She could hear them crashing through the forest behind her. Every step brought excruciating pain. After she had tried to escape the last time, they had cut the bottom of her feet. It was the only time that she had cried since she had been taken. Even then, just a few tears spilled out, as she realized how difficult it was going to be to get away with her cut and wounded feet. She had laid back against the ground after the old woman had left her, closing her eyes, and willing herself to stop crying.
She allowed herself a few moments to rest and drift away in memories of home. She remembered being in Philadelphia at a ball, dancing. She had worn her best green dress, and Daniel had suggested they skip the ball when he'd seen her in it. She laughed and dragged him out to the dance floor. They whirled and whirled around the floor. Daniel hated dancing, but had smiled and danced with her. She'd had such a wonderful time, loving every minute of dancing in his strong arms. She wondered if she ever would again.
The same day they cut her feet, she was expected to resume her duties. She wrapped her injured feet in leaves and it helped to ease some of the pain. The entire camp seemed to be preparing for an event. The old woman had endless chores for her and was barking orders all day. Watching carefully, it appeared that a wedding was to take place. It was only after they had grabbed her, and put her on display for all the men to see that she understood it was her wedding they were planning. Panic rose within her and she knew she had to escape.
"Listen to me, Becky. You can't let your temper get the better of you. They won't treat you kind just 'cause you're a woman. Just do what they say, no matter how mad you get." Daniel had told her once long ago as they waited out a Shawnee war party.
"You expect me to just get married off to some brave and be his wife?" She was angry.
"I expect you to stay alive." He was equally angry. He grabbed her by the arm and turned her so she was looking right into his face. "I don't care about anything else. You stay alive, darlin'. If you have to marry some foolish brave, then so be it. Just know that I'm coming for you, nothing would keep me from you, and he'll be dead as soon as I am there. It won't change anything, ah grah. You'll always be mine." He'd said roughly swallowing down tears. "Promise me, Becky."
"Sorry, Dan." She'd said softly to herself. She waited, watching for an opportunity. If there was one thing she had learned, it was that if she was patient enough her moment would come. Late that night when everyone was feasting and preparing for the wedding at dawn, she had cut a hole in the back of the tent, and slipped out, crawling through the wet grass until she reached the edge of the river. Slipping into the icy water, she'd floated downstream for hours until exhausted she crawled out and onto the opposite shore. She'd lay shivering on the bank looking up at the stars. She'd only allowed herself a few seconds of rest, and then gathering her strength, she'd run as fast as she could, following the North star on broken feet.
It was on the second day, that she had heard them coming for her. She knew that she had little strength left. In all the days, since she'd been taken, she'd had almost nothing to eat; Only eating what food she could find. She was hurt. She'd been beaten again and again. Nursing Dan and Mingo's wounds time and again, she knew what a cracked rib looked like, and she was pretty sure she had a cracked rib or two. Breathing was difficult, even more so, when she ran. The pain in her feet was intense, but she steeled herself, and after awhile became numb to it all. She simply ran without thought or feeling, but she knew her time was running out.