stan while he is carrying a big tray of glassware at the Malt Shop where he works. But after finding every other guitar in town to be spoken for she decides on a scheme to get Johnny's.
He is still determine to ride on the float because after all his boasting about it he will look foolish if he doesn't. Annette agrees to let him on the float in exchange for the use of his guitar. He brings it to her and as she's leaving to take it to Stan, Tonia, jealous over Johnny's interest in Annette, tells him it's for Stan. Johnny gets mad and takes the guitar back, jumps in his car, speeds into town, and crashes up on the sidewalk. Annette drives into town just in time to see him being dragged off to the police station. A fire man near the car remarks that Johnny's in for a huge ticket if the car isn't moved quickly so Annette, feeling partially responsible for the accident, moves it to a parking spot, taking the guitar on the way.
Johnny doesn't get released from jail until after the parade and when he leaves he finds his car is not where Annette had left it so a police report goes out for the big, flashy convertible.
The next day is the singing contest and when Stan performs his song the crowd goes wild for it which causes Johnny, who is up next, to get worked up. When he spots his guitar case by the stage he realizes Stan is using his guitar and rushes on stage accusing him of stealing his car as well. The fight gets broken up and Stan is escorted away leaving Johnny to receive first place. After the contest is over Annette is able to clear up things with the guitar but when she finds out Johnny car had been stolen from where she left it she feels guilty and decides to go rest in her room instead of joining in the ongoing celebration activities.
She soon receives word that Stan had been released from the police station but that he was told if he "causes anymore trouble" for Johnny he'll be arrested which doesn't help his already existing feelings that he's being overly persecuted because he's the son of a prison inmate.
Annette rushes to the Malt Shop to speak to him but finds Deke in his place. He informs Annette that when Stan came into work after being released Johnny had been there to instigate trouble. Stan belted him, quit his job, and said he was going to go pack up and leave town. Annette runs back to her car to try and catch Stan before he leaves but is stopped by Johnny and Tonia who inform Annette that they've talked to the celebration committee in an attempt to have Annette forced to chose Johnny as the Prince Charming.
Annette brushes them off and drives away. She finds Stan sitting by the creek edge and apologizes for inadvertently getting him into trouble. He accepts her apology but still wants to leave town and set up a home for his mom and sister elsewhere. Annette drives him home and plans on explaining the situation to Mrs. Turner but when they arrive Mrs. Turner asks Annette to leave and has Stan get inside quickly.
Once inside Stan meets Mr. Martin, a rough, unkempt man who claims to have been friends with Mr. Turner in prison. He is planning on going to a cabin at Loon Lake that Mr. Turner had mention up in the Sierras. He has stolen Johnny's car and has it hidden in the Turners barn and once it's dark he plans on taking Stan captive to use as a guide. He assures Mrs. Turner that if she goes to the police Stan will not return.
Meanwhile Annette skips out on the Celebration dance insisting she has a headache. She has Tonia take her place as queen and she gets to have Johnny be her Prince Charming. The next morning Annette receives a call from Deke who says a talent scout from a record company is looking for Stan but as the Turners have no phone no one can get a hold of him and the talent scout is leaving that afternoon. Annette rushes over to the Turner home and is told by Margie that Stan is on a vacation in Loon Lake with Mr. Martin, this having been the story that Mrs. Turner told the little girl. Annette decides to rush out there to find Stan.
While on the mountain trail her car gets stuck in some mud as she has to continue the journey on foot. She walks 4 miles and is just about to approach the cabin when she hears a "psst". She turns to find an "old prospector" who tells her not to be seen by the cabin's inhabitants. He tells her from what he's heard Stan is being held a prisoner and by, what he assumes is a wanted criminal. Annette tells him the boy is Stan Turner and the man says that changes the situation as Stan Turner is the son of his prospecting partner; the man turns out to be the missing Robbins.
Annette informs him of Mr. Turners whereabouts and why and plans are made to get to the authorities and sort out both situations the next day. It's too late and dark to head down the mountain trail now so Annette sleeps in a mine-shaft while Robbins guards her throughout the night armed with a pickax. Meanwhile back in the Bori home everyone believes Annette's disappearance is due to her eloping with Stan. However Mrs. Turner soon shows up to the house on the edge of hysterics saying that Annette is in danger. She tells the story of Mr. Martin and how Margie had accidentally led Annette into the situation. Soon a car full of heavily armed police men are on their way to Loon Lake.
As that's happening Mr. Martin has tied up Stan in the cabin and is planning to go hijack the first car he comes across. This just so happens to be Annette. Robbins has gotten her car towed out of the mud pit with his burros and as Annette is getting the car turned around Martin runs up brandishing a gun. Robbins comes at him with a pickax, Martin starts shooting, and Annette purposely drives straight back into the mud pit causing Martin to drop his gun in it. As he's searching for it the police car shows up with guns pointed and soon Stan comes running down the road.
As that's happening Mr. Martin has tied up Stan in the cabin and is planning to go hijack the first car he comes across. This just so happens to be Annette. Robbins has gotten her car towed out of the mud pit with his burros and as Annette is getting the car turned around Martin runs up brandishing a gun. Robbins comes at him with a pickax, Martin starts shooting, and Annette purposely drives straight back into the mud pit causing Martin to drop his gun in it. As he's searching for it the police car shows up with guns pointed and soon Stan comes running down the road.
A few weeks later and Annette is getting ready to head home. Her and Stan have been labeled as big hero's by the newspapers and the publicity helps land Stan a record contract. His first record is called Songs For Annette and they plan on meeting up when he makes an upcoming performance in Annette's town.
- On page 142 Stan is called "Johnny". This is my 4th or 5th book in the past few months that I've seen name mix-ups in, I'm surprised at how often these mistakes whet unnoticed when being proofread.
- Annette feels partially responsible for Johnny crashing his car because "she got him angry". How ridiculous. It's not her fault he has anger problems, hates Stan, and likes to speed.
- I love that everyone thinks Annette and Stan eloped. I really would have loved to read a version where that happens.
I don't have much to say about this I guess. I really enjoyed the parts about the town and the events involving the celebration. I didn't like the group activities or the mystery at the end. In fact I think it would have been more fun to follow Tonia around. She actually goes to the ball and the box social which would have been fun events. This book did move pretty well but I found myself getting bored around the middle and I really had to force myself to power through it till the end. I think I'll be letting this book go from my collection as I don't see myself reading it again especially since its about 300 pages whereas the other Annette books are around 200.
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