Boston Jane: Wilderness Days by Jennifer L. Holm

Author:Jennifer L. Holm [Holm, Jennifer L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure, United States, Orphans, Girls & Women, Native American, Family, Frontier and Pioneer Life, People & Places, Orphans & Foster Homes, Indians of North America, Washington (State)
ISBN: 9780375862052
Publisher: Yearling
Published: 2002-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

or,

Jane Peck’s Amazing Tonic

I went out to the porch with Cocumb and M’Carty and watched as Jehu and Keer-ukso disappeared into the scrubby woods that led to the beach, holding the canoe aloft. Jehu was moving quickly, his strides long, as if he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Keer-ukso glanced back at me, an expression on his face of … what? Disappointment? Frustration? But Jehu never turned back to look at me. Not once.

This wasn’t what I wanted. I had wanted to return to Philadelphia with an easy heart and start a new life, a life far from this wild stretch of territory. A life where I would be appreciated and needed.

The sky was still a bright stinging blue and the air sweet, but a dark knot had formed in my belly, and it was turning now, twisting its way up to my throat.

I turned to M’Carty and Cocumb and blurted out, “What did Jehu mean? What did Mr. Russell say about me?”

M’Carty glowered at me. “Ask him yourself.” Then he limped back into the cabin without a word.

“Cocumb, you understand, don’t you? I have to go back to Philadelphia,” I said quickly. “It’s very important that I catch this boat.”

From inside the cabin came the distinct sounds of a crash and a groan.

Cocumb shook her head.

“Should we see if he’s okay?” I asked.

After a moment Cocumb said, “He’s fine. He doesn’t like to use cane. He’s stubborn,” she said, looking at me.

I took a breath. “Jehu has no right to expect me to put myself in that kind of danger! A real gentleman would never ask such a thing.”

“Boston William asked you to come here. You came.”

“Yes, well, that was a mistake that I’m trying to set right by going home. Where I belong.”

“Boston Jane, you talk about right.”

I stared at her helplessly.

“Mr. Russell, he took you in when Boston William did not come.”

“Well, yes, I suppose he did,” I said. But it wasn’t my fault William didn’t show up! I wanted to shout.

“And this Mr. Black,” Cocumb continued relentlessly. “You are sure he is a good man?”

In the distance a bell announced the imminent departure of the schooner.

“That’s my boat,” I said miserably.

“Cocumb!” M’Carty hollered.

Cocumb squared her shoulders and said, “You must decide.”

She turned and opened the door, and the creaking sound it made reminded me of the squeaky door on Mr. Russell’s cabin. All of a sudden I remembered how once before I had chosen to follow my own selfish desires.

And left my dear, sweet papa to die alone in Philadelphia.

“Cocumb,” I said before I could take it back. “Do you have another pack?”

She turned back and smiled at me, her eyes glinting with humor. “Of course.”

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