They sat on the cold ground, waiting. They'd been walking for three days. They sat together, eating what nuts and berries they been able to grab along the way. Although, they stopped often for food, they gave none to the women. Rebecca regretted skipping breakfast. Across from her, Elizabeth Murdoch, seventeen years old wept, her thirteen year old sister Grace, held on to her hand.
"Listen girls. It's going to be alright. They won't kill us. They would've done it already. They're taking us back with them." She looked at the two girls. Young, beautiful, blond, slender. She shuddered to think of the fate that would befall them when they reached the village. A sudden memory of Grace and Jemima playing with dolls flashed before her eyes. Their two small happy faces laughing together. She sighed and tried to think. She wished more than anything that Daniel were here. He'd think of something. Sighing she watched the two sisters as they huddled together crying. Looking at Grace's slender fingers and freckled wrist as she clung to her older sister, an idea began to bubble to the surface.
"I can't go back with them!" Elizabeth said sobbing. "I'm marrying Jake in June. What would he think?"
He'd want you to stay alive - no matter what. And if he truly loves you, nothing else would matter." Rebecca said.
"If they take you- hold your temper and try to cooperate, please. I'll come and find you. No matter what. Just wait. I'd rather find you married to some brave, than dead. I don't care about anything else - you just stay alive." She remembered Dan telling her long ago.
"And what of Grace?" Elizabeth asked, angry.
"Listen, I don't know where they are from. I've never seen Indians like this and I don't recognize the language, but I know this - they all fear catching our sicknesses. You and Grace start coughing. Cough all day long. Cough 'til your throat bleeds. Let's convince them that you are sick, then they won't want you. They might just decide you aren't worth stealing."
For the next few hours, the wilderness was filled with the sounds of their coughing. They coughed and wheezed. Grace coughed so much she made herself sick with it. After travelling just a few hours they stopped again. The women watched as the warriors gathered into a tight circle and began to have a discussion. Rebecca couldn't understand their words, but realized this was her chance.
Steeling herself, she approached the circle. Seeing her draw near, one struck her across the face, sending her reeling backwards. She gathered herself up, and approached them again. Pointing to the girls, she said in English, "Sick! Very Sick!" She pointed to the girls who continued to cough and wheeze. "Sick!" She said again and then pointing to the circle of men before her she continued, "You sick too!." They engaged again in conversation. Rebecca could see she was winning. Grabbing Grace by the arm, she dragged her to them and pushing back the trembling girls' sleeve, she revealed an arm covered in freckles. "Sick!" She said pointing. They stepped back and gasped - pointing to Grace's arm. Speaking quickly, they gathered their belongings and grabbing Rebecca they began to leave.
"Follow the river!" She said as they pulled her away. "You can follow the north star at night. When you get back, you get down on your knees and thank God He saw fit to cover you in freckles!"
Running to her and grabbing her hands Elizabeth said, "Mrs. Boone! We'll tell them where you are!" They pushed Elizabeth to the ground, striking her with their fists.
"Tell my husband we passed through to the other side of Shawnee country." Rebecca said as they dragged her away. "Tell him, I'm waiting."