Who are the Mackenzies? Why are they moving to Iowa? Who are they moving to be near? Who are the Deals? Why does everyone go to the Deal home when Indians move into the area? Why are the people afraid of Indians? What are they afraid might happen?

Whose portrait does Abbie Mackenzie imagine? Why does Abbie fantasize about this portrait? What is important about the woman in the portrait? What kind of person does Abbie imagine this woman was? How does Abbie hope to emulate this woman? What happened to the portrait? How does Abbie get it back?

What is significant about the fur box Abbie's mother owns? What does the box contain? Who comes to own the box? Why? What does the box and its contents symbolize for Abbie? Why? Who does Abby hope to give the boxes content to some day...