The Protector

Chapter One: The New Journey

My father, Lawrence Carter, a wealthy middle-aged man, invested his money on the ideas of Eli Whitney's cotton gin. He loved inventions and trinkets; he helped several inventors by giving them loans, so they could create their imaginative ideas. Subsequently, my father's investments were a success, and his loans were received back with quadruple the money; business was extraordinary and my father started to buy land from the South of New York. He decided to expand his business in Georgia and later to Florida, where the land was fertile and many newcomers would be interested in investments.

However, I thought my father's idea was simply preposterous! Heading towards the South were Cherokee savages still remained, would result in a extremely dangerous journey. No one would focus on investments there; they would focus on living and surviving! Despite my pleas, my father insisted on touring Georgia to see the land we had bought, before we officially relocating there. So away we went with my father, my little brother, Robert and I. Robert, on the other hand, was excited about our little trip to Georgia, he desperately wanted to encounter the savages, he heard from the stories told to him. Stories of wild Indians burning and scalping the heads of their white enemies. I, for one, was not excited to encounter a savage, for I did not want to be scalped, or burnt alive.

My father laughed at our remarks, he claimed that there would be no wild natives where we would be going; I still had my doubts, though.

My father noticed my distraught appearance and patted my shoulder with reassurance "Josephine, do not be afraid, our mighty God will protect us from any harm."

I smiled slightly, and I knew that my father was right, I had nothing to fear.

I started to pack for our trip when Robert dashed toward me and yelled excitedly "Could we bring some of the huckleberry jam?!"

I laughed at his eagerness and nodded "Since you asked, I could arrange some jam for our trip."

Robert ran around the room with joy, "I can't wait!"

In a matter of hours, I had finished packing for our trip, the wagon and horses were set and we were off to our grand adventure, or so that's how my father describe it. Throughout the trip to Georgia, the road seemed never ending; the days were short and the nights were long and cold.

Often I would hear the strange eerie noises of the night, and always kept Robert near, in fear of the savages, but when I feared I looked up at the stars. The stars glisten in the cold night, it often remained me of a beacon of hope in the darkness, it helped me to remember that we were protected by our mighty God; it often puts me in a calmer state.

After weeks of traveling, we were finally arriving to Georgia. Robert appeared to be rowdier than usual, he was beyond excited about our close arrival. I also felt a sense of relief that we were arriving at the town of Georgia; I could not stand another night in the wagon.

However, just as we were so close to our destination, one of the horses trampled over a steep ditch, causing the other horse to fall in with it. Thankfully the wagon did not tip over, but our wagon's wheels did break off. I began to panic, we were a few miles away from Georgia and yet this dumb horse decided to cease our journey.

My father just smiled reassuringly, as he always did, and exclaimed "Do not worry my children! We are just miles away from a nearby town! Why don't you camp here for the night, and I will go travel to get some men to help us with the wagon."

My heart drop at the thought of my father leaving us alone, "F-father, you don't really expect us to stay here alone, I mean why if we encounter a bear or a wolf?"

I held onto Robert tightly in fear of our safety.

My father reassuring smile remain " Where is your faith my lovely Josephine? We have come this far, and no harm has come to us! God is our protector, he will protect you while I am away."

Robert smiled happily " I will protect you too sis! I won't let any wild animals get you!"

I could not help but smile at their claims and took a deep breath, they're right, what could go wrong? We've gone this far and no harm has come between us.

So we camped the wagon on the road, while my father started to pack items onto one of the weaker horse.

After he finished packing, he walked up to me with his warm smile, knowing that I was still worried "Josephine, do not fear, I have left the strongest horse with you, in case of any emergency, forget the wagon and ride with Robert, North if anything should happen"

I started to tremble, praying that there wouldn't be any emergencies and began to cry a bit, but my father held me and continue to smile

"Josie, my little Josie, do not fear for our God is with you, take this"

He placed a compass on my hand and handed Robert his pistol, who began to feel a bit teary eyed seeing my disposition.

He exclaimed "a gift for the both of you, for being so brave, my pistol so you may protect your sister Robert, and this compass will always lead north, follow it, if you ever get lost, it will guide you home. "

Robert and I held our father tightly. My father kissed me on the forehead and ruffled Robert's hair, who laugh happily.

My father got on the horse and rode off to the distance.

The sun was setting, so I decided to make a fire.

Robert kept his smile looking at the pistol our father gave him.

I smiled at him trying to be strong and started to make dinner. For a while, I began to cook some deer stew, wondering how Georgia would be, a place of welcoming people or a place of selfishness and greed?

  I had finished cooking, "Robert the food is ready" but I heard no reply.

I panicked, as I yelled louder "Robert?", and start to walk around surveying the road and then the woods.

My heart start to race faster as a million of thought came into my mind, what if he got hurt, or a bear had attacked him.

I began to run towards the woods as I yelled "Robert?!"

Thank you for reading The Protector! Stay tune for the next chapter! I try to post every two to three days! Make sure you comment and vote if you like my story! I'm new here on Wattpad, so I value criticism!