Leanne Rose: and the Staff of Merlin

By Anne McBride Eveland

Leanne Rose is a thirteen-year-old, smart, knowledgeable of history and its truth. Whose challenged to find the pieces of Merlin's staff, to save her parents. Leanne, with the help of her two older brothers, are on a journey across the United Kingdom. Where their father's journal helps them solve riddles

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anne Eveland
• Release date: Jul 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781088213711

Book preview

1

1 Bad Day

Leanne Rose just came home from school. An hour after her two brothers. Throwing her backpack against the wall next to the door. With a resounding thud. Her dark blonde hair covered the evidence of her tear-stained cheeks.

When the door had slammed behind her. She noticed the sound of rattled and scraping noises. As they tapped the Morse code across the surrounding walls. Leanne’s head whipped up. Seeing the pictures and paintings had moved at an angle.

I’m having a terrible day, she grumbled softly to herself.

Her parents were in the kitchen. Planning dinner when they heard her come in. They glanced at one another before walking towards their moody daughter.

Leanne, called her mother softly. What’s wrong? Her only answer was Leanne walking back to her backpack. Where she whipped out a letter from her back pocket. Shoving it into her father’s hands. Not wanting her mother’s disappointment.

She saw that her parents had looked towards the wall for a moment. Before they glanced at her. Knowing that they were only focusing on one issue. ‘Lucky me,’ Leanne thought with a slight despair.

After a bit of reading, her father glanced up with an unfriendly glare from his brown eyes. Why does it say that they kicked you out of school for correcting the teacher?

WHAT, screamed her mother, before grabbing the paper. On the first day?! Leanne knew that her mother was angry. She had a habit of questioning and screaming things. No supporting evidence in correcting one’s teachings, her mother had gone on.

Leanne’s cheeks heated. ‘She rarely asks a lot of questions when she’s upset?’ Her mind took her back to her classroom that morning. Remember her teacher stating what her mother had said, about no supporting evidence. At least none she could give him at that moment.

It was at that moment when she heard two sets of footsteps coming down the stairs. Seeing her two elder twin brothers. Standing at the bottom of the steps. One had an enormous grin across his lips. While the other looked worried.

The one that looked proud was the one who she would believe to be worried. Since he valued education more than the other brother. While the one who looked worried, would have been happy to be out of school. Since he was into other things that were not educational.

‘Now I’m worried,’ Leanne thought with more pent-up emotion. ‘Did I walk into another world? Neither one of them were acting like their normal selves.’

Her father glanced at his sons before looking towards her mother with a sigh, leaving his lips. Emma, he closed his eyes for a moment. I think it’s time…

A couple of tears leaked out of her mother’s eyes. Before her eyes moved away from the paper. Adam, her voice coming out sounding like a prayer. I didn’t want my family split apart, her voice became a whimper.

I know, he wrapped his arms around Emma. Bringing her closer to him. Making her lay her head over his heart. But it's the only way for her to have an education now…

Mom... Dad, asked her brother, with blonde hair and forest green eyes. The one that was the most worried to begin with. Why does it sound like this family is being split apart?

Leanne gasped as thoughts ran across her head. Hoping that he was wrong. ‘Please...please no…’ She did not want to be the reason for her family breaking up.

No, Mathew, her father took a deep breath. Making all three kids breathe better after hearing him speak. It means, he turned towards them with a slight smile across his lips. That, when I’m sent to the field. Leanne will have to come with me.

How’s that… better, stuttered her brown-red haired brother, with the same sky-blue eyes as her. He pushed his metal framed glasses. Showing that he was concerned. For someone that had looked proud moments ago. Why can’t… we all… go?

No, Adam shook his head. Your mother wants everyone to have a proper schooling, Luke. He turned towards Luke with fondness in his brown eyes. But you’ll come when you’re out of school. Like your scheduled days off from school, even weekends too.

Well, Luke shrugged his shoulders. That’s more than what we’re normally given. He took a deep breath before asking. So... when do you leave, Dad?

About a week, he gave a deep thought. I will have to talk to a few people to let them know that plans have changed. His lips pulled into a bright grin. My old professor will not like this, he let out a deep chuckle. But he’ll live.

Who, asked Leanne. Knowing that it was the first time she had talked since giving her parents the letter.

Doctor Malcolm Masters, her father answered with a bright smile.

The one who says, she started before everyone finished. If it was up to me. Children wouldn’t be at a dig site! Causing everyone to laugh full-heartedly.

The very one, answered Adam. He glanced down at the brown-red haired woman next to him. If it wasn’t for him. I wouldn’t have met your mother.

Emma giggled, If it was up to him. He wouldn’t have allowed us to know each other. Her blue-green eyes flashed, seeing as her brain was full of memories. Egypt was an adventure.

Egypt, asked the three children. Seeing the love look in their parents’ eyes. Never mind.

Emma turned towards her ten-year-old daughter. Since you’ll be leaving with your father. I think it would be a splendid idea to plan things on what you would take with you. Her voice sounded dejected. Seeing the pain in her eyes.

It’ll be alright, Mom, Leanne smiled, trying to be strong for her mother. You always said that someone needed to monitor Dad. She shrugged her shoulders, feeling her blonde hair moving with her shoulders. Plus, I can keep his notes organized for you.

That’s true, stated her mother with tears leaking out of her eyes. She kissed Leanne’s forehead, Go, she shooed her children away. Go, while we plan dinner.

Okay, Mom.

Leanne followed her thirteen-year-old brothers up the stairs. Before she realized that they were heading for her room. She sat down upon her twin bed. Covered with brown, turquoise, and cream-colored themes. Her walls had pictures that had historical themes. Even a poster of Indiana Jones was upon her wall.

She had a built-in wooden bookshelf with books. Mostly full of books, along with gift shop knick-knacks knacks that her father brought home. Even a few pictures of her family. When they had traveled to a few of her father’s dig sites.

They had even traveled to Egypt. Where they stood in front of the Sphinx in one picture. Where their parents wanted to have a picture. The place where the two had worked together. Long before they had children.

Leanne, grumbled her blonde brother. Why did you have to get yourself kicked out of school? His eyes flashed with pain in his forest green eyes.

Sorry, she squeaked out. Her eyes glancing down in her hands. I don’t know what came over me. Her shoulders shrugged. But I didn’t like what my teacher was saying about Christopher Columbus. Being the only person to discover America.

Luke nodded his head, allowing a sigh to leave his lips. Yeah… we know. He closed his eyes for a moment before giving his little sister an enormous smile. You just had to be the brave one… to state the obvious, didn’t you?

Leanne smiled, her brown-red haired brother normally stutters around people. But when it came to just the three of them, he did not stutter that often. Not unless you get him angry. Then he would stutter nonstop. ‘It was because his brain works too fast for his mouth to keep up.’

So, what now, asked her blonde brother.

What do you mean, Matthew? Luke glared at his twin. She’s leaving…!

That’s my point, Luke, growled Matthew. She shouldn’t be going, he waved his hands around. Going off to where we won’t see her! How is that fair?!

Leanne had never seen him like this. He had always said whatever was on his mind, he never stuttered. That was all Luke. ‘Did my brother’s switch places today?’

She looked from one brother to the next. The two thirteen-year-olds were both over emotional about her having to travel with their father. It was then that it hit her. ‘They will miss me?’

Leanne smiled at her two brothers before throwing herself off the bed. Tackling her two brothers in a hug. Causing them to fall onto the floor with an enormous thump. Their own arms wrapped around her. Making an enormous pile of hugs.

I’ll miss you too, she whispered softly. Believing it to be nothing more than a secret. Sharing with no one else but the three of them.

Thanks, sis, the two answered.

Neither of the three had wanted to leave their brief moment that they were having. Hoping that dinner would be a slightly distant future, then what it was. Until…

Children, they heard their father calling them. No matter where they were in the house. They could always hear their father’s voice. Let’s go out to eat!

COMING, the three answered before getting onto their feet. Running out of the ten-year-old girl’s room.

2

2 Three Years Later

Leanne was sitting under a canvas tarp. Reading and writing, along with a fellow thirteen-year-old. A boy who has been homeschooled by his mother. Who had been working, along with her father, as a researcher. Giving the two thirteen-year-olds her warm smile.

Each of them sitting on two folding chairs. With a long folding table in front of them. With their own history books in front of them. Along with their notebooks, trying to go over last-minute studying.

You two should be on your way for that final year exam, the woman stated with fondness in her voice. Sometimes Leanne had thought she was overly nice.

Mrs. Evans, asked Leanne with worry in her voice. Can we talk about the United States Revolutionary War again? Her eyes went over her notebook. I want to make sure I have everything right.

How many times have I asked you to call me, Amelia, the woman asked.

Sorry, smiled Leanne. Old habits die hard. She glanced up from her written notes. In school, it was always mister or misses so-and-so.

Amelia shook her ebony hair. Her head moved from side to side. What were the British known for?

Redcoats, Leanne and the boy next to her answered.

How many years was the war, asked Amelia.

Eight years, they answered again.

What year did the war end?

1783, answered the boy with a heartwarming smile. Causing Leanne to glare down at her notes. You know this stuff, Leanne. Why do you have a problem with the year, asked the boy.

It’s because of July 4, 1776, I guess, answered Leanne with a huff. I guess I don’t understand the mindset of them writing something so important. It should also have brought an end to the war! Leanne knew that she sounded passionate about what she was saying. Then again, her father said to be enthusiastic about what you learn about.

Can I answer this, mom, asked the boy next to Leanne. She looked eager to say something on the matter of their learning.

Amelia gave a slight smile towards the boy. Go ahead, Ethan, she waved for him to go on.

The boy turned towards Leanne, showing off his ice-blue eyes. It was a declaration of a final product of what they were fighting for. She must have given him a confused look because he huffed before going on. Don’t you remember the papers your father wrote, before obtaining a dig site?

Yeah, stated Leanne with a bit of thought. He had to have done research on where he wanted to dig. Along with the list of things he would have to use on the site. Even state how much something would cost, if he did not have it on hand. Plus, the period of how long he might work at the site.

She saw his lips pull back into a smirk. Causing her to ask, Why do you ask?

Well, answered Ethan. The document was nothing more than a mindset of what they wanted to happen. Once the war was over with the British, fifty-five men wrote their names on.

Timothy Matlack, stated Adam Rose, as he walked through the area. Picking up some papers, as he read what was upon them. His heavy glasses slipped across his nose. The man who wrote the final draft of the Constitution, throwing a random fact at the two children.

Leanne raised one of her eyebrows at her father. What else do you know, Dad?

Every action had started with an idea, stated Adam as his eyes were still on the paper before him. Even if that idea was a goal, it almost always becomes an action. His legs carried him away.

He’s right, stated Amelia with a smile. She turned her head over her shoulder. Only to see Adam falling into a dug-up hole that he had made months’ prior. That man, she grumbled with a fond sounding huff in her voice. Causing the two thirteen-year-olds to giggle.

Why don’t you check on your father, Leanne? It’ll give us some time for a break. She grabbed her cup before moving on. I know I need one.

Leanne loved learning, no matter where it was coming from. But Amelia was right about one thing, she needed to check on her