Shadow Hawk by Jeanie P Johnson

Author:Jeanie P Johnson [Johnson, Jeanie P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Shadow Hawk had remained to watch the herds, while he sent someone back to the village to direct them to where the best place, nearest the herd, would be used to camp at. Everyone was busy loading up their belongings, and dismantling their teepees. I could see that it was the women who took the teepees down, so I decided it could not be that hard. I stood and watched as they, lowered the sides of the teepee, where the hides had been rolled up to let the breeze flow through when the weather turned warm like it was. Then somehow, they pulled the hide away from the poles. After they had toppled the poles and separated them, they used the poles to make travois’ for their horses, and loaded all their belongings on top.

I followed the lead of the other women working at moving the camp, and did not ask for any help. After all, I had helped on the Oregon trail dismantling wagons, and raising them to cross rivers. This was not much different, I told myself. While I wrestled with the hides on Hudson’s teepee, a young brave came up to me. He was either my age, or a little older, but he gave me a big smile.

“Shadow Hawk told me to help you in any way I can,” he said.

Then he began helping me pull the hides away, and showed me the method in allowing the poles to fall.

“I am called Running Wolf,” he told me. “Shadow Hawk wishes me to instruct you about the hunt.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I am too young without experience to hunt the buffalo. But the women and young braves, like myself, must help skin the buffalo and cut the meat up in chunks, to take back to the camp to be dried. Shadow Hawk tells me you have been with the tribe long enough to assist in this. You are now a member of the tribe, and all members do their share.”

“I did my share last time, cutting the strips for the racks,” I pointed out.

“That is for the old women, old men, and children to do. Strong members like us are expected to do more.”

I thought it strange that Shadow Hawk had not thought me strong enough to make love to me, after I had healed, but felt I was strong enough to skin the buffalo. Now, I knew he had used my condition as an excuse not to touch me any longer. In his eyes I was no longer a complete woman, now that my ability to bring children into the world had been compromised.

“I will do my share, Running Wolf,” I told him stiffly.

He helped me make the travois, and put it on a saddle that he placed on Little Pride’s back. Then he mounted a black horse beside me, and stayed abreast with me.

The whole tribe seemed to be in jubilation as they sang and pounded on drums they carried. Some members blew on flutes, and danced as they traveled.

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