Summary

Chapter 3 (601-640)

In The Indian Nations (601-602) — The Watson family arrived in Arkansas Territory. They spent the winter there and then departed for Oklahoma in autumn. Watson informs the reader that in Oklahoma, “all breeds of the human animal were mingled here in various shades of mud” (602). This is in part because Oklahoma had a solid mixture of Confederate and Yankee values.

Younger’s Bend (602-604) — Jane befriended Maybelle Reed, better known as Belle Starr. Belle Starr had recently remarried Jim Starr, a “bloodthirsty Cherokee” who housed outlaws on his property (603). Watson remarked that Belle was “the most shameless liar and noisy show off I ever came across” (603). Belle’s reputation as “Queen of the Outlaws” was a lie she peddled on behalf of her new husband’s involvement in criminal activity (603). One evening, Jane confided in Belle that Watson had been...