She bickers about many things like the amount of beads in her possession and claims to hear the sounds of her first baby crying at night. He feels that she indirectly blames him for the death of her first child (43).
Since he can communicate the best in English, Miami Doctor assumes the position of headman when Willie Tiger dies (113). As headman, he is responsible for keeping general order, distributing payroll, and other tasks (Mayerson, BBBT 189). Miami Doctor's decision whether or not to allow a Negro fugitive into the tribe signals the beginning of his role as headman. The Negro fugitive, Bristol, is a young boy trying to escape slavery who needs somewhere to hide. Miami Doctor fears that Bristol could easily be captured by the whites and forced into slavery, so he decides to include Bristol in his family. Although he already has three children, Tommy, Josie, and Mary, he knows that it is in Bristol's best interest to stay with them (Mayerson, Miami: A Saga 113). As he assimilates with the tribe, Bristol becomes close to the Miami Doctor family members, forming a special bond with Mary, with whom he falls in love (144). They marry and soon after bring a baby girl, Emma, into the world (142). .
When Emma is four years old, Bristol discovers it is safe for him go back to his own people, but his council rules that Mary and Emma must remain with the Miccosukee tribe. With mixed emotions, he decides that it is time for him to go back home (146). Bristol plans to visit from time to time to so he could see Emma; however, it is nearly three years before he returns.
Like any young child, Emma's surroundings affect her personality. When Bristol visits, she notices the way he looks at her with eyes narrowed in displeasure (Mayerson, BBBT 190). Emma never forgives Bristol for having abandoned her and for her having to wait for his return until she was seven. For this reason, she does not want to accompany Bristol back to his mother's house.