Chapter 8 Summary

Bettie is highly distressed after running the gauntlet. She spends days lying on her stomach while her back heals. Mary works at mending Bettie's clothing while she is recovering, but Bettie won't meet Mary's eyes. LaPlant watches Mary sew, then approaches her with a business proposition. He and Goulart have bolts of material, and they ask Mary to make shirts from the material. Mary begins sewing for the traders and arranges to trade her sewing skills for blankets. As Mary is considering the arrangement, Goulart tells her that a useful person is valued, while someone with nothing to offer will have a hard life in the Indian village. Mary spends her hours sewing and thinking often of Will and her family. It's during that time that Mary meets An-Otter-Swimming-On-Its-Back, otherwise known as Otter Girl. The girl had borne LaPlante's baby a short time...