But she knew they would much rather butcher the meat under these conditions than during the winter months, as they would have to do if their supply of meat ran out before spring. In the winter, the buffalo meat and skin began to freeze before it could even be processed.
High Hawk had said that the blood would cake and ice on the hunters’ hands. In such cases, the hunters would place their hands in the vagina of a downed animal, until they were warm enough to continue with the work.
Joylynn could no longer look through the binoculars. It was too gruesome a sight. She only hoped that when it came time to eat this meat, she wouldn’t remember so vividly what she had witnessed today.
“I will be all right,” she whispered to herself, sighing heavily as she continued to wait until the meat was loaded on the horses.
After a while, something told her to look in the direction of the hunters again, and when she did, she found High Hawk waving at her.
She quickly saw that all of the meat was packed on the backs of the horses and covered. The horses had been led down by the river, where the men were already running into the water with their breechclouts on, washing off the clay and soil of the day, as well as the blood from the butchering.
She knew that sand would then be rubbed into the skin to further cleanse it.
She gazed at High Hawk again as he rode toward her with his burdened horse. She could see that his body was sparkling and clean beneath the rays of the sun. His wet hair clung to his shoulders and down his back. Obviously, he had already bathed.
Glad that the hunting and butchering was done, and even more anxious to return to the village so that she could prepare for her marriage, Joylynn mounted her steed, rode down the steep incline and met High Hawk.
“It is done,” he said. “There will be much food on our table, as well as my mother’s and Two Stars’s, for I am the one who does the hunting for all of us.”
“I’m so glad it’s over,” Joylynn said, riding beside him as they headed toward home. “I had no idea it . . . it . . . would be this gruesome.”
“Now you see why the women, for the most part, do not get involved,” High Hawk said. “Some Pawnee do include their women, who come to butcher after the buffalo are killed. Even some children participate. But I feel the women of my village have enough to do without adding to their tasks.”
“I’m glad,” Joylynn said, laughing softly. “I would hate to think that I would have to dirty my hands with such blood . . . and . . . guts. I’m a strong woman, but not . . . that . . . strong.”
“Tomorrow has been brought closer by the time it has taken for the hunt and butchering,” High Hawk said with a twinkle in his eyes. “And you know what tomorrow means for us.”
“How could I forget?” Joylynn said, holding her head back to feel the sun warm on her face. She closed her eyes in ecstasy at the thought of being with High Hawk again and making love, this time as his wife.
She looked over her shoulder as the warriors rode up behind them. They wore a look of victory at having killed enough buffalo to sustain their people for the long winter months.
She could feel their pride.
It was good to be a part of such a wonderful people as these. She hoped that some months ahead, she would make the number of Pawnee grow as she brought another Pawnee child into the world!
She smiled at High Hawk, feeling confident that nothing would stand in the way of her bringing a son into this world. This time, the child she carried in her womb would be there because of a wonderful moment of lovemaking with her husband, not like before, when the child had been the result of a horrible rape.
This time, she would cherish every moment the child was inside her.
She began thinking of names, trying to choose one that would fit the son of a powerful Pawnee chief.
Then a name came to her that made her heart skip a beat.
Sleeping Wolf!
Yes, she would see if High Hawk would agree on the name Sleeping Wolf for their firstborn son. Wouldn’t it please Blanket Woman to know that her own firstborn was being remembered in such a way?
Glad that the thought had come to her, Joylynn smiled softly at High Hawk. She hoped this gesture would further strengthen the bond between her and High Hawk’s mother!
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Where are you taking me?” Joylynn asked as she clung to High Hawk’s neck while he carried her away from the spot where moments ago they had spoken their wedding vows.
His people still danced and sang to the accompaniment of rattles made of dried gourds filled with seeds, drums and the lovely music from a flute of red cedar.
“To a special place where we will celebrate our first night as man and wife alone,” High Hawk said, continuing to run alongside the stream that slowly widened and deepened the farther they got from the village.
“Anywhere is special as long as I am with you,” Joylynn said, oh, so happy that finally they had been able to speak the vows that made them as one forever. He could not be any more handsome than he was now in his headdress of fox skins, his white, fringed doeskin outfit, with fur moccasins on his feet.