Perhaps nobody knows anybody.
People think they own time. They have watches and clocks and digital pulses. But they are wrong.
Mercy had never liked thinking about Eliza marrying an Indian. But what was her own future now? Would she, would Sarah, would Ruth, end up marrying an Indian?The image of Ruth Catlin agreeing to obey...
In childhood, she had had milk allergies, or so they’d thought. But either she’d never had them or had outgrown them or ice cream transcended all problems.
In a civil war, he said gently, people forget that they are people. Next they forget anyone else is a person. They forget how to be kind. They learn to hurt. In our wars, they might execute you, but u...
If she dreamed, she did not remember when she awoke.
I wonder why we always deny love. I remember in middle school, if you were accused of the crime of loving, you screamed denials constantly and stopped ever even looking at the boy you were accused of...
Her parents kissed her on each side. Her mother took both her hands now and held them against her cheek, as if in prayer. We tried everything to get Hannah out. We took her on long vacations, we sent...
Her father drove up and down car aisles, looking for a good slot. Who cared about a good slot? Just park the car already!
Brendan wanted to chain the guy to the bumper of a truck and drive down the thruway for a hundred miles.
And it isn’t creepy. It’s romantic.
And Charlotte! said Mrs. Shields in tones of disgust. Who even knew there was a town called Charlotte?
All his life Reeve had reacted to good news and bad by wanting to throw things.
They won’t let you see her, said Ruth flatly. Now tell us, Mr. Williams, why has ransom not come? Do people have short memories or no memory? Why do they not rescue us? I get so angry sometimes. thoug...
Remember how in Deerfield there was nobody to marry? Remember how Eliza married an Indian? Remember how Abigail even had to go and marry a French fur trader without teeth?Mercy had to laugh again. It...
My theory, said Eben, is that being a captive is an honor for the strong and the uncomplaining.Sarah and Mercy considered this.Then why is Ruth alive? She complains all day long, said Sarah.But she is...
Munnonock, said Mercy’s Indian.Eben did not know the word or any of the syllables in it.Mercy frowned, trying to work it out. She shook her head at Tannhahorens.He pointed at her. Munnonock, he said a...
We will freeze to death, thought Mercy. Why go to the trouble of carrying a hundred pairs of moccasins when they won’t make a fire?Her Indian knelt and, with his bare hands, scooped out a hole in a sn...
She was envious of Sally, who had gotten a perfect husband in Benjamin Burt. Horrified by Eliza, who had married an Indian, even if Andrew was a Praying Indian. Sickened by Abigail, whose choice was a...
Ruth stormed away.She hated the Indians and prayed constantly not to hate her fellow captives as well. They were becoming Indian lovers. Only the stupefied Eliza had avoided it--and that was because s...