Thomas King's short tale Borders is about a frightened mother who is proud of her culture and loves where she came from. She lives in a tribal community. This engaging story is about a woman who has strong views about her ethnic heritage. She rejects any attempt to change it or abandon it. Borders tells the story of a mother named Borders who lives in a tribal community with her husband Henry and their two children. One day, an Englishman named MacNamee comes to town looking for work. He meets up with Borders, who helps him find food and shelter. The two men become friends, and Borders teaches MacNamee about his tribe's customs and beliefs. MacNamee decides to stay in the community and start a business. However, he falls in love with Borders' daughter Jane and tries to force her to leave with him. When this fails, MacNamee attacks and kills Henry with an axe. Frightened, Borders runs away into the forest where she is captured by Native Americans. They take her home, but when they discover that she doesn't belong to them, they release her without harming her. After this incident, Borders realizes that her family was right all along: You can't always predict what other people will do. She decides to go back home, but this time she does it alone. Here is where the story might differ between versions.