Chapter 8
(Sitka. 1978. Elizabeth’s story.)
When Elizabeth came to Sitka, there were so few women on the island men practically met every ferry. Although Sitka had a better ratio than most of the state — the average was 10 to 1 — the Coast Guard station meant that there were a lot of single men between 18 and 30, all looking for female companionship.
She’d never been that popular before. Too brainy, always reading. Perfect for a woman who planned to teach literature. She’d gotten her doctorate in literature, and then accepted a job at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. An adventure, she’d told her friends and family.
It took her just a few weeks to realize how divided the town was. There was really a separation between the Native village and the white community. And within the white com
