Chapter Twenty-Four Telling Their Father

Near sundown the third day of riding, White Cloud and Little Dove enter their tribe’s camp. Their father is stepping out from their teepee. He waves to them. Returning the wave, they move further along the camp to the rear of the teepee where they will bind the horses. Dismounting they look at each other and realize they have to relive this whole wild episode again.

Coming to the front where their father is waiting for them, White Cloud says, “The ride you sent us on was not a quiet ride.”

His father seeing that his son is serious and not joking says, “What do you mean, what happened?”

“We need to eat first, we are tired.” says White Cloud, “Then we will talk.”

Little Dove moves into the teepee, she knows her mother will be preparing dinner as they speak. She will help her mother while her brother and her father talk.

Running Bear looks at his son, “You don’t seem the worse for wear; the ride couldn’t have been too difficult?”

“No, my father, it was not too difficult, although you did not notice the blood on Little Dove’s buckskins.”

“Come let us sit, we can share some cold drink while we wait for the women to prepare the meal.”

Inside the teepee, Shining Star, Little Dove’s mother asks her, “Where did the blood come from on your buckskins?”