An Unforgettable Experience

 by Verity Fischer

“Rosie!” Mother called.

“Yes Mother?” Rosie ran to the kitchen, where her mother was standing.

“Can you take Riley for riding?” Mother asked. “He’s been asking me to go riding with him for about an hour now. And right now, I am exhausted.”

“Sure!” Rosie said with a forced smile, knowing how desperately Mother needed to rest.

“You have about four hours till dinner.” Mother told Rosie.

“Okay!” Rosie replied.

“I sure hope that baby is born soon, so I don’t need to take care of Riley.” Rosie thought with a sigh. “As soon as the baby is born, I am going to ride to my hideout, by the woods.” She planned wistfully.

“Rosie!” Riley called from the barn.

 “I’m coming!” She yelled, bringing her mind back to the present.

Riley was attempting to put the saddle on his chocolate horse, Dusty.         

“Want some help?” Rosie smiled.

“Yeah, saddles are heavy.” Riley stated.

Rosie quickly secured the saddle on Dusty.

“I am going to saddle my horse. So, wait for me.” Rosie ordered heading to her golden horse, Sunrise.

Soon they were riding in the field.

“Let’s go to the eastern forest.” Riley suggested.

“Mama doesn’t like us to go to those woods.” Rosie stated

“Yeah, but I need to go there sometime.” Riley stated.

“Fine,” Rosie sighed reluctantly, “but don’t you want to wade in the stream instead?”

“I’m going to beat you to the forest.” Riley challenged. “Whoever is the first one to touch a tree, wins!”

They raced their horses toward the forest.

“I won!” Riley yelled triumphantly.

“That’s because, I was thinking.” Rosie explained.

“About what?” Riley wondered.

“Nothing important.”  Rosie answered.

“Let’s go spy on the Indians. It’s only a short walk…” Riley pleaded.

 “You know Mama doesn’t like the Indians. She’s scared of them.”  Rosie warned.

“Well, she doesn’t need to know, then she won’t be scared. We’ll just spy on them a safe distance off. Besides I need to see them some time.” Riley implored.

“Fine! But only for a few minutes. But you may not tell Mother.” Rosie instructed.

“Okay, Okay, I won’t tell.” Riley declared carelessly.

Finally, after about five minutes, they found a spot about 15 yards away from the Indian clearing. Riley felt a hand clamp around his mouth. A hand clamped around Rosie’s mouth too. They were marched to the Indian camp and let free in a tepee.

“You stay!” Their Indian captor ordered in broken English.

They watched dumbly as their captor strode out of the dimly lit tepee.

In what seemed to be a few minutes, the chief walked into the tepee.

“You go, you no come back. We no like white in village. You leave.” He ordered.

Rosie and Riley scurried out of the cabin, and back into the woods.

“I don’t think I’ll ever again come this close to the Indian village. I’ll stick with riding in the plains, and by my hideout.” Rosie stated.

“Me too!” Riley agreed.