Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the Trail of Tears

Maritole and the other women, such as Quaty, Anna, Mrs. Young Turkey, and Kee-un-e-ca, sit by the fire to “thaw out [their] bones” (165). They hear the soldiers get drunk at night to celebrate the new year. Meanwhile, the Cherokee community celebrates their new year “with the Keetoowah fire” (165). Luthy watches Maritole with disdain as she sits with the older women. She despises Maritole’s growing relationship with Williams. Further along on the trail, Maritole almost faints from exhaustion, and Williams comes to her aid. The pair kiss and Maritole feels more comforted by Williams than by Knobowtee. Quaty asks Maritole if Williams is her husband, and Maritole claims that she lost her husband on the trail. Quaty rebukes Maritole, claiming that she is no better than the Georgia Cherokee people who gave away their land. During this time, Reverend Bushyhead’s sister dies just as his wife gives birth to their second daughter, Elizah Missouri Bushyhead.

Maritole asks Williams to take her back home. She also asks him to become Cherokee. Williams has given Maritole some clothing, and when Knobowtee tries to rip this clothing from Maritole’s body, he and Williams get into a physical fight.