Rose Two: Indian Curse

By Christopher Charles

Mrs. Stone has left for St Louis taking George with her. Rose’s father built their house and barn on Indian land as did many of their neighbors. The Indians were scared off the land twenty years ago when the Indian massacres were taking place. Now Indian smoke is seen again. Have the Indians come back, and what do they want as old hatreds

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Colerick
• Release date: Dec 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901234

Book preview

Copyright 2/21/09

11527513771

Rose Chronicles

R 1 Witches Brew

R 2 Indian Curse

R 3 The Flood

R 4 The Island

R-5 The Spook

R-6 Passage

R 7 Gambler

R 8 St Louis

R 9 River Race

R 10 Going Home

R 11 School Exp.

R 12 Slave Boat

R 13 Preparation

R 14 The Trail

R 15 Indian Boy

R 16-Rose Indian

2 Indian Curse

By Christopher Charles

Prologue

Mrs. Stone has left for St Louis taking George with her. Rose’s father built their house and barn on Indian land as did many of their neighbors. The Indians were scared off the land twenty years ago when the Indian massacres were taking place. Now Indian smoke is seen again. Have the Indians come back, and what do they want as old hatreds surface?

1 Indians

It was Saturday. Rose woke with the sound of a horse whinny. She looked quickly at Mary Beth asleep beside her. She had stayed over from yesterday. She did not want to disturb Mary Beth, but she was curious where her father was going so early in the morning.

Quietly slipping out of bed, she moved to the window, and opened it. Peering out, she saw her father, Mr. Donovan, swinging his leg up over his saddled horse. He was carrying his rifle in his left hand.

Surprised, she yelled, What's going on, Papa?

Mr. Donovan looked up and yelled, You girls stay in the house until I get back! You hear?

Why?

He pointed with his rifle towards a billow of smoke coming from the creek. Indians! Now you stay put! He yelled back and kicked his horse hard in the rib.

She watched him disappear across the pasture and into the forest towards another billow of smoke. She turned quickly and yelled at Mary Beth. Indians! Indians!

Mary Beth sat up wide-eyed.

Indians! Rose screamed again.

Mary Beth leaped from the bed and joined Rose at the window.

Over there! Rose yelled. Where the smoke's coming up!

That's by the creek! Mary Beth said.

Papa went to see about it, Rose yelled. He took his rifle!

From below in the kitchen they heard Mrs. Donovan, Rose's mother. She yelled up to them, You girls get away from that window and get down here!

Mary Beth did not need more encouragement. The tone in Mrs. Donovan's voice said the matter was serious. With only her nightgown on she raced for the door and pounded down the stairs with Rose right behind her.

At the bottom Mrs. Donovan stopped them. Whoa there! It is not that big of an emergency. Go back up there and get dressed first then come back here and give me a hand.

The girls turned slowly and proceeded back up. I thought there were Indians? Rose asked over her shoulder.

We don't know that for sure, Mrs. Donovan said, But you'll be of more help with your clothes on. Now git along with you and close that upstairs window. Put the storm shutter on too! I won't be having my windows broken.

A new surge of excitement raced through the girls. Then there were Indians! Racing back up, they quickly slipped into their dresses. Rose took one last look out the window before she put the wood storm shutter in place. The smoke was gone. She figured her father was already at the source. She waited to hear his rifle speak.

Mary Beth interrupted her thoughts. They take girls our age for slaves.

They do more than that! Rose said. You don't ever want to be taken by Indians.

My mother said she would rather be killed out-right than be taken by Indians. She became very solemn, then she asked, Would you kill yourself?"

Me, no! I'd fight them to the last! Rose said, They wouldn't be getting a willing victim here.

But if you couldn't?

If I couldn't then I wouldn't be able to kill myself either. Come on, Mama needs help! She quickly moved down the stairs with Mary Beth following her. I have the shutter in place, Mama! Rose yelled.

Good! Mrs. Donovan said. You have it good and tight?

Yes, Mama, Rose said pounding into the kitchen. What do you want us to do next?

We need water from the well. Fill the tub here, she said pointing to their large metal bath tub next to the stove that would hold a full-grown man if he doubled up his knees. In case of fire.

They going to burn us out, Mama? Rose asked.

Land sakes, no, Mrs. Donovan said, We don't even know if that smoke is Indians. It could be some kids playing a trick, and if I get my hands on them.... She said looking at Rose very hard.

Not me, Mama! Rose said, I was sleeping upstairs. Quickly taking the bucket her mother was holding, she made her exit out the door. Mary Beth followed her carrying