Cherokee America by Margaret Verble

Cherokee, called Aunt Check or Check, is part of the Cherokee Nation and married to a white man. Her husband is dying leaving Check to raise her three boys and servants alone. There is an interesting mix of white, Native American and blacks living peacefully but when racial squabbles happen that peace turns out to be a thing of the past. A child is found hurt and a well-respected man is killed drawing a line in the sand between the Nation and the rest of the world. It is a hard life and secrets make it that much harder - better to bury them in the marsh. Based on actual people and common events, CHEROKEE AMERICA is raw, gritty but honest historical fiction.