A story set in southern Nebraska that starts before the Civil War, a young girl is lost in a bet by her dad and given to an Indian for a term of 4 years work. This Indian is a mound builder and has gotten women to do the work of the mound building and works them basically to death and adds their bones to the mound. At the end of her term, he wasn't going to let her leave but she was able to escape. Finds a group that was trying to start a small town but after a night there her and another girl and a baby are all that survive--the rest of the people were working in a field when a lightning strike hits & kills them. The 3 find a fort and eventually heal up some but again have to escape and while out meet up with 2 men that were floating in a ballon. The find a town but send the girl and the baby ahead to check it out and if possible to leave the baby. The town is in process of being shot up and seems to be the pro-slavery forces trying to influence the town. The girl hides in the textile store after seeing the owner shot dead right out front. As the fight ends people come to the store & she cuts cloth for bandages and burial blankets. The next day she goes back to the others & they are gone. She goes back to town and says she was the niece for the textile owner and takes over the business. Took a while to get to this point but from here I enjoyed the story. A little bit of the history of NE, throw in a Willa Cather as a youngster reference too and seems a little fun. It was tough going at first but by the end an enjoyable read.
No copies in PBS system and no WL. Since a NE book I might keep this one.
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