Coming Up Roses by Duncan Alice

Author:Duncan, Alice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: humor, 1893 worlds columbian exposition, historcal romance, buffalo bills wild west, worlds fair
Publisher: Alice Duncan

Chapter Twelve

The show was over. The crowd, after swarming Annie and Rose and the Indians and the soldiers and the colonel, had finally left the arena. Rose had stabled Fairy as usual, giving her the treat she always got after a successful performance, and Rose and Annie had trundled off to Rose’s tent.

Rose was nervous about the night’s impending hunt for Bear in Winter, but she wasn’t going to back down. The way she looked at it, the entire Sioux ensemble traveling with the Wild West was depending on her, and she’d sooner shoot herself than let them down.

Before the performance, she’d assembled an outfit to wear during her tracking mission. She’d had a little trouble buttoning the trousers up, not having had much practice in such an endeavor. Now, however, as she stuffed the plaid flannel shirt into the waist of the trousers, she was beginning to feel rather free. “These really are comfortable, Annie. I expect they wouldn’t be if they were tighter, but they’re plenty loose.” She performed a kick with her right leg and then with her left leg. “You can really get around in them.”

Annie frowned heavily as she looked Rose up and down. She addressed Rose’s comment in a roundabout manner. “I don’t like this, Rose. I’m worried about you running around after dark with that man.”

Rose was, too, although she wouldn’t admit it to Annie. “It’s for a good cause, Annie. The police don’t want to do anything about getting Bear back, and Mr. May does, and I really don’t want to go out there and try to track him by myself.”

Aghast, Annie cried, “For heaven’s sake, Rose! I wouldn’t let you do such a thing. But I do think you ought to take Little Elk with you.”

Peering into the mirror and trying to make the best of a costume that, while comfortable, was at best outrageous if not indecent, Rose tugged at the big Stetson hat under which she’d crammed her thick, wavy hair.

“No, I hate to say it, but I think Mr. May’s right about Little Elk. He’d attract too much attention.”

Both women silently observed Rose in the mirror. Rose didn’t have to guess at the thoughts in Annie’s head: If Rose thought Little Elk might attract attention, what did Rose think she was going to attract? Flies? Rose admired Annie’s restraint in not asking the question.

Because she was so uneasy about the night’s endeavor, she answered Annie’s unspoken question anyway. “I doubt that anyone will look at me twice. In the dark, I’ll look like Mr. May’s kid brother or something.”

Annie sniffed. “Or something, is right.”

“I think I look very much like a little boy,” Rose said, feeling defensive.

Her bosom didn’t want to squash flat, blast it. Rose had tied a bandage around it, but she still looked too bulky on top. Squinting at her reflection, she turned to get a side view and sighed heavily. “I’ll wear that vest and jacket. That should take care of any . . .

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