“Then you live with your mother?”
“Yes, I do. She sews for some of the wealthy people and mends for Father Gibault. In the winter I work for Monsieur Gabriel Cerré.”
Jim’s face was sad for a moment. “My mother was a good seamstress, too.”
Willie was puzzled. “Say, where are your mother and father? How do you happen to be with Clark’s army?”
Then Jim told Willie about the last time he had seen his parents and what had happened to him since.
“That’s too bad, Jim,” Willie said. “Of course Indians do sometimes kill their prisoners, but it’s likely your parents are still alive. What are you going to do now?”
Jim sighed. “I hope I’ll find them some day. Maybe Colonel Clark will have a job for me. I’d like to stay with him and his men.”
Willie smiled. “If he doesn’t, Jim, I think I can get you a job working with me. Monsieur Cerré is a big merchant here and needs quite a few people in the fall. He’s away from Kaskaskia right now.”
Jim nodded. “I may ask you later, Willie, because I have to find something to do.”
“Guess I’d better go home now, Jim. Will you come home with me?”