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Hawk, Eve, the children, Jinx, Bending Knee, and Bear all went home after the ceremony.
In no time, they set up tipis. It would take a while to clean the mess of the charred cabins away, but they had time.
Eve hung her dream catcher above where they slept and hung the children's for them.
When she caught Matthew outside she stopped him. "Did you enjoy your birthday?"
"It was great. Good seeing my friends again. I hope we go often. I'm getting pretty good at the slingshot now, Ma."
"I'm so glad. That might come in very handy some day, you know. I'm sure we will go often , once things get back to normal here."
"I guess it will take a long time to get all the things you had before, won't it?" Matthew asked as he walked around the ashes.
"Not as long as you think. A lot of the women at the village gave us things we could use, pottery, utensils, blankets. We'll have plenty of good things again."
"You gonna wear Indian clothes now, Ma?" Matthew asked seeing her in a deerskin dress once more.
"They are very comfortable. Maybe…"
"Ma…"
"Yes?"
"If white people should come here, what will happen to us?" Matthew asked.
"I don't know Matthew. You see this land belongs to the Shoshone. I don't think they will come…"
"I hope not, Ma." Matthew said with trepidation.
"Its kind a hard to be white now, isn't it, Ma?"
"In some ways yes. In other ways no."
"Do you miss it?" Matthew asked.
"No, I don't." She admitted. "Do you?"
"I don't know. Sometimes I guess, but…I don't really know. I love Hawk. He's a real father to us. And the others here are great too. But…I don't want anyone to hurt you any more…"
"Who would, Matthew?"
"White men…and women too." Matthew declared.
Eve took his hands and set him down to explain. "I chose this life, Matthew. If when you are older, you want to go back into the white man's world. You are free to do so. However, you can learn so much here, with Hawk. More than anything, I want your happiness. This was my choice, and someday you must make yours. Do you understand?"
"Yes Ma…I think so."
"Good. I love you…you know that, don't you?"
"Yes Ma, I know you do. And I love you too."
She watched in the distance while Jane Ann played in the dirt. She drew pictures in the dirt and was showing Jinx. Jinx had such fun watching her. Eve smiled, even Jinx was happy here. She glanced at Bending Tree and Bear; they seemed very content with the work and with all they accomplished. Perhaps someday they would have their own little village of people to share with here. It was like some vision to her and she smiled.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The building of the new cabins began as soon as they cleared the charred remains away. It would be winter soon and they wanted to be inside their home before it got too cold.
The men worked tirelessly, and soon Little Eagle and Fawn joined them.
