The Ransom of Mercy Carter

By Caroline B. Cooney

On February, 28, 1704, in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

 Mercy Carter tucked her brothers in, packing them in close together. They looked funny snuggled in bed with most of their clothes on, and quilts on top.  Mercy kissed each one goodnight. It was about -10 degrees and the cold was going through both pairs of heavy wool stockings that she wore to bed. She dreaded getting into her own bed, because she slept alone, and body heat would be the only thing keeping anyone warm tonight. Mercy went over to the window and looked out to the horizon; she always looked to the hill to the south.  After she was done looking out the window she shut and blocks it with a board. Sleep did not come easy; she jerked upright straining to comprehend the night sounds. Voices, the sharpening of knives? It’s just ice snapping off the river, Mercy her older brother Sam said to her softly. After talking to Sam a little she fell back asleep. She woke up again in a cold sweat after she had a dream that an Indian had come in their house in the middle of the night and pulled Mercy by the hair ready to scalp her. Mercy sat in her bed trying to overcome her fears. Downstairs, one of the soldiers was doing something with the fire. She heard the friendly clink of iron tools against brick. Did she also hear movement beyond the shutter, or was that just the soft breathing of her brothers? She felt her way to the window and opened it. The cold night wind rushed by her giving her a chill. She leaned out to see, there was little light then a house roof was on fire. Mercy realized that they were being attacked by hundreds of Indian’s. Find out how Mercy and her family, with others get taken by Indian’s and fight their way through winter to Canada. what will happen to them? Will they make it, and if they make it will they stay with the Indian's that killed people they knew and loved?