Chapter 9 Summary and Analysis

Anne gives the kids the afternoon off the day the pack train is due. This is always a big event for the settlement. Today Nancy was supposed to arrive and Anne was looking forward to her arrival. Vaughn and Angela are mad because she gave the kids the afternoon off without consulting them. Mert cuts in with that's always been the policy. The words become heated and drew the attention of the crowd, and Vaughn threatened to take Anne over his knee. Fred tells Vaughn that he won't lay a finger on her. Anne calms tempers by saying she'll meet with the school board.

Anne takes Nancy to her quarters and reads the note Mr. Strong delivered from Mrs. Prentiss. She found that Nancy didn't read well even though she had gone through the eighth grade. She couldn't pass the territorial...