No Belonging Place

Jane had already lost so much—her birth family, killed during an Indian attack when she was three, leaving her orphaned with a section of scalp missing; the loss of her adoptive parents; and now the home where she had grown up. Was she also to lose Lucinda, her only friend in the world?

After years of silently suffering the whispered taunts and condescending attitudes of her classmates, Jane Elkins had at last completed eighth grade that spring of 1825 there in Dukesberg, New York. She was nearly 16 when she began to work alongside her adoptive father in his general mercantile business. Waiting on customers who frequented the store, however, proved to be a challenge.

Jane’s near crippling shyness was made even worse when tested by Wales Bonney, the handsome new school teacher who had started dropping by the store. He openly flirts with Jane, while turning his full attention on her friend, Lucinda. Wales and Lucinda marry and soon after rent a room in the Elkins’ home. Jane’s apprehension multiply during that time, forcing her to stand up for herself. When a series of misfortunes finds Jane, Wales, and Lucinda faced with no place to live, Wales makes plans to take his wife and their young son back to his parents’ farm in Ohio. Faced with not knowing what to do, Jane allows Lucinda talk her into going along with them. Reluctantly Wales gives in.

During the journey, Jane and Wales find themselves continually at odds. When they stop to visit Wales’ cousins, Jane’s life begins to spiral completely out of control. Will there ever be a place just for her? A place where she would at last have a sense of belonging?