Chapter 9
As they grew closer to the cabin a distinct feeling grew in Jane's stomach. Worry. It had been a long time, six years in fact, since she had been in polite society. As the words Mr. Boone had spoke only an hour ago rang in her head, " Just wait till' she tells the settlement!" The settlement? She hadn't thought of that. Would this settlement accept her? Would they pity her? Would they think her a savage? She looked at her clothes and hair. Dirt, all she could see was dirt and blood. Though her hair had once been neatly braided, it was now loosely hanging at her sides. She looked filthy.
Mingo did not miss the change in Jane's face as he watched her examine her clothes. She was obviously worried about how she would be received by the Boones' and the settlement. His heart ached at the thought of her in more pain. His mind shot back to his first visit to the settlement. Though he was greeted by the Boones' as a friend, the settlers had a slightly different view of him to say the least. Part of their distaste for him was the fact that he was half English. Many settlers did not like the idea of mixing the two worlds and resented him for it. How was she that different? Sure she was white but she had been living among so called savages for years. How would she ever be able to blend back into this world that was so lost to her? It was then that the irony of the situation struck him. He, being born an Indian but raised in England, had to blend back into Cherokee society after a long absence. Jane being born a civilized girl, but thrust into the brutal world of slavery, had to now return to her former civilized self. Could she really forget her past? Had he? As Mingo pondered these things he lifted his head to see the Boone cabin coming into view. He glanced at Jane, her eyes were fixed on the cabin. Ready or not her they came.
Jane watched the cabin come slowly into view and took a deep breath. Ready or not here she came.
