In the rough-hewn America of 1827, it took a persistent kind of fellow to mine the gold said to be rushing through the land. And, it took an even more fearless brand of man to hang onto it. That icon of the Old West was Thomas L. "Peg Leg" Smith. Now the novella Temecula Color: Secrets of the Emigrant Trail by author Gary Robert Weidman spins a yarn as colorful and authentic as the rambling, vibrant character who inspired it. It's a high-flying, rollicking Western historical mystery that will keep young and older readers alike gripped by Smith's tenacity and chuckling at his derring-do and utter tomfoolery. Meet Thomas L. "Peg Leg" Smith, a trapper, mountain man, gold prospector, and horse thief. He has just been shot in the foot by Indians and has to choose between saving the foot or saving his life. His luck changes while crossing the Colorado Desert and discovering gold- and quickly hiding it in the desert. He spends the rest of his days bragging about his discovery, but never coming up with the goods. As the story unfolds, "Peg Leg" is now in his declining years and nearing the end. It's now or never to prove to every darned fool who ever made fun of him that his stories of a vast treasure amount to more than a hill of beans. But to do so, he needs to find a way to move what he has hidden deep in the desert to his home in Temecula, where he can use it, without losing it or getting killed. And, he has to do it soon. That's no easy task for a heavy-drinking old codger with one foot. With high drama, historical accuracy, and a ton of laughs worth their weight in gold, Temecula Color: Secrets of the Emigrant Trail summons the grand tradition of writers like Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey, with a healthy serving of Mark Twain for good measure. Through it all, the quick-tempered story teller Thomas L."Peg Leg" Smith, inspired by the legendary character of the West, will keep you grinning, guessing, and gripping every page.