"An Indian settlement once sat close to La Junta," Aunt Sarah said. "It was called Point of Rocks and the Indians tried their hand at farming but some of them didn't like it. Folks said that Agent Samuel Colley was taking goods that didn't belong to him. Then the Indians started stealing horses and there was trouble. Finally a treaty was made and they were shipped off to a reservation in Indian territory. A few of the Indians didn't want to be farmers and they left the reservation. They were hunters. Some of them went on the warpath. Over in a town called Kit Carson 14 people were killed by Indians. In one place known as the Union Colony they killed an Agent named Meeker.

Even though the Indians had mostly settled down by the time I was a girl there were still rumors. We heard reports that Indians from Texas and New Mexico might be headed our way. An Indian named Geronimo was causing a lot of commotion. He kept escaping from the reservation and there was a price on his head. Papa said bad guys came in all colors. But all I knew was that those stories scared me something fierce. I had nightmares where Indians were trying to scalp me.

Fort Bent was being used as a station for folks traveling by stage. The Fort had burned before we came to La Junta. The account was that William Bent got mad and set it on fire, but the adobe walls still stood so it was supposed to be a good place to stop and give the travelers a little safety from the Indians.

Rumors were spreading that hostile Indians were preparing to massacre all of us in La Junta. Finally the Station Master, J. C. Denny put a coach with an engine attached on the track just across from our home. If the Indians attacked a whistle would sound as a signal for people to get on that coach. Then we'd be hauled to safety.

The night they were supposed to attack Father stayed up and told the rest of us to get some sleep in case we had to run for the train. That was just about the longest night of my life. Everytime I woke up and went out to see if they'd heard any Indian whoops yet everyone was up. I slept a little but I kept waking up.

Thank goodness the alarm was never sounded that night. Finally the sun came out and we still had our scalps. La Junta had a couple of real churches now and that next Sunday seems like a lot of people got religion fast because our church was crammed with people we'd never seen in church before and we heard the other one was full too.

Something happened to me then. I knew God took care of us and kept us from being scalped but I was skittery as a jackrabbit after that. Every time I saw a face that was different colored than mine I got jumpy. I wasn't proud of being such a scaredy cat but I couldn't help it. Misery bubbled in my middle every time I saw a dark face. Then one day it just boiled over.

The carnival was coming to town and Fanny and I were looking forward to it. She had never been to a carnival. I told her about Watermelon Days and the fun we had each year. Our Papas had said we could go to the carnival but Fanny didn't have any money so my Father said we could both earn some by helping with the chores. I always helped with chores so I knew Papa was making sure Fanny had money to go to the carnival.

It was a hot day. Fanny and I were sitting under the tree trying to cool off when we saw some wagons coming down the way. There were five of the strangest looking wagons I ever saw. They looked like houses on wheels. The wagon bed was built up and there was a canvas for a roof. There were pots and pans and blankets hanging on the sides.

'Well, I never,' Fanny said. 'Who do you suppose they are?'

'I don't know.' Women in bright dresses rode and beside the wagons were a bunch of little kids and men walking. Then I noticed that their skins were dark.

Indians, I thought. My heart did a flip-flop and I jumped up. 'We need to get back to work.'

'Wait, Sadie,' Fanny called. 'I want to see them,' but I didn't stop until I got into the house.

'Well,' Mama said. 'Did you get stung by a bee or something?'

'Wagons,' I said and pointed to the road. You'd have thought I couldn't talk, the words stuck in my throat. 'I think they're Indians,' I finally sputtered.

Mama went to the open door. 'No,' she said as she watched the strange bunch. 'They're gypsies.'

'What's a gypsy?' I asked.

'Gypsies are a group of wandering people,' she explained.

After they passed Fanny came in and we started back on our chores but I didn't feel too good that afternoon. Fanny kept talking to me but I didn't feel chatty.

That evening Mama told Papa about the five wagons and the gypsies.

'Oh, they're probably here for the carnival,' Papa said.

'They'll steal you blind,' Albert said.

'Everyone in town keeps an eye on the gypsies,' Sam said. 'You can't trust them.'

Papa got a stern look on his face. "That's not a nice thing to say. Not all gypsies are thieves. There are dishonest folks in all races.'

'Ben is getting kids to watch the gypsies when they're in his store so they don't take off with everything he has,' Frank added.

'People are sure quick to judge,' Mama said. 'I've known a few white folks who had sticky fingers, too.'

That night I had the nightmare again only this time it was the gypsies. One of them had hold of my hair and was getting ready to scalp me with a long knife. I screamed and sat straight up in bed. I was shaking. Mama came hurrying in and sat down beside me. She put her arm around me.

'Whatever is the matter, Sadie?' she said, but I couldn't talk.

'It was only a dream,' she coaxed.

'The gypsies,' I cried. 'They were scalping me.'

'You're all mixed up," Mama said. 'Gypsies don't scalp people. Sadie you've got to stop being scared of people with skin of a different color.' Mama patted me on the back. 'Go back to sleep.' I knew she was right but how could I stop the nightmares? It took a long time for my eyes to close that night.

'I'm not going to the carnival,' I announced the next day.

'Not going?' Papa said. 'What's got into you girl? Of course you're going.'

I argued with him, but he reminded me that if I didn't go I would ruin Fanny's good time. I lost the argument.

'You're going,' Papa said. 'I don't want to hear another word. You're going to that carnival and you're going to enjoy yourself.'

'Yes, Papa,' I said but I added under my breath, 'I won't enjoy myself.'

The next day Fanny's mother took sick so Mama had to go over to her house. Fanny had told me she thought she might be getting another brother or sister so I wasn't surprised that Mrs. Marks was ailing.

After I finished the dishes I wandered outside. Oscar and Albert had gone to look over the carnival but I didn't feel like going with them.

I was trying to figure out how I could get sick and not have to go to the carnival when a couple of streaks went by. Our cat Midnight had just had kittens and they were playful. A big dog was chasing one of those kittens. Right behind them was a very little girl, she must have been two or three years old and when she saw me she stopped dead in her tracks and started crying. Boy was she loud! She had dark skin but since she was so little I wasn't afraid of her. She sure was scared of me though.

'Leave that kitten alone,' I barked at the dog and he turned around and high tailed it out of there nearly knocking over the little girl. 'Was that your dog?' I asked.

She nodded. I picked up the kitten, petted it and walked over to the girl. She was ready to run but when I held the kitten out to her she stopped crying and her eyes got big. She didn't move.

'Do you want to pet the kitten?' I asked. She nodded and put a timid brown hand on the furry body.

I stooped down. 'What's your name?' I asked but she didn't answer. 'You're a gypsy aren't you?' She nodded. 'Your Mama is going to wonder where you are.'

She stuck a thumb in her mouth but kept petting.

'Do you want to hold the kitty?' I asked and she nodded again. I put the kitten into her arms. I knew I had to get the little gypsy girl back to her mother but how? Mama was busy and there was no one else around.

'Do you want me to take you home?' I asked and she nodded. I figured I could take her just close enough so she could see her wagon, then I'd run for home.

I tried to get the kitten from her but she clung to it so the three of us started out to the carnival grounds. After a couple of blocks the little girl stopped and held her arms up. She wanted me to carry her, so I picked her up. She cuddled down. I felt a sigh and she leaned her head against me.

I was wishing I had a little sister like her when I saw the gypsy wagons. 'There you are,' I said putting her down. 'You run to your Mama,' but she grabbed my hand and started pulling me toward one of the wagons. I tried to get away but she kept tugging and there wasn't much I could do but follow her.

The woman who must have been her mother came running out of the wagon. She picked up the girl and scolded her while a few tears slipped down her face. She smiled at me.

I stood there and waited for the little girl to give me back the kitten but she wouldn't put it down. It was obvious she thought it was hers, but that was okay, we had a barn full of them.

The father was working on something by the wagon but he stopped and came over to talk to his daughter. Then he went over to the wagon and brought back a small basket and handed it to me. It was lovely.

'For me?' I asked and he nodded.

'Thank you,' I said and they both smiled. They were fine smiles and I forgot that their skin was dark.

Later that week Fanny and I went to the carnival and Papa was right, I enjoyed myself. We watched the gypsies dance. The women wore bright colors and flashy jewelry. Several men played violins while the men and women danced. It was the best show I ever saw. I never had anymore nightmares about being scalped. I felt like I was starting to grow up.