princess Rosanna 5

Just then the front door to the shack swung open and Old Bear stomped in carrying a large pick ax.

He did not have to ask what was wrong it was plainer than day.

“Please don't let him hurt me.”

Old Bear became protective of the girl beside him.

“Come one step closer and you will be putting yourself in danger.”

Derrick was confused and stopped.

“Old Bear, it's me, Roger.”

Then he lifted the candle closer to his face, Rosanna felt very foolish when she realized that the man's hair was not blond like Derricks but was black and he had a mustache but she still could not believe the resemblance.

Old Bear set his weapon down then shook Rogers’s hand.

“You gave my guest here a scare. Did you just get back?”

Roger eyeballed Rosanna as he spoke.

“yes I did I brought some more supplies with me and I was going to put them away ,when I noticed the new wall or should I say the absence of a wall. That is when I first met your house guest.”

Rosanna looked at her feet in embarrassment and that’s when she remembered that she was barefoot, her hair was braided in a long braid , and she was in her night gown.

“Excuse me gentlemen.”

The two watched as she disappeared into the bedroom.

“I wonder what she is running from.”

Old Bear said thoughtfully.

“It must be something very unwanted.”

Roger replied.  He could not forget how frightened she had been of him. Maybe someday he would find out but for now Roger thought it best to stay away, beginning by following Old Bear out of the shack.

            Rosanna rose with the dawn she did her hair in a simple bun, a hair style that she had always longed to do but never could, because she was supposed to be different from all the others.

Back at the castle she had chosen the plainest dresses that she owned. At the time they seemed perfect but now, all the way out in the wilderness, in a mine full of men, the dress somehow seemed overdone.

 She knew that she had no time to waste worrying about appearance, she had to get out of there. Rosanna flipped her cloak about her shoulders and grabbed her bag. A note lay on the bed.

      Old Bear,

Thank you for the kind hospitality.

I feel that to stay would be an inconvenience.

Please contact the palace for your needed funds to replace the wall and whatever else you wish.

               Thank you,

               Your friend

The sun was beginning to peek up through the trees and Rosanna knew that she was running out of time.

 To her relief her horse was tied to a post in front of the shack.

“Easy boy.”

She soothed to the horse. Just then she heard some noise. Quickly she mounted and trotted her horse out of the camp and over a hill.

When she was sure that they were safe from being heard, Rosanna loosened her grip on the reigns and let the horse take control of where they went.

The breeze blew gently on her face and she felt so happy that she had finally gained the freedom she had always longed to have.

~chapter two

 trouble ahead ~                          

Late that afternoon the sky became black as night and the wind began to howl. Rosanna knew that she needed to find shelter quickly  . She was relieved when she spotted a little cabin not far off. She could not risk her identity being discovered but she must get out of the storm, and fast. 

The house appeared to be unoccupied for it was dark and silent.

Rosanna cautiously approached the door and knocked once.

No reply came but she knew that she heard a sound of some kind.

Nervously, Rosanna knocked again, this time a medium aged woman answered, she had a frightened look on her face.

“Yes?”

her voice was barely above a whisper and she was noticeably trembling.

“Excuse me, Madame, but I was wondering if you could provide me with shelter from the storm.”

A loud roar of thunder seemed to emphasize her question.

The women bit her lip and appeared to be stalling for time.

Rosanna feared that she would be turned away when the women cried out in pain and tears began to fall from her eyes.

“Yes you may stay.”

Rosanna could not figure out what had caused the women pain nor did she understand the woman’s reaction to Rosanna's plea for help.

“Come, sit by the fire and warm your hands.”

Rosanna did as she was told but watched the woman walk to the other side of the room and stand there as if frozen.

“I appreciate your kindness and I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused you.”

The woman still stood there and did not reply.

After such a long day of travel, Rosanna decided that it would be nice to let her hair down and comb it out with her fingers. As she allowed the black tresses to fall to her waist; she continued to speak to the woman.

“I will only stay until the storm passes.”

The women again did not reply but put her hand over her mouth to suppress a cry. At that moment, Rosanna heard approaching footsteps, she froze when she felt someone grab her hair.

“I must say, princess that you are very lovely and your hair is your crowning glory.”

Rosanna could not believe her ears but when he spoke once more, she knew that it indeed was Derrick.

“Remove your hands from my hair.”

Derrick chuckled but did as she requested and immediately she ran toward the door that she had come through, but before she could get there, Derrick had blocked her way.

Then Rosanna spotted another door near the woman and ran toward it but when she opened it several men came in and grabbed hold of her. She struggled to get free and as Derrick approached closer she tried even harder.

“You’ve been a naughty princess.”

He cupped her chin in his hand.

“But don't worry, I'll forgive you.”

Then as Rosanna tried to get loose Derrick threw back his head and laughed. Both women trembled as his evil voice echoed through the room.
Copyright © 2012 by Valencia Shove