Books published by publisher Kenneth Colerick

Rose found herself alone as the buffalo moved back into the camp to reach the water. She watched Sergeant Meade disappear into the darkness on his horse with Abigail behind him as the buffalo forced him away from her wagon. He was leaving her! She felt the desertion run deep inside of her. Then the wagon gave way from the pressure of the buffalo. She found herself on the ground about to be trampled when her pony suddenly appeared.Without questioning it, she leaped up on his back as he worked himself through the buffalo. That's when she discovered her pony was being led by the buffalo boy. She was being separated from those she loves. She felt them first, then she saw them. Other Indians in the herd were moving with them. Where were they taking her?

It was too late. Rose felt the giant paddle strike the boat. Huge planks flew from the wheel as it devoured the bow of the Shanadoa. The giant wheel was coming for the wheelhouse. She saw the raft. It was caught in the wheel. It was coming up towards her.Gripping the wheel, she dropped to the deck and covered her head. She closed her eyes as she heard the side of the wheelhouse coming apart. The noise was deafening, but she hung onto the wheel. She felt the roof being torn loose. The devil wanted her soul! She screamed, but the loud noise from the paddle wheel drowned it out.

The story takes place in southern Alabama along the Tensaw River in the year 1852, twenty years after the Indian Creek massacre of1832. Rose lives a very sheltered life until she reaches the age of twelve when her adventures begin.In this first story, Rose meets Mrs. Stone and thinks she is a witch seeking to make a ghoul. She needs virgin blood, her blood. She screams to her mother, and her teacher, but no one will listen.

Her tears really flowed when he reached her. Slipping down from his horse, he helped her down and hugged her. She buried her head into his shoulder and continued to cry.Caressing her hair, he said, "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come out here. Things sure haven't gone well for us.""I'm sorry, Papa," Rose said, "I'm sorry."He felt a damp area in her hair and gently pushed her back. Turning her head, he noticed the bruise on the side of her face. Pushing her hair back slightly, he exposed a cut above her ear. "Did Mr. Brady do this to you?""He was angry because I pushed him when he was going to shoot the Indian boy," Rose said. "I couldn't let him kill him, Papa!"

Stumbling most of the way, she managed to reach the wheelhouse. It was deserted. The wheel was moving lazily one way and then the other. She took hold of it and looked around. She wanted to turn the boat, but she did not know what side of the river she was on. Deciding she must be close to the east bank, she began turning the wheel to her right. It had to be a tight turn.The heavy smoke coming from the fire was being driven towards the wheelhouse. She could not see a thing until she was halfway into her turn. The smoke cleared, and the outline of the opposite bank became visible. She continued the turn until the boat was moving upriver against the current.

Suddenly four wolves attacked. The horse reacted and started kicking their legs out behind them. The wolves darted around them, but they were meant with a sharp stick from Rose and the accurate hooves of her pony.Rose poked the leading one in the chest and sent him squealing. The pony connected with the next one catching him in the face. The Colonel came out of the tepee with his saber drawn when Rose did not come inside. He saw her, and the pony attack the wolves and charged with his saber. His voice carried the battle cry.

Rose looked back at her cards and began turning them over slowly. A red ace came up followed by a red King, red queen, red jack, and a red ten in the same suit. She had a 'royal flush.'Captain Morgan smiled, "I think the pot belongs to Mr. Donovan, Gentlemen."John Deer, stunned, stared at the pot in front of him.Jed Smith reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a small pistol, and screamed, "No one's taking my stake! That's our money she's got!"He started to reach for the money when Ted caught his arm holding the pistol. It discharged and sent the bullet towards Rose.She watched the gun move her direction and heard the discharge. She felt a sharp pain on the side of her head. Suddenly everything went black.

George dropped the dress sending her into the water face first. She dropped the lantern trying to catch herself, but she hung onto the dress. She felt her hands go through the mud and strike the hard dirt below. Her nose and mouth filled with the soft mud. She came up spitting mud and water.She started to wipe her face with the dress but changed her mind. The stench coming from it overpowered her nose. She remained sitting in the water searching for the lantern. It was dark. The water was almost up to her shoulders. She thought about ducking her head under the water to search for it, but she could not bring herself to do it.

She raised the lantern higher and looked in the mirror over the bar. She was bleeding from her head and arm. Her hair was a mess and mixed in with the blood. Her left hand was dripping blood over the crowbar she held. Her dress was in shreds and barely holding together. She had dirt from the holes sticking to the other parts of her body. She dropped to the floor and felt a dark cloud go over her head.

A young man of thirteen is cast away from his village when he fails to become a warrior and brings the wrath of the Great Spirit to his village. Trying to survive he is forced to live with the buffalo. His family now hunts him like the buffalo.Excerpt: He felt himself slipping. "Ayanah!" He screamed. "I'm falling! Slow down! Slow down! I'm falling off!"The big buffalo did not seem to hear him. Instead, he ran faster. "Please, Ayanah!" Askee pleaded.It was no use. His grip on the thick hair was giving. Each movement of the buffalo below him pushed him further backward until he felt himself leaving the buffalo. In slow motion seconds seemed like minutes. He saw his buffalo disappearing. When he hit the ground, he turned to see twenty thousand hooves seeking to devour him. The thundering roar boomed in his ears.