Rose's Faith-Testing Adventure

By Sophia Wilkie

Rose Parker, a joyful fifteen-year-old, is happy as could be in her comfortable Oregon home when suddenly she finds herself having to move with her family to the wild North Dakota prairie.She is sad to move away from all she has, but she knows she must trust in the Lord and that her parents are doing what they believe is best.With Rose's two wonderful God-loving parents and her eight energetic, happy siblings, they pack up and leave their hometown and friends. Rose and her siblings try to encourage each other during sadness, and their parents are always there for them with wisdom and humble knowledge.Rose knows that she will face many hardships and many exciting thrills along the way that she has only dreamed of.Who will she meet?What will her new home be like?Will the travel be dangerous?And will Rose ever feel like she has a home again?To answer all these questions, open this book and start reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639036097

Book preview

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Rose's Faith-Testing Adventure

Sophia Wilkie

ISBN 978-1-63903-608-0 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-610-3 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63903-609-7 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Sophia Wilkie

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Unexpected News

Chapter 2

Preparing for Travel

Chapter 3

The Journey Starts

Chapter 4

Adventures Begin

Chapter 5

Storms—Inside and Out

Chapter 6

The Train Ride

Chapter 7

Pembina and an Outrage

Chapter 8

Friends and Indians

Chapter 9

Satisfied

About the Author

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Jesus and to Sophia's family, for encouraging her along the way. But this is especially for her Mama and her Daddy, who worked so hard to get her this far!

❤

Chapter 1

Unexpected News

For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does.

Psalm 33:4

Rose?

March was a pleasant month in Astoria, Oregon. Flowers bloomed and nodded in the soft breeze. The perfect blue sky was wide with puffy white clouds. Eighteen seventy-three's winter was melting away into spring.

Fifteen-year-old Rose Parker lived in Astoria, Oregon, all her life. The town was happy and pleasant and to her the best little place in the world. She had a large family that lived in a large house that was always filled with joy and laughter.

Rose? the call repeated. It was a little girl's voice—surely it was one of Rose's little sisters.

What now? Rose thought. She rolled into a sitting position on the soft grass of the garden, where she had been resting in the morning sun before breakfast.

The call was yelled several times. Rose? Rose, where are you?

Just as I was alone for a few minutes! Rose flipped through her Bible quickly. She found Psalm 62 verse 1: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation's comes from Him—" and she was cut off again.

Rose?

Rose at first held her breath then let it out in a sigh. She knew she should answer, so she gave up on quiet rest and called back through the hedge. Kit, is that you?

Yes, five-year-old Kitten, Rose's little sister, answered. Mamma needs your help with breakfast.

Kit often interrupted Rose when she had just sneaked out of the house to be alone. When Kit did, it was either because Rose's mother wanted her, or Kit was complaining because the seven-year-old twins, Cody and Andy, weren't letting her play with them. As sweet as a little sister like Kit could be sometimes, Rose often wished that Kit hadn't interrupted her at that very time.

Rose looked around herself. She would easily stay there for hours! There was grass, sunshine, her Bible, the peaceful humming of bees—all she needed. But Rose dutifully stood up and brushed off her dress. She looked around to find an easy way to exit from the little secret cove. She had found the area when she was a little girl. It was partly hidden by the tall garden wall, the morning glories, and partly hidden by the hedge. The grassy nook, filled with sunshine, was just big enough for one person to be comfortable in.

Finally, Rose settled on exiting through the tangled net of morning glories. Picking up her skirt with one hand, she parted the vines with the other. She gingerly picked her way through the creeping vines twisted on the ground. As Rose was letting the purple curtain swing back behind her, Kit met her there, holding a little ball of fluff.

Look, Rose, Kit said excitedly. It's a baby bird!

Rose stepped closer to Kit and found that the ball of fluff, sure enough, was a baby bird. Its round, beady black eyes looked expectantly up into Rose's pretty young face.

Rose looked at in surprise. A little baby bird! Wherever did you find it?

By the jacaranda tree, Kit said, near the house. It was lying on the ground. The mamma left it!

Maybe it was an accident, Rose suggested. The mamma probably left to go find food, and the baby birdie fell out. Did you find its nest?

Kit shook her blonde head.

Well, let's take it inside to Mamma. Maybe later John can climb up the tree on his ladder and put the birdie back. Rose took Kit's hand in her own.

I hope it doesn't hurt, Kit said, still intent on the bird in her little cupped hands. Rose, why does its wing look so funny?

Rose examined the bent wing carefully. I think it's broken, she said.

Poor birdie, Kit exclaimed, stroking the fluff-ball with one little finger. I'll hold your hand while Rose and Mamma fix you.

Kit, Rose corrected gently, birds have wings, not hands.

I'll hold its other wing then, Kit declared, doing a little skip up to the house. Just like when Dr. Canfield fixed my broken finger.

This thought occurred to Rose quite odd, and she suggested, Maybe you can hold the whole birdie while Mamma and I tend to it.

All right, Kit agreed, and they started to walk up to the house.

✿ ✿ ✿

Inside the kitchen, Rose's mother was patching a pair of Cody's denim overalls. She looked up at Rose and Kit at the sound of their entrance. Three-year-old Honey had been put down for her nap.

Hello, my dears. Mamma smiled warmly. What are you holding, Kit?

A birdie, Kit said proudly. She walked over to Mamma and lay the bird on her lap.

My goodness, Mamma cried, her blue eyes widening. What happened?

It was all alone on the ground. Look at its wing!

Mamma settled down and sadly clucked her tongue as she examined the wing. She always had compassion for injured animals. I will tend to it after breakfast, she told Kit. In my sewing room, you may fix a little box with cloth for it. She turned to her oldest daughter. Rose, will you go and fetch your father? I'm sure he's in his office, engrossed in one of his medical books.

Yes, Mamma, Rose answered. She climbed the stairs to the second floor, and she knocked on her father's study door.

Come in, a voice said.

Rose opened the door and peeked inside. Her father sat in his chair at his oakwood desk. Medicines lined the wall shelves up to the ceiling. Papa held a thick green medical book. He turned around to face his daughter.

Rose! Papa smiled at the sight of his oldest daughter.

Rose smiled back. Breakfast is ready, Papa, she announced. Mamma and Kit are setting platters on the table just now.

Papa leapt to his feet and inhaled. I'll be a monkey's uncle! Can I smell your mother's famous muffins? he demanded.

I'm sure you can, said Rose. Mamma always makes sure there is food enough to feed an army.

Then come along, Rose dear. Someone has been secretly stealing those muffins before prayer, and I am determined to find out who.

Rose followed her determined father down the stairs, but she paused to take a deep breath in the office. It smelled of ink, fresh paper, and her father's masculine scent. She loved that room.

Cody and Andy were looking in distain at the washbasin downstairs. Their dirty freckled faces wrinkled in disgust as they examined the basin.

They always are repulsive to cleanliness, but they're like magnets to dirt, muddy puddles, and anything else dirty, Rose thought, shaking her head. What mischievous six-year-olds!

Rose walked over to them and rinsed the rag in the water. You must wash like proper young men, whether you like it or not, she told them firmly. "And scrub off all that dirt on your faces. What is that on your cheeks?" She scrubbed their faces herself but stopped when she saw stripes the color of dark purple purposely streaked over their cheeks.

Oh, that, Andy began hesitantly, but Cody cut him off hurriedly.

It's Indian war paint, Cody said, nudging his brother. Right, Andy?

Yeah, Andy agreed quickly, puffing out his chest and tilting up his dirt-smeared chin. It's Indian war paint. It'll come off.

Are you sure? Andrew and Cody Parker, it looks like berry juice! Rose exclaimed. Is it?

Umm… Andy was blinking nervously by then. ‘Is it' what…berry juice?

Cody was blinking innocently.

Well, whatever it is—Rose handed the washrag back to the twins—you must wash thoroughly.

That very moment, John Parker entered the kitchen. He kissed Kit as he scooped her into his arms. Hi, gang! Is breakfast ready yet? His brown eyes twinkled merrily. He was still in his dusty overalls from working at the wood mill in town. He loved to work with wood.

Yes, Rose said with a laugh. Now you'd better all hurry. Breakfast will go cold.

✿ ✿ ✿

Rose, would you check to make sure everyone is at the table? Mamma asked. She grabbed the last platter heaped with smoked sausages as Rose obediently peaked into the dining room.

Papa was at the head of the table, trying to quiet the rest. Twelve-year-old Annie sat in her chair quietly as usual. She always was quiet and pleasing.

Ten-year-old Mary was whispering intently with eight-year-old Martha as she fixed the little girl's hair bow. Kit was chattering happily about the baby bird, Cody and Andy leaning in to catch every word. Honey had woken up and was banging her spoon on her highchair. She was cute like always.

John was trying to help his father silence the frequent buzz, but he only made the noise even more loud by yelling, Be quiet!

In a family of eleven, silence was almost impossible.

They're all there, Rose told her mother, entering the kitchen again. She shook her head. And I'm sure we're the most talkative family on the block. How can the neighbors stand us?

Mamma smiled a little in amusement. She answered as she reached for a clean apron on a hook and tied it around her slim waist. Old Mrs. Blake next door is too dear to care. I think she likes our chatter since her son Joey Blake moved away to serve in the military.

Maybe so, but what about Miss Rylant?

Miss Rylant was the snippy sour neighbor of the Parkers. Her yard was always trimmed to perfection—nothing wrinkled or out of sorts. No children's toys littered her yard. She always made a fuss to Mamma if Cody, Andy, and Kit were being too loud or if Lucy, the Parkers' lovable hound dog, had accidentally gotten into her garden.

The woman thought that Rose was too headstrong and stubborn and said so right in front of Mamma and Rose. At times like those, Rose felt her anger rising, but she held it back just in time. Mamma was angry inside too, Rose was sure, but gentle Mamma held back.

Although Miss Rylant isn't the most pleasant to be around, she has only complained about Cody and Andy a few times, Mamma replied, a blush arising in her cheeks.

Yes, Mamma.

Good. Now let's go and have breakfast.

Rose followed her mother out of the kitchen.

Quiet! Papa bellowed so loud over the children's words that it caused everyone to look up, their eyes huge. I want complete silence from all of you.

Reviews for Rose's Faith-Testing Adventure

[Regina Lambright · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Rose's Faith-testing Adventure is a book full of family, love, and heartache. It is wonderful that it is written by a ten-year-old! I highly recommend this book for ages 8-15, but it is great for all ages.