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The women were dressed in their best dresses, the men in their best fringed garments.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, the people came together for a dance beside the large outdoor communal fire. The men stood on one side, the women on the other. They all sang, and three drummers furnished an accompaniment. The people joined together in the dance, the women holding their arms and hands in various graceful positions.
The people then stepped aside, silent, as a group of men came to the center of attention. They wore animal-head masks, and their bodies were brightly painted. When their dance was over, the people gathered together and sat on blankets around the large fire to listen to the stories of an elderly warrior who had seen his best days. His tales were the explanations of the phenomena of life and contained many a moral for the instruction of youth.
The storyteller spoke in so much earnest, and became so entirely carried away by the tale he was relating, that he fairly trembled with excitement. He held his audience spellbound with yet more tales about the ancient gods and their miraculous doings.
And then it was time for more games!
Jolena laughed softly as she followed Spotted Eagle to a group of warriors. She could see his eagerness to challenge those of his same age. He pulled her aside as the others gathered in a circle, preparing themselves for the game, laughing amongst themselves.
"Watch as your man plays a game called hands," he said, smiling at her. "Let me warn you, my woman. The stakes are sometimes very hightwo or three horses, or more. Some have been known to lose everything they possessed, even to their clothing."
Jolena watched as Spotted Eagle stepped away from her to join the group of a dozen men. The warriors were divided into two equal parties, one group standing facing the other. Otherswomen, children, and older menpressed in be
hind Jolena to watch as the betting began, each person playing the game betting with the person directly opposite him. There were wagers for horses, moccasins, headbands, arrows, and prized bows.
Jolena listened for Spotted Eagle's wager, smiling when he made a simple offering of an eagle feather for someone's headband should he lose.
Two small, oblong bones were used, one of which had a black ring around it. The first man took the bones, and by skillfully moving his hands and changing the objects from one to the other, sought to make it impossible for the person opposite him to decide which hand held the marked bone.
Jolena's eyes widened, now recognizing the game as "Button, button, who's got the button?" which she had played with her friends in Saint Louis. Now truly enjoying watching, having herself played this same game so often, Jolena watched the players' hands and listened to the various bets. Ten points, counted by sticks, won the game and the side which first got the number took the stakes.
A song was soon accompanying this game, a weird, unearthy tune sung by an old warrior. At first, it was a scarcely audible murmur, like the gentle soughing of an evening breeze, but gradually it increased in volume and reached a very high pitch, sinking quickly to a low bass sound which rose and fell, then gradually died, to be again repeated.
One of the warriors who was concealing the bones swayed his body, arms, and hands in time to the music and went through all manner of graceful and intricate movements for the purpose of confusing the guessers.
This went on for some time.
Jolena was proud when Spotted Eagle came away with many prizes, the most precious of them all a bracelet made of pink, iridescent shells, which he promptly slipped onto Jolena's right arm.
They were laughing and following the pleasant aroma of food roasting close by over another large, outdoor fire, when Kirk came suddenly into view. Glowering, he came to Jolena and took her by an arm, ushering her away from Spotted Eagle.
Stopping in the shadow of a tepee, Kirk turned Jolena to face him. "Sis, I'm strong enough to travel," he said. "If I have to beg you to go with me, I will."
"Please don't," Jolena said, casting her eyes downward. "My mind is made up, Kirk. I hope you will understand one day why I had to make the choice that I did."
"Your love for Spotted Eagle?" he said, placing a finger to her chin and tipping it up so that their eyes could meet and hold.
"That, and also my love for my people," Jolena said, over Kirk's shoulder seeing Spotted Eagle coming toward them.
"I can understand how you could become infatuated with a handsome warrior," Kirk said, dropping his hands to his sides. "I, too, am infatuated with an Indian. I could easily love Moon Flowerbut not if it meant forgetting all of my loyalties to the family who raised me from a baby to adulthood."
"Then love Moon Flower and leave me alone," Jolena said, sighing heavily. "I shall never change my mind. Never."
Kirk frowned. "I knew that you wouldn't," he said, giving Spotted Eagle a troubled glance over his shoulder as he came protectively to Jolena's side.
Then he gave Moon Flower a nod, bringing her to his side. When she came to him, bashfully smiling, he placed an arm around her waist. "Moon Flower is traveling with me to Saint Louis," he said, his eyes lighting up, his lips quavering into a smile. "She's promised to marry me." Jolena's heart seemed to stop, and she felt a coldness enter her heart as she gazed into Moon Flower's eyes, stunned at her brother's quick decision.
Jolena knew why Moon Flower might be eager to leave her villageto hide the shame of an unwed pregnancy?
But did Kirk know about the pregnancy?
Jolena knew that he must not know, for he was not the sort to tolerate a wife heavy with another man's child, especially an Indian's.
Nor would he be the sort to raise that child!
Jolena wanted to reach out and tell her brother the truth, but a part of her that resented his attitude toward her heritage would not allow her to warn him of the deceit.
