Kentucky Girl

Rachel's speech captured the legislature completely.  They recognized her description of need as that which applies to all incoming homesteaders of the state.   In a resounding decision they voted to establish a state- wide public school system.  Homesteaders continued pouring into Kentucky with the consequence of pushing the Indians further west.  This resulted in the election  of an Indian hater, Andrew Jackson, as president of the United States, who used the army to round up all Indians and herd them west to Oklahoma  in an action called “The Trail of Tears.”  Rachel, Betsy and Nancy represent all women who helped establish this nation and who rightly deserve our utmost praise.

Rachel is so concerned about the children's lack of education that she has Clem take her to the meeting of the State’s legislature where she dresses in the Indian’s elk leather outfit that she has altered to fit her snuggly. she gives an impassioned speech for help in obtaining books and teachers for the children. 

As Rachel followed the creek home and came upon her home field, Clem mistakes  her for an Indian and shoots.  In the last split second Clem hear's her voice and pushes the gun up.  The two rush toward each other with great emotion.  Clem calls for their friends and all six excitedly talk at the same time.  Rachel pleads for time with her husband alone.  The next day Rachel describes her ordeal.

 She removed from the body some essential items like the elk leather Jacket, pants and moccasins, as well as the knife, pouches of food and the bow and arrow.  She was anxious to get away from that body and so started her trek east.  She found a good place for the rest of the night to sleep.  She practiced her shooting skills with the bow and arrow and in the process frightened a bear cub who's squeals brought out mama bear to defend it, thus putting Rachel in great danger.

This Indian tied a rawhide lasso around Rachel's neck and used it as a leash to take her back to his Indian village.  There were days of travel and Rachel would periodically look behind her and memorize the landmarks on the faint possibility that she might escape and return east.  The Shawnee committed an error in tying her up for the night so he could sleep.  Rachel used her mouth to cut off his air from his windpipe and thus freed herself.

Tim and the Indian maid whose name is Morning Dove continue growing closer together while teaching each other their own language. Tim and Morning Dove’s brother whose name is Running Deer get along quite well.  Tim’s natural engineering ability enables him to set up a series of hollow logs as an aqueduct to divert water from a distant Creek to the Indian village.  This eliminated the necessity for the women to carry water in  baskets from the creek.  Time went on and Tim had a deep yearning for his people.  His new wife thought hard and decided that she would go with Tim to join his people.

 One of Rachel's 15 year old boy student/ teacher was all by himself wait out in the woods gathering herbs and broke his leg.  Too young Indians, a boy Tim’s age and his sister came to his aid.  They took him back to their Indian village and cared for him.  There developed a strong attachment between Tim and this Indian maid.

The old Indian woman had to perform a surgical operation on Capt. Jack who was brought into the clinic with an arrow in his leg after a skirmish with the Indians.  Rachel's group was assigned land very close to the fort so that the women could help with the medical needs.  The men laid out their cabins to form a triangle so that two of the cabins would be close to defend the other.

Rachel's party was integrated into life at Boonsboro.  The men were assigned duties to guard on the ramparts,  Rachel, Betsy and Nancy began a kind of clinic.  After one of the forays by the militia they brought in an old Indian woman of an indeterminate age.  She hand great knowledge of the use of herbs and such.

And in spite of the bloody history of Boonsboro the current residents were determined to settle that land and gave a hardy welcome to our little party and were questioned as to their trip out.  Clem described being jumped by white varmints on one side of the gap and red varmints on the other side.  He mentioned the incredible gun action of his wife who demurred but was quickly proven by Clem.