Hi! Long story short, almost 15 years ago I read a book for my history class, it was a non-fiction but I believe it was based in the 1800s or early 1900s.
All I can remember is…
It starts off with the main character being a young girl and is described as a tomboy. Her father is a doctor and works in their home, so patients come to their home daily for his help. He hires a young man and she becomes fascinated/in love with him and starts lessons to become more ladylike.
She’s now old enough and they fall in love in a short time, they become engaged and I can’t remember where he goes but she ends up following him and leaves on ship to meet with him. I believe she had a maid or helper of some sort that was coming with her. During their trip, a huge storm hits and many of the people get sick including her help (I believe she dies on the ship). The survivors end up stranded on some land that is inhabited by Native Americans.
She spends the most of the time in the book with the natives, spends time with them, learning their culture, learning survival skills, serving and cooking meals, helps them with travelers who come through, etc.
She falls in love with one of the native men, and her fiance finally finds her/reaches her which I believe is why I’m thinking this was a short series, maybe 3 books total. And the fiance ends up not being the best and I believe she decides to not be with him.
That’s all I can really remember. I had found it years ago but completely forgot it again and nothing is coming up with my searches.
Hope this description helps, thank you in advance! 🙂
by d_hatt