Michael Phillips 
On the Trail of the Truth (The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister Book #3) 

Now that her siblings are provided for, Corrie convinces a newspaperman to take a chance on her as a journalist. Soon, she is on her own in the rough and tumble towns of the California gold fields. In her quest for the next human-interest story, Corrie uncovers a dangerous conspiracy. The truth beckons to her, but is it worth the risk?