A Rose For Anna (Chapter 1)

Waves of rich green grass flooded the open valley. Colors of a western sunset painted the sky. Many very old wise trees stood, but the spring season gave them all a youthful look. Anna Brookes leaned against her favorite tree in the valley, so peaceful she was almost asleep. She took a deep breath, and opened her eyes before closing the open book on her lap. Anna glanced up at the sky.

"I'd better get home." She whispered to herself. She rose up, and turned right toward her horse. The big bay mare was tied to a near tree grazing contently on sweet grass. Anna walked up to her.

"Are you ready to go home Dawn?" The mare didn't seem pay attention as Anna untied her. She fixed the reins and stepped up onto her horse. The ride home was quiet. As they walked through open fields, wild rabbits were everywhere. Small animals scurrying around in the tall grass didn't even bother Dawn anymore. Suddenly, Dawn's ears flipped forward, Anna looked in the direction of her curiosity. A doe across the pasture looked at them with the same fear.

"It's ok Dawn. She's no threat to us, ignore her. She's more scared of you than you are of her." She told her jumpy horse.
Anna pushed Dawn into a lope as their small, but incredibly cozy little house came into sight, by this time it was starting to get dark. Barney, the family's dog ran up to greet her. Anna saw a light coming from the barn.

"Looks like Pa is in the barn, It'll be time for the big once a year cattle drive before we know it." She said, She sighed remembering last year how hard it is to say goodbye to Pa for 10 weeks. Most of the men of the town gather up their cattle and drive them to the closest market. Anna looked at the Brooke's horse barn. It had three covered stalls, a supply shed, and a large horse pen going around two sides of the barn. She saw her pa's gray draft gelding called Jake. His other brown draft, Jack and her sister's small palomino mare she named Flicker. Because of their size, Jake and Jack could help with the harder chores such as: hauling supplies, and pulling wagons. They were often referred to as "the team". Molly wanted to call her horse Flicker because her color reminded her of a candle flickering at night.
"Pa!" called Anna from Dawn's back.
"There ya are, you little miss had better get yourself inside. Your ma is waitin on the both of us for supper." He warned.

"Yes sir," she nodded, "Let me get Dawn settled in."
"Alright then, hurry up now." He told her walking toward the house.
Anna smiled, leaned forward and swung off Dawn's back.
"See girl, that wasn't a hard ride, you didn't break a sweat." She told her horse lifting the saddle from her back. Anna set the saddle and blanket on one of her pa's homemade saddle stands. She quickly picked up a brush and began brushing Dawn. Cleaning her hooves hastily Anna checked them for rocks for any other kind of debris that might cause Dawn to be uncomfortable.

"There you go girl, looks like Pa has already put your feed out. You'd better hurry before the others get done and come for yours!" she laughed, letting her bay mare in the pen. Dawn trotted over to her feeder and quickly began eating up her grain. After throwing out some hay to each horse, Anna ran to the house. Right as she reached the door her pace slowed and she opened the door calmly. Anna came in to see her family patiently waiting at the table. Supper was all laid out with ham, biscuits, an apple pie, and coffee to drink. She slipped into her chair. Everyone joined hands as her pa said the blessing over their food.
"I only saw you an hour or so after was out school this afternoon Anna. What were ya up to?" asked Ma once the prayer was said.

"I came home, went to the barn, and cleaned the pens. Came in the house and read for a while. Then saddled Dawn, and went riding for the pleasure of it." Anna recited.
"I see. I need ya home more. Please come home tomorrow and I'll have some chores I need doin'." She told her a little sternly.
"Yes Ma." She relied looking down at her plate
"No, Helen. You have to eat your ham before you can have a piece of pie." Ma told Helen. The five year old looked at her ham then the pie and obediently began to eat the meat on her plate.
"Ya see the apple pie? Your little sister made that." said Ma gesturing towards the delicious smelling pie. Molly smiled with pride.

You always have to be perfect, don't you Molly? Anna thought, gritting her teeth a little. After supper was over, Anna cleared the dishes from the table as Molly went to get a bucket of water from the well. Anna took up a dish, picked up her ma's homemade lye soap with some water, and scrubbed it clean. She passed it to her sister to be dried and Molly stacked each of them up with the rest of clean dishes. Coyotes started howling. The sound used to scare Anna when she was a little girl. Now sixteen years old, the calling of coyotes was just another comfort of home. Anna walked into the bedroom she and Molly shared. She changed into her nightgown and set her long brown hair free from its braid. After telling her parents "good night" she crawled into her warm cozy bed. Molly came to bed only a few minutes later. The two girls were staring into the darkness at the ceiling.

"That was a good pie at supper tonight." Anna admitted.
"Thanks! I liked it too." Molly replied.
Anna smiled.
"Good night" said Molly.
"Night"
Anna heard a scratch on her window. She smiled and got out of bed. Anna pulled the curtains aside to see a large black figure in the darkness. She instantly knew who I was.
"Are you cold Barney?" she asked the dog. Barney had climbed up onto the stack of chopped wood beside her window, like he did almost every night. Anna opened the window, and Barney jumped in. The big black dog jumped on her bed.
"Get down! Pa will be mad if he sees you in here at all. He will kill me if he catches you on my bed!" she loudly whispered, pushed Barney off her bed. Barney jumped to the floor and curled up for a cozy night on the rug Ma made for their room. Anna curled up under her warm blanket; it would be a cold night. She closed her eyes, rolled over and let sleep take her into a peaceful rest.
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The bright morning sun shone cheerfully though Anna's window, welcoming a new day. Anna got up out of her bed. She picked up her hair brush to start brushing out her hair, and then she looked over to find Molly was already gone.
"That girl!" she said still looking at the small empty bed. Her eyes grew as she ran out of her room. Molly was finishing breakfast along with the rest of the family.
"Because you two only have two weeks of school left, I expect ya to do your best, but be ready to help your ma all you can while I'm away this summer." He said to the girls.
"Yes sir." each girl nodded to their Pa.
"I fed the horses early this morning."
"Thank you Pa!"
Pa took his hat before leaving the cabin, shutting the door behind him.
"I think you should get ready for school now." Ma smiled at Anna.
"Yes Ma." She said heading back to her room to finish cleaning up for her day. She carefully braided her hair. Anna slipped on her favorite, most comfortable dress and put on her shoes.
"Let's go Anna! We'll be late!" her sister called from the door.
"Coming!" she called back. Anne grabbed a biscuit on her way out.
"Bye Ma!" she called.

Anna and Molly headed to school. They followed the long dirt road to town. The road broke into two directions. Follow the right way less than a mile to get to Mattock, the town Anna and Molly were practically brought up in, and go to school. The left lead to other homesteads in the prairie; some close, some far away.
Many children were playing outside the school house as the sisters walked up. Their friends greeted them. Molly skipped off along with her friends to play.
"Hey there Anna," said a very familiar voice behind her; she turned around to look at her best friend, Leah Davis.

"Wanna go fishing after school?" she asked.
"I'd love too, but Ma has been on me for not pullin my weight around the house." Anna replied.
"I see. Maybe we can go another day."
"Of course, I'm sure we can Friday. "
"Oh ok," Leah laughed "Here, take a look at this book. It's really good! I've read it three times. You can barrow it if you like" She handed Anna a small, but thick book entitled Love Stories out of her bag of school books.
"Oh! Thank you Leah!" giggled Anna taking the book and slipping it into her own bag. "I can't wait to get home and start it tonight." The girls looked up to an arriving carriage.
"Good Morning Mrs. Belle." called most of the children. The teacher smiled and gave a slight wave. The boys and girls continued to play, just more nice and quieter than before.
"My birthday is in only a month from today. I can't believe I'll be seventeen!" exclaimed Anna, making sure her hair was in place.
"Me either! Mine's in only two months."
"After these two weeks we never have to step foot in this school again!"
"If all goes as planned hopefully I will work here."

"You're the smartest girl I've ever met, you'll do it." Anna assured her. Leah just smiled.
"Everyone in school now please." Mrs. Belle called from the school porch ringing the school bell. All the children stopped what they were doing to make a line running into the building.
"Walk please." asked the teacher. All the children took their seats. Anna could see young Ralph Fletcher grinning at Leah, Anne was sure she could read the shine in his eyes. Anna giggled to herself.

After a few long hours of studying, the school day had finally come to a close. Anna, Molly, and Leah walked out of the school building together
"I'm going home with Jenny to play for a few hours, Ma said I could. See you later Anna!" Molly said running toward the creek with her dear friend Jenny Trimble.
"Ok, see you later!" Anna laughed, and then looked over to Leah. "Guess What? This morning I saw Ralph looking at you with love in his eyes." She teased.
"That is not true!" laughed Leah blushing deeply, and pushing a piece of blonde hair behind her ear.

"You don't have to believe me..." her voice trailed off in a silly tone. Leah rolled her eyes and smiled. They walked along the dirt trail, kicking rocks until their paths had to separate.
"See you tomorrow Anna!" said Leah heading toward her own home. Anna waved her friend good-bye, and kept walking. She glanced up to have a look at the trail ahead of her. Anna was shaded by the leaves of a tree grove as she walked. The path lead out from under them, the sun flooded freely from the shield of the trees. She took a deep breath, inviting the rays to warm her skin. I sure would like to take a ride today! She thought.
Her little cabin got closer with each step she took. Oh! How she wanted to go fishing, or riding, anything but chores! Anna walked into the house.

"Anna!" Helen called in delight from her chair at the table.
"Hi Helen, How was your day?"
"It was good! Ma made me cookies!"
"Oh, I bet they were good! What kind did she make you?"
"Oatmeal."
Oh, I just happen to know that is your favorite."

"Yep!"
Anna heard her mothers footsteps walking into the room.
"Hello Anna! How did school go this afternoon?" Ma asked smiling at her daughter. Anne let out a breath; she's in a good mood! She thought to herself.
"It was okay, Molly went home with Jenny." She told Ma, suddenly remembering the book Leah let her borrow earlier that morning.
"Yes, I told her it was alright." Ma paused, "Ok, please start dinner. I am taking the rest of the day off; if you need Helen and I'll be in town." Ma took her shawl and bonnet off the chair nearest to the door.
"Come on, Helen" Helen jumped from her sitting position and took Ma's hand.
"Good-bye, Anna! We are going to town!" Helen said
"Bye Bye, Helen, Have lotsa fun!"

"Okay" Helen replied before Ma smiled and closed the door behind them.
"I see why she was in such a great mood." Anna commented taking some pots and pans from the cabinet. After putting the bread in the oven, Anna put some beans on the stove. Ma musta forgot she used the last of the pork this morning; Well, I am not goin out huntin some meat down for supper. That's what men are for... no, wait! This could be the perfect excuse to go fishin! She thought. Anna took the beans off the stove, along beside the mashed potatoes ad covered them up. She looked at the oven; the bread has to cook for a lot longer. I'll be back before it has even risen. She convinced herself. Anna quickly grabbed her fishing poll, and ran off toward Leah's house.
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Halfway to Leah's house, Anna saw Leah, riding toward her.
"Anna!" she called. When the space between them had disappeared, she continued, "Anna, you have to come with me now, to the Harrison Ranch."
"Why?" Anna questioned her friend
"Mr.Harrison just hired five cowboys to help him at round up. Anna, One is so handsome he makes you blush just looking at 'I'm!"

"Leah, you know how I feel about those 'move around' cowboys." Anna replied, "You go ahead, I need to go fishin' for supper." Painful memories of her older sister filled her head. Hope Brookes, Anna's sister, thought she was in love with a cowboy. Gilbert Richards was a cowboy that went from town to town, never developing any roots or a good reputation at any place. No place to call home, no respect for God or morals. Hope swore she could change him into the loving gentlemen that was underneath his rough skin. Gilbert and Hope were married only two months after meeting. Gilbert took Hope to the West "to make a home" for her. Gilbert left Hope for an unknown reason after she was four months pregnant with their daughter, Helen. Hope was crushed, scared, and alone in a strange place. In panic, she moved back home to be with her family, but the trip was hard on her. Only a few months later, Hope died giving birth to Helen. Anna's parents took the baby in as their own. Anna was only eleven, but remember the tragedy vividly. Anna was a good sister to Helen, when she should have been an aunt.

"Oh Goodness, Anna, I am so sorry. It's been so long ago.'
"Six years come October." Anna replied her eyes never leaving the ground, "It's Okay, Leah, really. I think I will just go fishing."
"Do you want me to come along?"

"If you'd like to, I'd love you too!" Anna suddenly smiled and looked up to her friends face.
"Its settled then, let me go get my poll." Leah turned her big white horse, Blanco, around. "Meet you at the creek in our usual spot as soon as I can!"
"Ok." Anna walked toward the creek, her sister still on her mind. Where was Gilbert? Was he even still alive? I hope he isn't, after what he did to Hope. I hate him! Oh, God, I'm sorry for thinking such thoughts. It is just that I loved Hope and he ruined and perhaps even caused her to lose her life. A tear fell down Anna's cheek, she brushed it away as she realized she had reached the creek. She took her usual seat on a large rock on the bank. Anna baited her line with bugs and worms she had brought along, and threw her line into the running water. Leah came loping up on Blanco, pulled him to a stop and stepped off.

"Leah! you're gonna scare all the fish!"
"Sorry." she replied, tying Blanco to a near tree before walking over to join Anna. The two girls listened to the water splash and trickle over the stones and down the stream. Leah baited her line and cast out her line as well.
"I am sorry earlier for asking you to go with me, I should be a good enough friend to remember." she apologized after several minutes of silence.

"I told you, Leah, It's Okay. I'm fine."
Leah and Anna shared a smile. Fifteen minutes passed without a word.
"I can't wait to read that book you loaned to me." Anna said breaking the silence.
"I love it. There is nothing like a good love story."
"Yeah."
"I like to pretend I am the girl!" she laughed
"I don't know about getting married... I have a lot of doubts."
"Like what?"
"Like if he really doesn't love me like I, or he for that matter, thinks he does. What if he leaves me alone like Gilbert did Hope?"
"Oh, Anna, not all marriages are like theirs. They rushed into it and they knew it. Gilbert was a monster for doing what he did. Anyone can put on an act on that is not themselves, but they can't do it for long. Hope didn't spend enough time with Gilbert before pledging her heart to him." Leah explained to her friend.

"I know."
"I got one!" exclaimed Leah, pulling a small fish from the water. "Can you get it off the line for me?" Leah asked her proudly, holding up her poll to put the fish into Anne's reach.
"Sure." Anne replied, letting it loose from the line. The fish jumped and flipped, Anne dropped the little thing into a small bucket of water.
"You are so much better at fishing than I am." Anne told Leah, as she again baited her line, and then tossed it back into the water. It was about ten more minutes before Leah's line began to wiggle, "I got another!" she laughed. After a full hour of talking and fishing, Anna sighed,"Ok, I give up. I gotta get home."

"I have enough for supper anyway." Leah looked at her full bucket, then into Anne's empty one. "I'm sorry you didn't catch any, I don't understand it."
Both girls rose up from the ground. "It's alright; my homemade bread is very filling..." Anne then fell silent. Something sharp stabbed her in the stomach, "Oh no! I have to get home now!" she yelled sprinting for home.
"What is it...? Anne?" she called after her friend. Anne kept running. She ran up to a very familiar hill; when Anne reached the top to see the little cabin was in perfect shape, her body relaxed with relief.

She stood there for a minute catching her breath, before Anne realized she might only have seconds to spare.
Anne dashed down the hill and jumped up onto the porch grabbing for the door knob. Smoke filled the small room; she coughed roughly as she pulled the burned bread from the hot oven. Anne took the scorched bread outside. She looked up to see Leah and Blanco running over to where she stood.

"Is everything... Okay?" she asked wrinkling her nose when the harsh smoke reached her.
"Yes," Anne sighed "Mom asked me to make supper tonight and I messed it up... again."
"Oh...Well, surely you made something besides bread that will work" Leah encouraged.
"I can make it work." Anne assured her caring friend, then her confidence died, "I think..."
"Here, " said Leah, "Take my fish, we have plenty of deer left. I was just fishing for fun. I'll tell Pa they weren't biting... cause they weren't for you." Leah handed Anna the pail of fish.
"Thank you so much, Leah. I really appreciate it."