Our Kansas Home by Deborah Hopkinson, PATRICK FARICY Read Free Book Online

CHAPTER ONE
KANSAS TERRITORY May 1856
 
    Charlie Keller ran down the muddy road clutching two crinkled dollar bills in his hand.
    â€œCalico, ribbon, and candy for Sadie,” Charlie sang to himself. He didn’t want to forget anything. “Calico, ribbon, and candy for Sadie.
    â€œI promised Papa we’d meet him in ten minutes, Lion,” Charlie told the golden dog trotting at his side. “So stay close.”
    Lion barked and flashed his big dog grin.
    Charlie laughed. Finding Lion was the best thing that had happened to him since moving to Kansas. There was only one problem: Lion liked to wander.
    â€œIt’s dangerous for Lion to roam the prairie,” Papa had warned last fall, after Lion had run off for two days. “Besides, a dog costs money to feed. If we’re going tokeep Lion, he has to stick close and learn to be a watchdog.”
    Ida Jane had chimed in. “You’re nine now, Charlie. You and Lion just can’t wander around looking at birds and plants all day. You have to train him.”
    Bossy Ida Jane! But Charlie knew his older sister was right, and so Charlie had worked hard with Lion all winter. Now Lion could sit, stay, and come when called.
    At least Lion could do all these things at home. But would Lion obey Charlie in the busy town of Lawrence?
    Charlie stopped outside the store. Time for Lion’s first test.
    â€œStay,” Charlie commanded. Lion’s bright brown eyes sparkled. He wagged his tail, back and forth, back and forth. Then he plopped down. Perfect.
    â€œGood dog. I’ll be right back.” Charlie patted Lion’s head, turned, and—
bam!
He bumped right into a man with a long, sad face.
    â€œOh, sorry, Mr. Dillon,” said Charlie. Sometimes people called Ed Dillon “Wooden Ed.” He had a shop in town where he built wooden chairs and tables.
    â€œWhy, Charlie Keller of Spring Creek! Where’s your pa?” asked Ed.
    â€œPapa’s buying cornmeal, molasses, and …,” Charlie began.
    Wooden Ed held up his hand. “Hold on. Haven’t you heard? The town’s in danger. Sheriff Samuel Jones and his border ruffians are set to attack the Free State Hotel this very afternoon.”
    Charlie’s eyes widened. “Sheriff Jones and his border ruffians!”
    Charlie knew the border ruffians were rough men, willing to fight to make Kansas a slave state someday. But Charlie’s family, and most people in Lawrence, wanted Kansas Territory to enter the Union as a free state, where owning slaves wouldn’t be allowed.
    â€œThe whole country is watching Kansas,” Papa had told Charlie. “If proslavery folks win here, slavery is sure to spread into other new territories in the West.”
    And the proslavery side was winning. Last year some proslavery men from Missouri had pretended to live in Kansas, so they could vote in the Kansas election. And they had won. That’s why Kansas Territory had proslavery men like Sheriff Jones in charge.
    Papa was still angry about the “bogus” election. “It wasn’t fair,” he told Charlie. “But now we’re expected to obey their laws and men like that rascal Jones. Why, Jones doesn’t even live here; he’s from Missouri!”

    And if Sheriff Jones was in Lawrence with his gang of border ruffians, it could mean only one thing: trouble.
    Wooden Ed strode off toward the hotel, pulling Charlie behind him.
    â€œWait, I almost forgot!” cried Charlie. “My dog.”
    Charlie whistled. In a flash Lion was at his side.
    â€œNow, that’s a well-trained pup you’ve got,” said Ed.
    â€œLion’s a good boy,” Charlie said proudly, patting Lion on the head.
    â€œI guess your pa’s been too busy on his farm to keep up with the news in town,” Ed said as they rushed toward the hotel.
    Charlie nodded. “Pa planted six acres of corn. Momma says if we don’t get a good