Captive

This story is loosely based on one of the stories my mother told me years ago about one of my maternal great-grandmothers (not sure of the greats). My mom would tell me stories while I sat beside her carding wool that she hand-spun into spools of yarn for her rug-weaving projects. The family legend goes that my great-grandmother, when she was a young girl, was kidnapped by a band of Apache warriors. She had been tending the family sheep herd that day near her home in what is now the state of Arizona. She was taken to an enemy camp where she spent some time in captivity as a slave. When she saw an opportunity for an escape, she took the chance. She must have been a courageous young girl to have made the attempt and succeeded where many others had failed or did not possess the courage to try. Unlike many others, she was fortunate enough to rejoin her family. I suppose it is because of her courage that my children, grandchildren and I are here today. I’d like to have known her but just glad to share in her gene pool.