Across the Sweet Grass Hills by Jenner Gail L

Author:Jenner, Gail L. [Jenner, Gail L.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Prairie Rose Publications
Published: 2013-12-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

The warriors hunted every day. Many of the buffalo hides would be traded to Riplinger, who ran a trading post several days’ ride to the northwest. Everyone looked for­ward to the big man’s arrival in camp; more and more Pikuni women wanted cloth and utensils, beads and trinkets.

One day, Crying Wind and Red Eagle invited Liza to accompany them on a buffalo cow hunt. Liza and Crow Woman, both on foot, followed the hunters to a wide, high ridge where they watched as the men constructed the piskin, a funnel-like pathway. Hiding in the brush or along the cutbanks, the warriors kept the animals from breaking away until they finally chased them over the edge of the precipice.

Unnerved by the animals’ howls, Liza jumped to her feet and started back for the village. Her stomach churned. The death cries were even more horrific than those in the first great hunt she witnessed.

She heard a horse trotting up behind her and she glanced up at the rider.

“I will take you back to camp,” said Red Eagle, pulling up alongside her.

Liza took a deep breath and nodded. “I didn’t know death could be so terrible.”

“The killing or the dying?” He leaned over and extended his right arm. Gripping it firmly, he swung her around onto the rump of the black mare. She wrapped her arms around Red Eagle’s middle, feeling him twitch as her fingers pressed against his belly.

He turned slightly and smiled. Could he hear her heart thumping?

They rode back to the village in silence.

When they reached Crying Wind’s lodge, Red Eagle slid off first then turned and faced her. His hands encircled her waist, and suddenly, she hoped he would kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. She felt paralyzed as his dark gaze held hers.

“The children are watching,” he whispered, at last.

“Yes, they are.” Her cheeks colored.

Stepping out of the circle of her arms, he remounted and galloped back the way they had come.

****

For several days, the women continued tanning hides and curing meat. Liza worked easily on the tasks Crow Woman assigned her; having done little physical labor back in St. Louis, she felt great satisfaction in the things she accomplished.

She also began learning a few phrases in Blackfeet, though the language was difficult. Crow Woman was pleased with her progress and the two women laughed over her mis­takes.

And her father grew strong enough to assist in simple jobs. Wrapped in his buffalo robes, he used an awl and sinew to stitch together a parfleche or other small item Crow Woman gave him. When he tired, he read aloud from his small pocket Bible as Liza and the other women worked.

Meanwhile, Crying Wind instructed Rabbit, a man known for his artistic skill, to paint a new lodge being built for Many Words and Liza Five Shots. Rabbit painted images of her father and Liza, as well as an enormous bear, along the bottom edge.

“It’s far bigger than the real one,” she told her father.

He laughed, then said, “Are you sure?”

One morning, Red Eagle stopped by the new lodge.

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