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Jacob knew that his mother would never approve of his working for a woman, let alone the woman whom she seemed to so despise. So, when Jane asked him where he was going, he lied easily. “Mother, I’m going into town to see if I can find some work as a blacksmith’s apprentice.” Jane sighed with relief” So no bad dreams then?” “None whatsoever.” I’ve only dreams about Ariana’s face. “Well, good. You’d better leave now, I’m sure that there are few spots left, you know.” “Alright mother.” He fled, excited to see Ariana again.

On the way over, Jacob reflected on his feelings. I’ve never felt something like this before, never. It would seem as though I am infatuated. But, I’ve only known her for less than a day. But just thinking about her makes my blood boil. That hair, so free, long curls that I want to just bury my face in- He suddenly realized that he was at her front door. He delayed knocking until he could get his thoughts in order, and when she opened the door, he knew that it was no use, that just her presence befuddled him. “Jacob, I’m glad you’re here. I already have clients in the house, two of Pamela’s children have a dreadful cough. I need you to gather some Thyme and Angelica, alright?” Ariana was brisk, completely different than the woman he had met yesterday. Jacob went to work immediately, chopping wood for fires, gathering herbs in the gardens, fixing small bottles. He had never realized how much work it needed to be an herbalist, doctor, or whatever people called Ariana. He also saw that most people looked at her with the identical faces that his mother would have given her. Yet still, with an unfathomable amount of patience, she helped them all with their health, no matter how small and trite their problems seemed to be.

Finally, after almost 8 hours of standing, Jacob relaxed into a chair, and rested his feet. Ariana offered him to stay for dinner, and he gladly accepted. Over dinner, he began to, well, question her. “Ariana, how did you fall into this profession?”

“Well, both my mother and my grandmother were the doctors of their villages. I learned from them, then came here and studies under Dr. Wilkins.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, why do you stay here? I mean, these people treat you with no amount of respect whatsoever, and yet you welcome them with open arms. I don’t understand how you do it.”

“Well, I am different from them. And… well, I know that it’s their parent’s teachings, not their own. And the villagers know what I am.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I am different from them. Because I am Indian. My mother was an Indian housekeeper, when her master fell in love with her and married her. I am what you say, mixed. I learned most of my remedies from my native people, so the whites don’t trust me completely. And I heal the white people, so a lot of my natives won’t talk to me. Sometimes, I feel as though I don’t belong anywhere.”