Ann Mueller
In my novel there is a young Metis woman who is the oldest of twelve children. At eighteen Ann has become the mother-figure in the lives of her siblings. She’s rather pretty with a stunning cascade of natural brunette curls, but doesn’t have time to fuss over herself.
Ann’s mother once won a Native Princess competition for her beauty. A handsome German with strawberry blond hair saw her in her tiara, courted and won her in marriage. However he had a severe drinking problem, often raping his wife when he stumbled home.
As the babies kept coming, Ann’s mother began to be so ashamed that she took tranquilizers and slept away most of her days. This left Ann as the oldest to watch over the younger ones.
Ann became a very good caregiver too. Although she dropped out of school at sixteen, she made the other siblings of school age, work hard at their homework, and she encouraged them in their dreams of what they would do and be when they were old enough to strike out on their own. Barry wanted to be a world trotting journalist. Glenn, a laconic thirteen, had a part-time job in a supermarket and vowed that one day he’d own the whole chain of stores.
Marion, age sixteen, comes after Ann, has the dark, native look of their mother, and is dreadfully serious. Pansy, fifteen, is also a dark brunette like, Ann, but even prettier. She is sensitive, thoughtful, writes rhymes and draws sketches.
There’s also Sara, a chubby and clever blonde; Chris, who only lives for fun; and Eldon, also mischievous but a red-head, unlike all the rest before him. Then there is Bradley, the ever crying three year old, Wendy, a toddling two, and Karin the most recent baby was just about one.
Ann has her hands full, but she organizes her day and has worked out a system whereby the older ones would help her out by watching the younger children so that she could go out for walks in the evening.
It was during those walks that she met the young man in a Mustang whom she saw as her prince charming and a ticket out of poverty and shame. Only she loved all her siblings, so she plotted to take them with her.
You will need to read the novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses, to find out whether she got her way, and what unique surprises came into her own life.
To be introduced to the novel, go to this web page; Introduction to Ruthe’s Secret Roses
To go straight to the order page for purchase and an immediate download of the e-book in either the HTML (.exe) format, or the .PDF click on this link; Purchase and download.