Rose Twelve: Slave Boat

By Christopher Charles

Stumbling most of the way, she managed to reach the wheelhouse. It was deserted. The wheel was moving lazily one way and then the other. She took hold of it and looked around. She wanted to turn the boat, but she did not know what side of the river she was on. Deciding she must be close to the east bank, she began turning the wheel to her right.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Colerick
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901432

Book preview

Copyright 2/21/09

11527513771

Rose Chronicles

Rose One   Witches Brew

Rose Two   Indian Curse

Rose Three   The Flood

Rose Four   The Island

Rose Five   The Spook

Rose Six   Passage

Rose Seven   Gambler

Rose Eight   St Louis

Rose Nine   River Race

Rose Ten   Going Home

Rose Eleven   School Experiment.

Rose Twelve  Slave Boat

Rose Thirteen  Preparation

Rose Fourteen  The Trail

Rose Fifteen  Indian Boy

Rose Sixteen- Rose, The Indian

12 Slave Boat

By Christopher Charles

Prologue

The fire forced everyone to the docks, but no one would take the slaves except the slave boat owned by Mr. Peterson. Ana, captured in the fire, is forced on the salve boat. Rose goes aboard to protect her, but finds she is a captive also going south to be sold.

I Sergeant Meade

Colonel Gatewood’s riverboat arrived at the St Louis docks late in the afternoon. A message was waiting for Sergeant Meade from Mrs. Stone. He had planned to visit Rose in the morning, but Mrs. Stone summons changed that. His mind immediately focused on Rose. Has something happened to her?

The Colonel insisted he leave immediately. Quickly picking up a military mount, he rode up the hill and through the city. Pasting Mr. Clemens’ house on the corner, he arrived at the Stone Mansion two blocks further up the street. The gate was open allowing him to ride up into the drive unhindered. He noticed the dry foliage on the large oak trees in front of the house. The leaves had been falling. The wind was up blowing leaves toward the house.

Bruce noticed him from the stable and came running. Good to see you again, Sergeant, he said taking the bridle. I’ll water your horse.

Thank you, but don’t be giving him too much. I will still have need of him.

Yes sir, Bruce said and escorted the horse off to the stable after Sergeant Meade slid down.

Mrs. Stone heard the conversation and came to the door. She smiled, I had about given up on you Sergeant Meade, she said and led him into the drawing room. Would you care for a glass of brandy or sherry, Sergeant?

That is very kind of you, Sergeant Meade said, But I will decline for the moment. I assumed your message was urgent.

She turned back to him, I am concern for Rose. Those are dreadful girls at that boarding school. I have sent a telegram to my sister, but I know she will agree with me. Rose must be moved from there at once.

Maybe you had better catch me up on the current events, ma’am. I know the information I provided you did not bring out this conclusion the other day."

Yes, yes, you are quite right, Sergeant, she said. I am sorry now I did not take your judgment serious enough. Please forgive me. I had no idea they were capable of such evil thinking.

What did they do, ma’am?

They attempted to scare Rose by forcing her to stay overnight here, she said, Which in itself was a simple enough prank, except they were not aware Rose was my niece.

Now they know?

Yes, Mrs. Stone said softly. I am afraid they will take more extreme measures to frighten her off when they find this out.

They probably will, the young lady named Myra is versed in witchcraft, and has a bad way about her. She will not take this defeat kindly.

Rose always looks for the best in people. I am afraid she will not be prepared. She hesitated a second, and then she softly said, Yes, and I may have done something very foolish. She hesitated again, I sent George to look after her.

George? Who is George, ma’am?

The one who stole your hat during the flood.

That was a large bat, ma’am!

No, it was George.

I don’t believe in spooks, ma’am.

Whether you believe in him or not, he still exists. I am only telling you this to make you aware of the seriousness of the situation. He will not do anything unless Rose is in danger.

He sort-of protects her?

In a weird sort of way, but he has a tendency to overdo things.

Like stealing my hat?

That was only in fun, Sergeant. Though, I expect you to keep this confidential.

If I really believed you, I would not suggest to anyone Rose has a spook protecting her. I care way too much for her.

Thank you, Sergeant, it is a relief to finally tell someone.

Behind them Bruce came bursting into the house yelling, Fire! Fire!

Sergeant Meade turned around, Where?

It’s down the street and moving fast this way.

Sergeant Meade ran for the door with the others following him. Outside, he could see the smoke rising high into the sky and blowing their direction. He looked back at Mrs. Stone. Remembering her asthma, he said, You best be heading for the docks, ma’am. Colonel Gatewood has his boat there. I expect the fire to be here soon with the wind blowing this direction. It might be good to appraise Mr. Clemens of the situation.

Mrs. Stone continued to stare at the smoke. It’s coming from Mrs. De Lucci’s block!"

Sergeant Meade turned to Bruce, Where’s my horse?

Stables! Bruce shouted and took off running with the Sergeant behind him.

Coming out of the stable on his horse, Sergeant Meade reined in front of Mrs. Stone and shouted, You better be moving, ma’am!

Coming out of her trance, she said, It’s George!

It’s just a fire, ma’am! Sergeant Meade said. Let’s not make more of it than that. He turned his horse and rode down the drive.

Bruce came running back to Mrs. Stone and shouted, We need to be leaving, ma’am! I’ll hitch up Midnight.

Thank you, Bruce, I need to protect some things from the fire. She turned and disappeared into the house.

Sergeant Meade came out of the drive and started down the road. He saw four girls running toward him. He recognized them immediately as being from ‘Magna School for Girls.’ He pulled up in front of them.

They appeared exhausted and frighten. Upon seeing him, they stopped running and gathered closer.

Where’s the fire coming from?

Ma’am De Lucci! Charlemagne said through gulping breathes, and tears. I left my kitty!

I don’t see Rose and Ana! Where are they?

Myra sold Ana and Isabel to her trader for six hundred dollars, Mary Bell Perkins said. Rose is still in the basement.

In the basement?

We sort of staked her to the floor, so Myra could give her the For Get Me Not potion, Norma Ray said through her tears. We couldn’t help her! The spook was chasing us!

Sergeant could not believe what he was hearing. His fear for Rose turned to anger, and he yelled, Who started the fire?

We dropped our candles in the basement when the spook came through the window, Mary Lou said speaking fast.

If you hurry, maybe you can save her, Charlemagne said quietly. Maybe you can save my kitty too.

Sergeant Meade whirled his horse around and kicked it hard in the ribs. He left the girls staring after him. They turned and continued running up the street until they met Ma’am De Lucci’s carriage returning.

Coming up on the Magna School for Girls, Sergeant Meade was forced to the far side of the street. The wind had the fire. Already the three houses next to the school were fully consumed. The wind was shifting again taking the fire directly towards the city.

Ma’am De Lucci’s house was fully engulfed. The roof had caved into the cellar. He had to force his horse by the flames. He worked his way around to the windward side of the house. Here the heat was not as intense. He had to tie his horse a half a block away before it would settle down.

Coming back fast, he looked for a way to reach the house. The alley was an inferno. The wind blew the flames through it burning houses on the other side. Nothing would survive in that, he thought.

Turning to the wall, he went over it, and fell into the backyard. The grass was burnt right to the wall. The ladder against the wall was still burning. Heat coming from the house was intense. Approaching the back of the house and cellar window, he yelled, Rose! Rose! Are you in there?

He did not expect her to survive the fire in front of him, but he wanted to try. Tears were forming in his eyes. He had trouble seeing. I think you’ve gone off and done it this time, girl!

More of the roof fell smothering the fire in the cellar. It forced him to move back towards the wall. A tongue of flames blew out the window, and then died off. Slowly it cooled enough for him to approach.

The flames outlined something else in the window. It was small and seemed to float. Suddenly his mind registered spook. He picked up a piece of the burning ladder and charged the beast.

George turned in time to see the flaming board coming towards him. He was moving away, but not fast enough.

Sergeant Meade’s frustrations and helplessness came roaring out. Swinging the flaming board, he struck George full out sending him flying over the wall. George rolled and tumbled in the alley. Battered, but moving again, he disappeared into the night. He knew he had just killed the one he loved.

Sergeant Meade felt a little guilty hurting the little creature. After all, he was only trying to help Rose. It was the girls who