Rose Sixteen: Rose, the Indian

By Christopher Charles

Suddenly four wolves attacked. The horse reacted and started kicking their legs out behind them. The wolves darted around them, but they were meant with a sharp stick from Rose and the accurate hooves of her pony.

Rose poked the leading one in the chest and sent him squealing. The pony connected with the next one catching him in the face.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Colerick
• Release date: Dec 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901517

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

16 Rose, The Indian

By Christopher Charles

Prologue

Rose has accepted the Indians as her family. Can she go back to live with those that had deserted her. More, will they treat her differently now that she has lived with the Indians.

1 Riverboat

The barge had left without Rose. Mr. Donovan’s leg was broken when Mr. Brady dropped the wagon wheel on it. He could not stay and look for her.

Mr. Broden was willing, but he had his own family to think of. Now with Mr. Donovan down, he had to carry most of the burden for all of them.

Mr. Clemens and the others were travel weary. Anything that was left after the freezing cold and mud was taken out of them when the buffalo trampled their camp. They lost another wagon and most of the horses when they scattered.

Captain Bollinger took the remaining horses and wagons for the survey team. He was willing to take them back to the river or leave them at the horseshoe meadow with nothing.

Sergeant Meade did not like leaving Rose, but he was ordered to take the civilians in the one working barge. He listened to the steam engine behind him. It pushed the heavy wheel at a fast clip downriver. They were into their third day. He had not slept. He would have to pull in somewhere today and rest.

His thoughts were on the letter he left behind. He had to warn Rose if she should reach the beach, but he had to be careful what he said. The letter could just as easy be read by Captain Bollinger. The man had a dislike for Rose. He did not know how deep it went, but the man would do her harm if given the chance. He had already demonstrated his feelings when he knocked her into the river earlier.

Mr. Clemens and his family had located themselves near the wheelhouse and the firebox to keep warm. Mr. Clemens was in no mood to talk. His whole adventure was a failure. Why he had listened to Mr. Brady, he did not know.

He was sorry they had lost Rose, but she was a pawn in this used by him and Captain Bollinger. He would not have lost her if he had won, but he did not. Captain Bollinger was a hard man. He was looking for fame. Losing Rose only added to his need to kill the Indians.

It was not the buffalo or the cold weather. It was the loss of Rose. She was his key to negotiating with the Indians. When he lost her, he lost everything. Captain Bollinger knew it. He tried to take her out earlier but failed. Now the Indians would be hunted and killed along with Rose if he found her alive.

They had placed Mr. Donovan on the bow boards above the deck. Mrs. Donovan stayed by him and tried to keep him from moving about. She had given Mr. Brady a letter and prayed he would find her before Captain Bollinger did. The Indians were from Black Cloud’s tribe. She knew Rose would be safe with them. Her husband had told her about the Indian boy.

Sergeant Meade’s eyes were blurring from the lack of sleep. He did not believe what he saw ahead of him. He shook his head and wiped his eyes.

Beached on the sand along the bank of the river was a steamboat. It was the Colonel’s boat. He had been waiting for them. He brought the barge in close to the boat and ran it up on the beach. Men from the steamboat quickly pulled it up higher on the sand and tied it down.

Sergeant Meade was exhausted. He watched them unload the passengers. He saw the Colonel direct everyone aboard the steamboat. Mr. Donovan was carried up to the third deck and placed in a cabin with Mrs. Donovan, and Mrs. Stone following. He knew Mr. Donovan would get taken care of.

Slowing he worked his way out of the barge. He legs were cramped. He could barely move. He wondered how Rose made it during her downriver run. He appreciated the feat all the more now.

The Colonel came up to him, Do you need some help, son?

I’ll be alright, sir, but we have to go back for Rose, Sergeant Meade said. The Indians have Rose and Captain Bollinger has a mind to kill Indians and Rose if the opportunity presents itself.

The Colonel was stunned a moment, finally he said, Maybe you had better bring me up to date, Sergeant, if you are up to it.

Yes sir, but I think we need to be going back as soon as possible.

Clancy had come to the top the rail, and yelled, Are we pushing off, sir?

Yes, Clancy, but we’ll be going upriver.

Thought as much when I didn’t see Rose, Clancy said, and turned to the deck hands. We’ll be casting off. I want steam in five minutes

I could use a cup of coffee, sir, Sergeant Meade said, following the Colonel aboard the boat.

That’s exactly what I had in mind, son, Colonel Gatewood said leading him into the palace. They took the chairs at the large poker table when Molly came out with the coffee.

Thought you might be needing a cup, sir.

Thank you, Molly, but I think the Sergeant here is in greater need.

She began pouring the coffee, Are we going back for Rose, sir. I heard the others say they left her with the Indians.

We’re going back for her.

Then you’ll be hearing from Mr. Clemens.

They heard the steam engine come alive making it harder to hear. The boat backed off the sand and started up the river. They were into their second cup of coffee when Mr. Clemens burst into the room.

Where are we going? Mr. Clemens demanded.

‘We’re going back for Rose, Colonel Gatewood said. We don’t leave young ladies behind."

She’s dead, or the Indians have her. Then she might as well be dead.

I don’t think her family will agree with you.

I have my family to think of, Mr. Clemens yelled. They’ve had enough of this land. They cannot tolerate more of it.

You may have use of the barge if you wish to remain.

You know I don’t know how to operate a steam engine, Mr. Clemens yelled. I should never have given you control of my boats. He turned and stomped out of the palace.

The man has had a lot of disappointments, sir, Sergeant Meade said, and took another sip from his cup. He was starting to feel better.

Is Rose safe with the Indians? Colonel Gatewood asked.

It’s Black Clouds tribe, sir. Her mother believes they will treat her proper. It’s Captain Bollinger who is out of hand. He allowed Mr. Brady to point his gun at her. It was only Mr. Donovan’s foot that saved her from taking a bullet.

Brady? I thought he liked Rose.

He doesn’t like Indians, sir. Rose’s linkage with the Indians become apparent when she rode in front of the Indian boy the Captain and Mr. Brady wanted to kill.

Why does the Captain want her killed?

I think he wants to kill Indians, sir. If Rose dies in the process it gives his cause justification.

Then Rose has no allies left except the Indians, and we are not sure how good they are, Colonel Gatewood said. What the poor girl must be feeling? I pray we are in time son.

2 The Beach

The next morning the sun came out. Rose felt its warm rays coming through the wheelhouse glass. It warmed her body. She stood and looked around. Mr. Brady was still sleeping, but something was not right. He was only six inches from the water.

Then she noticed the water in the boat was level with the river. They were floating submerged. The wood timbers making up the boat were keeping them afloat. The one remaining pole was floating free.

Looking down at the patch, she could see the hole had opened slightly. It must have happened last night, she thought, when the bear swiped it. They would have to beach the barge somewhere before the wood became water logged and sank.

Two hours later the barge was lower in the water. It was sinking. The water was only two-inches from Mr. Brady. The barge struck the bottom of the river and jarred it sending water up on Mr. Brady.

Coming out of a deep sleep, he yelled, You’re sinking us!

Mr. Brady, we’re going to have to beach it, she yelled, Your patch came loose. You’ll be under water within the hour.

Pulling his buffalo skins up closer, he yelled, I can’t be walking on my busted leg.

You can’t be swimming either. It’s best I try to tie us up before you go under water.

Mr. Brady looked at the water lapping over the edge of his board, Maybe you better be trying for it.

Rose nodded and worked her way out of the wheelhouse. She found the lines. They were under water, but she managed to reach one. Coming up wet, she made a loop at the one end.

She knew things may happen fast once she tied onto something. She had her quiver and bow along with her pouch and yelled. You better be hanging onto your buffalo skins, Mr. Brady. The barge may sink once we tie up.

You do what you got to do, and I’ll do what I got to do.

Rose waited with the looped rope in hand. They were coming close to the right bank. She saw a small beach ahead of them. If she could snag something here, the barge would come up against the beach, or become stuck in the mud.

She had her branch picked out. She walked out on the edge of the barge. The