8 Saint Louis

By Christopher Charles

Ana started to say something, but Rose stopped her by placing her hand over her mouth. Someone else was here. It was someone very light. She could not hear any footsteps, but she knew someone was there.
Rose could feel the person looking at them. Immediately she knew who it was. She felt the small dark eyes penetrating the wood. It was Mrs. Peterson!
Rose concentrated and pushed the eyes back out with her mind. The eyes were becoming weaker. She kept concentrating and pushing hard.
"Stop!" Yelled Mrs. Peterson. "Please stop!"
They heard Mrs. Peterson run from the boat screaming, "No more! No More! If you want them, you have to go get them!"
Mr. Peterson took his wife into his arms and led her back up the dock towards the entrance. "Come, Jeffery," he said, "We're all through here!"
"She hurt me!" Mrs. Peterson said softly walking beside her husband.
"Yes dear," Mr. Peterson said. "It was a bad idea. She is related to Mrs. Stone."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Charles
• Release date: Jan 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781950901357

Book preview

Copyright 2/21/09

11527513771

This is the Eighth story in the sixteen book series, Rose Chronicles (click).

Other Books by the Author (click)

8 1Saint Louis

By Christopher Charles

Contents

Prologue

1 Good Byes

2 Rail Station

3 Kidnapped

4 Empty Handed

5 The Spy Hole

6 Plans

7 The Plot

8 The Sabotage

9 The Runaways

Prologue

Rose thinks she is safe in St Louis with Mrs. Stone, but the gamblers put off the riverboat downriver are coming for revenge. Her father along with Sergeant Meade are trying to reach St Louis before they do.

1 Good Byes

The boat had docked in St. Louis. It was a short layover to take on supplies and fuel. True to his word Captain Morgan opened his bar and allowed the girls to entertain the soldiers. The boat was closed to everyone else except the special guests of the captain who were entertained in his cabin.

Rose stood at the rail looking for her father. She was wearing her gambling dress and shoes. Her other clothes were in a small suitcase that Liz had given to her. She continued to wear her hair up. She told Molly she wanted her hair to match her dress.

Actually, she wanted her father to see how grown up she was. Her feet and legs were becoming tired from standing on her high-heeled shoes. Maybe I will take them off until I see Papa coming, she thought.

She waited a few more minutes. Finally, she said, Papa, where are you? She was becoming anxious.

Below her she could hear Leonard, the one man band playing. The gangplank was down, but two soldiers were guarding it. They were keeping the onlookers from coming aboard.

A man dressed in a long black coat approached the boat. The sentry stopped him. Immediately Rose thought, Professional Gambler.

The name's Henry James! The man shouted up at the sentry. Captain Morgan is expecting me.

The sentry looked at his list, nodded for the man to come aboard, He'll be seeing you in his cabin, sir.

Rose watched the man come aboard. He walked up the stairs and tipped his hat to her. He smiled and entered the Captain's Cabin. He probably thinks I am one of the show girls, she said to herself. She giggled at the thought.

Then she heard the clattering of a horse and buggy approaching. Coming out of the darkness was a black horse pulling a carriage. She recognized it immediately. It was Mrs. Stone's buggy. Her heart leaped for joy. She wanted to run down the stairs to meet her, but Molly said she had to wait here.

She waved from the rail and shouted, Mrs. Stone! Mrs. Stone! I'm up here!

A sentry held the black stallion by the reins while Mrs. Stone allowed the other sentry to help her from her carriage. She looked up to see Rose waving at her. She smiled and waved back. She lifted her long dress slightly and walked aboard the boat.

Up here! Up here! Rose yelled jumping up and down. They won't let me come down there!

Mrs. Stone climbed the stairs. Reaching the top, she gave Rose a big hug.

I'm so glad you're here! Rose said wiping the tears from her eyes.

Pushing Rose back some, Mrs. Stone said, I've come to take you to my house. Your father will be along later to pick you up.

Your house?

Yes! Yes! Mrs. Stone said. I've so much to show you. Pushing Rose back more, she continued, And look at you! All dressed up. You're a young woman. Where did my little girl go?

I'm still here! Rose said laughing, But my feet hurt something awful.

Mrs. Stone laughed. It's the price we pay for growing older, my dear. Maybe you should reconsider being younger a bit longer.

Rose started to take her shoes off, when Captain Morgan came out of his cabin.

Now who might this beautiful lady be? He asked upon seeing Mrs. Stone.

This is Mrs. Stone! Rose shouted. She's here to take me to her house. I'm to wait for Papa there.

Mrs. Stone produced a telegram from her purse and presented it to Captain Morgan. It's from Captain Bollinger, she said. He wanted me to take Rose in case her father was late in picking her up. He didn't want to cause you any further delay.

That was very kind of him, Captain Morgan said. Would you care to be my guest? We still have a few hours before we need to be pushing off.

No sir, Mrs. Stone said. It is already late. I would like to be on my way as quickly as possible.

Certainly! Captain Morgan said. Please give me a moment. The others would like to make their good byes. He returned to his cabin.

Clancy came out first and blew his whistle. A loud shrill noise came out the end of it piercing the night air. Immediately men began scrambling on the deck below them.

Captain Morgan came out of his cabin followed by Mr. Yates and Colonel Gatewood. He introduced them to Mrs. Stone.

The Colonel kissed Mrs. Stone’s hand, You are very beautiful, my lady, but I have already promised my arm to Rose.

You may have my arm, Mr. Yates said. The stairs can be a bit treacherous.

Thank you, Mr. Yates Mrs. Stone said. That is very kind of you.

Colonel Gatewood took Rose's arm to help her down the stairs, "Just lean on me, my dear. I still have a strong arm.

Thank you, sir, Rose said, I didn't know how I was going to descend the stairs on my own.

The Colonel smiled, She is learning fast, Captain. I think we are making a young lady out of her.

Rose smiled. Going slowly, she managed the high heels on the staircase.

Mr. Yates followed them with Mrs. Stone on his arm. Captain Morgan leaned over the rail to check the lower deck. The soldiers had created an aisle to the gangplank. Two rows of soldiers stood facing each other while Rose and the procession approached them. The Captain nodded to Lieutenant Briggs and followed them down the stairs.

Clancy blew his whistle from the wheelhouse. Lieutenant Briggs shouted: Attention! The soldiers' legs came together. Each man saluted Rose as she passed by them. By the time she reached the last one, she was crying.

At the end of the line Colonel Gatewood gave her a hug, You are a very brave Young Lady. I am truly sorry if I have caused you any undue stress.

Rose wiped her tears on his coat and shook her head. It's okay, she said. I didn't mean to be such a baby.

Captain Morgan took her next. Hugging her, he said, You're always welcome on my boat. Now, you remember that cause, I want to be seeing you again.

Yes sir, I will remember, Rose replied.

I never did thank you properly for saving my boat, Captain Morgan said. I hope you know that I deeply regret upsetting you in the wheelhouse.

It's okay, Rose said. You didn't know.

Thank you, Rose, he said, And thank you for helping us in the poker game. I know now how much we were really asking. You should know I would never ask you again. I hope you can forgive us.

Rose gave him a squeeze, looked up at him with innocent eyes, It was exciting sir, but my mother is going to be mad at me.

Liz took her next. Squeezing her, she said, You come back and visit us, no matter what.

I will, Rose said, and hugged her tighter. Thank you for my dress and purse. They're so beautiful.

No, it is you who is so beautiful, Liz replied and pulled away to wipe her tears.

Molly held out her arms, You're a blessing child. She gave Rose a hug.

Thank you, Molly, Rose said, and hugged her tighter, I will never forget you.

Mrs. Stone gently