Savage Dawn

“You were so deep in thought,” Dancing Snow Feather said, wiping cornmeal from her hands on the doeskin apron she wore to protect her pretty beaded dress.

“I’m sorry,” Nicole said, wiping her hands on her own doeskin apron. Dancing Snow Feather had taught her how to make not only that, but also dresses and moccasins.

She had also taught Nicole how to make Eagle Wolf fancy buckskin vests that were embellished with colorful feathers hanging from the hem.

Nicole was an astute student, but she was also a teacher. She taught the Navaho children now five days a week in a log lodge that had been built by the warriors of the village. Everyone was anxious for their children to learn what white children were taught, so that the Navaho would no longer be at a disadvantage when they might have to deal with whites in the future.

Nicole was proud that some of the men and women of the village also came into the classroom and were learning from her, too.

In fact, a larger building was being readied, so that she would have one building for the adults, and one for the children. She was happy to oblige, for she loved teaching anyone who would listen to her lessons.

“I know that you are worried about our husbands being out in this heavy snowfall, but do not be afraid,” Dancing Snow Feather murmured. “They know this land well. No storm will keep them away from their families. Soon you will see them return with many rabbits in their bags. In fact, Nicole, this is a good time to hunt for rabbits, for their tracks will lead our warriors to them.”

“When the snow gets heavier, what do you do when you are all forced to stay inside your lodges both day and night?” Nicole murmured.

“There are many games played inside the lodges beside the fire,” Dancing Snow Feather said, again busy making her bread. She was stirring up a water and corn mixture, after the corn had been ground to the consistency of flour.

Green corn husks had been readied ahead of time and spread open. Now Dancing Snow Feather was pouring some of the mixture into the husks. She then wrapped the husks tightly together, tied them, and set them aside.

“But now that you are here with your teachings, the children will be in school. Half the day will be spent in learning, and then at night they will either share what they learned with their mothers and fathers, or they will play games,” Dancing Snow Feather said. “The children and adults are never without something to do until the warm winds of spring arrive again.”

Dancing Snow Feather noticed that Nicole had not resumed making bread, but had gone quiet. She was now staring at Dancing Snow Feather’s belly, which was just now big enough to be visible beneath her doeskin dress.

“May I touch it?” Nicole suddenly blurted out.

Dancing Snow Feather smiled. “Ho, you may,” she said softly. “Give me your hand.”

Nicole reached out and Dancing Snow Feather took it and slid it up beneath the apron, so that Nicole’s hand was square over the tiny ball where the baby lay.

“My goodness,” Nicole gasp

ed. She had never felt a woman’s pregnant belly before. She was an only child, so she had never shared moments like this with her mother.

She was awed by the wonder of this new life. Then she felt sad that she did not have the same sort of miracle to share with her husband.

Tears in her eyes, Nicole slid her hand away. “I wonder why I haven’t been able to get pregnant,” she said, her voice breaking. “Eagle Wolf wants children so badly. And…so…do I. I love children.”

“I can tell that you do by the way you treat the children you teach,” Dancing Snow Feather said, resuming the preparation of her kneel-down bread.

She would later go outside, where a pit had been prepared for the bread. Live coals waited there even now, keeping the pit hot.

The live coals would be removed just prior to placing the filled corn husks in the pit. Then the bread would be allowed to bake slowly.

Once the bread was fully baked, the loaves would be removed from the pit oven. The hot husks would be stripped away, revealing a wonderful loaf of bread that was ready to be eaten.

“My mother did not have an easy time getting pregnant,” Dancing Snow Feather murmured. “She was advised by our shaman what the problem might be.”

“And the problem was?” Nicole asked.

“At that time, our shaman was called Swift Star. He told my mother that she was worrying too much about not being with child. Swift Star said all that worry stopped the child from coming,” Dancing Snow Feather murmured. She stopped and gazed into Nicole’s green eyes. “Stop thinking about it and then it will happen.”

“Truly?” Nicole asked, her eyes widening.

Then both looked toward the closed entrance flap when they heard the neighing of horses outside Nicole’s tepee. With the snow so soft and thick, neither of them had heard the approaching horse.

But now the neighing came loud and clear, and Nicole knew that her husband’s white stallion was right outside her lodge.

She wiped her hands on her apron again and stood quickly. Just when she reached the flap, Eagle Wolf was there, off his horse, and opening it himself.