Cogewea, the Half-Blood · Character

Mary McDonald

A friend of Cogewea, likely a mixed-blood woman in the community.

minor

Also known as Mary, Miss McDonald

First appearance: A Range Idyl

Mary McDonald's tie to LaGrinder is one of the pressures that moves Cogewea, the Half-Blood—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Mentioned as Cogewea's younger sister who is coming for a visit.

In the storyA Range IdylOpen this moment free

Mary McDonald first appears in 0005 iii a range idyl.

With LaGrinder (friendship): LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties. With Cogewea (friendship): Cogewea and Mary McDonald share a friendly relationship, with Mary as a confidante and community member. With LaGrinder (friendship): LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties.

See Mary McDonald in A Range Idyl Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Character Web

17 connections

A slice of how Mary McDonald sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Community, Animals, and Antagonists
Central Family and Ranch Circle
Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because the Stemteemä’s confession shifts the narrative from external conflict to…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

LaGrinder
friendship · positive
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties. How this plays out →
Cogewea
friendship · positive
LaGrinder
friendship · positive
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties. How this plays out →
Cogewea
friendship · positive
Cogewea
friendship · positive
LaGrinder
friendship · positive
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties. How this plays out →

LaGrinder
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties.
Cogewea
Cogewea and Mary McDonald share a friendly relationship, with Mary as a confidante and community member.
LaGrinder
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties.
Cogewea
Cogewea and Mary McDonald share a friendly relationship, with Mary as a confidante and community member.
Cogewea
Cogewea and Mary McDonald share a friendly relationship, with Mary as a confidante and community member.
LaGrinder
LaGrinder and Mary McDonald share a friendship based on mutual respect and community ties.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mary McDonald in A Range Idyl

In the story

Mary McDonald appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

A Range Idyl
Mentioned as Cogewea's younger sister who is coming for a visit.
IV: Cogewea Hires the Tenderfoot
Arrives with her grandmother, described as shy and fair-skinned.
XII: On Buffalo Butte
Mary is seen beating a tin pan as a supper call, welcoming the riders home.
XVIII: Swa-lah-kin
Dislikes Densmore and secretly counsels with Stemteemä about him; observes the couple's closeness with vexation.
XIX: The Story of Green-blanket Feet
Fills the grandmother's pipe before the story begins.
The Basket Social
Mary is teased by Cogewea about Frenchy's admiration. She ends up sharing Jim's basket after Frenchy's trick, and is described as beautiful and graceful.
XXIV: The Second Coming of the Shoyahpee
Leads Jim to the teepee and fills the Stemteemä's pipe during the conversation.
XXV: Voice of the Autumn Leaves
Finds the torn letter and gives it to Jim, revealing Densmore's plot.
XXVI: Stemteemä Consults the Sweat House
Assists in the sweat house ritual, showing reverence for the old customs and expressing her views on the loss of Indian traditions.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mary McDonald unlock in the free preview.

See Mary McDonald in A Range Idyl