Rose Fifteen: Indian Boy

By Christopher Charles

Rose found herself alone as the buffalo moved back into the camp to reach the water. She watched Sergeant Meade disappear into the darkness on his horse with Abigail behind him as the buffalo forced him away from her wagon. He was leaving her! She felt the desertion run deep inside of her. Then the wagon gave way from the pressure of the buffalo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Colerick
• Release date: Dec 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901494

Book preview

Copyright 2/21/09

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

15 Indian Boy

By Christopher Charles

Prologue

Rose found herself alone as the buffalo moved back into the camp to reach the water. She watched Sergeant Meade disappear into the darkness on his horse with Abigail behind him as the buffalo forced him away from her wagon. He was leaving her! She felt the desertion run deep inside of her. Then the wagon gave way from the pressure of the buffalo. She found herself on the ground about to be trampled when her pony suddenly appeared.

Without questioning it, she leaped up on his back as he worked himself through the buffalo. That’s when she discovered her pony was being led by the buffalo boy. She was being separated from those she loves. She felt them first, then she saw them. Other Indians in the herd were moving with them. Where were they taking her?

1 The Departure

The buffalo had destroyed Mr. Clemens’ last wagon and his tent. He had spent the remaining part of the night with the others. He did not like the closeness, but he was also scared. He had barely escaped the thundering herd the first time they had overrun their camp. He ran for his life carrying Ana into the forest. Even there he did not feel safe until he was behind Captain Bollinger’s guns.

The gunfire had sent the beasts back out into the plains, but they would be back. They all knew it and rescued everything that had not been trampled.

Everyone was accounted for except Rose and the horses. They had been caught up in the herd. Rose had been left on Mr. Clemens’ wagon when it gave under the immense pressure of the buffalo herd. She was on the ground in the middle of the large beasts when her pony appeared. Leaping up on his back, she found herself moving with the herd back out into the plains.

Clinging to his back, she thanked God she was still alive. That’s when she found the rope around her pony’s neck. Looking hard into the darkness, she noticed a rider in front of her. It was the Indian boy. He was leading her pony.

As her eyes became accustomed to the darkness, she began to notice other riders in the herd. All of them were leading horses. The buffalo herd was slowing, but the Indians and the horses continued forward.

When the herd turned back towards the stream, the Indian boy took Rose out of the herd. Immediately the other Indians came up beside her with the horses.

She thought about lifting the rope from her pony and slipping away, but she was boxed in with the Indians and horses. She was their prisoner. Tears began to stream down her face. She could only expect the worst for her.

They rode steadily for four hours following the buffalo trail before they turned back toward the trees and the mountains. She did not know her pony was capable of running so long.

It was morning when they reached the tree line. Immediately the land started up. There was a trail of sorts that worked through the trees. They followed a small stream until they reached a flat open grassy area fifty yards in diameter.

To one side of the meadow in between the trees were six tepees. Long sticks were placed in the ground in a circle, and then allowed to fall to the center. Tied at the top, the sticks provided a framework for the buffalo skins wrapped around them. A small fire was burning in the center of each tepee. The top was left open to allow an escape for the smoke. Only one small opening away from the wind allowed entrance.

When the Indians and Rose entered the camp, the people came out of their tepees. The kids were smiling and jumping up and down with excitement. The horses came to a stop in the middle of the tepees. Sliding down, the braves began showing off their captured horses.

Rose was cold. She was numb and shaking. She could barely move. She remained on her pony expecting to be snatched down any second.

The Indian chief stepped out of his tent. He looked up at Rose and said a few words to the Indian Boy.

The Indian boy became excited and began talking fast in the Indian tongue.

The Indian chief became angry and pointed to his tepee.

The Indian boy bowed his head and nodded slowly. He walked back to Rose and pointed to the tepee. The village became quiet. The excitement over the horses ceased. The braves quietly took the tired horses out of the camp.

Rose slipped down from her pony. They took her pony too. When she saw they were only going to feed him, she felt better.

The Indian boy pulled her arm and pointed to the tepee. She was to go inside.

Rose looked around timidly for any forgiving eyes. She saw none and walked slowly towards the tepee. Ducking low, she went inside. Immediately she heard the Indians all talking at once.

Buffalo robes filled the tent. She stood by the small pit fire burning buffalo chips. She felt warmer, but she kept her eyes on the tepee opening. No one came in.

She was cold and very tired. They had ridden all night. Her back and legs hurt. The soft buffalo robes looked very inviting. Finally, she sat on the ones furthest from the entrance, and pulled the warm skins up over her. She tried to stay awake, but her eyes were too heavy taking her into the darkness.

2 Return

Captain Bollinger had twelve horses left. He had to reduce their load to carrying only the necessities. He would transport the civilians to the beachhead and the remaining barge. Then his obligation to Mr. Clemens would be done. He would keep the remaining horses and hope to find a few more later to complete the military survey.

They had left the buffalo skins and most of the supplies and equipment behind. There was no way to transport them. The wagons would be used to transport people. They would run the wagons in two columns using the same formation as before.

There were still the wolves to consider. They left the horseshoe meadow as the wolves came in. The smell of the dead buffalo distracted them, and they did not give chase to the wagons. He estimated they could reach the beachhead in three days if the weather held.

He promised Mr. Donovan a horse to go back and look for his daughter. Since her body was not found, it was assumed she was taken by the Indians as Mr. Brady suggested.

Mr. Clemens sat in his wagon listening to wagon wheels beside him. He was not cold. The bodies squeezed in beside him kept him warm. There was not much to eat except the buffalo meat, and the few remaining sweet cakes he had stuffed in his pockets. He would sneak a nibble when he turned to get a better position in the wagon.

Mr. Donovan drove the team of two horses into the piercing cold wind. It was one thing to have the wind strike you in the back, but the face was different. One had to see. He rode by himself in front sending Mrs. Donovan back with the others. She had been crying, her tears were freezing to her face.

He wrapped his face and body with another blanket, but the wind still found a way to his body. He ignored it and drove the horses forward. His mind was on Rose. He did not like leaving her. He tried to find her, but she was gone. Now, he had to take care of his wife and the others, then he could come back to look for her.

To remain at the horseshoe meadow without a horse would have been foolish. If the Indians had taken Rose, he would need a horse to find her. Yes, he would be coming back.

The wagon in front of him stopped, and Corporal Higgins came up beside him. Donovan, pulling his horses up, yelled, What gives Corporal?

We’re stopping to warm up a bit, sir, Corporal Higgins said. Those in front are looking frostbitten.

Probably good thinking, Mr. Donovan said. He turned around, Light the fire and take care of the necessities! We’ll be here awhile.

Must we light that stinking fire again? Mr. Clemens asked from the back of the wagon.

"You can join me up in front, Mr. Clemens, anytime