Elm Creek, Young County, North Texas, United States, 1864–1871

Elm Creek, Texas is the place where Britt and Mary choose to build their free lives. On October 13, 1864, hundreds of Comanche and Kiowa warriors raid Elm Creek, taking Britt’s and Elizabeth Fitzgerald’s remaining families as captives. Britt spends that winter in their Elm Creek cabin mourning his eldest son’s death and plotting his rescue mission. Once back at Elm Creek with his family reunited, Britt is disturbed to know that his family will never be the way they were before. He worries that his success as a freighter makes him a target for violence, and coupled with the possibility of raids, the family spends little time in their cabin. Mary and the children often stay with Elizabeth Fitzgerald at her homestead while Britt is away.

Indian Agency, Oklahoma, United States, 1865–1870

The Indian Agency in Oklahoma is the posting...