When no one came, Alma hid her disappointment as she wrapped the leftovers in the oiled linen and stored them away. With Gabe’s help, she was able to lift the pack up in the rafters, out of reach of the hound or other varmints. Alma was surprised to still not be ready to leave.
Gabe seemed much better, but she knew another day’s rest would only help. The real reason was she couldn’t leave things the way they stood between Gabe’s people and her. If they weren’t going to come calling on her, she would have to go to them.
She left him stretched out, napping in the light breeze coming into the cabin. She noticed the roof had an opening in the roof cover. It was over the firestone and worked like a chimney for the smoke to go out and helped to draw fresh air in through the open door.
No wonder he was tired. She couldn’t remember a time when he’d talked so much. While she mended her torn skirt, Gabe had …show more content…
Little Sparrow sat where she had minutes ago, talking and laughing with the other women. For a minute, Alma wanted to turn back to find Gabe. But she needed to get this over with and so she hurried forward and smiled at the women who had let her sit with them earlier.
“I brought this hide, Gabe killed and skinned a little deer to get this for me and I’d like to work it like you have this pretty piece,” she said as she held out the smelly hide. They had dusted it with wood ashes and rolled it up tight. The second night, Gabe had showed her how to scrape some of the loose bits of fat and told her as it rotted, they would scrape more.
Sparrow wrinkled her nose and the women giggled. Alma felt foolish, but the old woman said something and the giggling stopped. She checked the smelly skin, handed Alma a long flat stone.
Sparrow pointed over to a distant rock. Obediently, Alma carried the hide over. She spread it out on the rock and was relieved when the old woman joined her and showed her where and how to scrape
Gabe seemed much better, but she knew another day’s rest would only help. The real reason was she couldn’t leave things the way they stood between Gabe’s people and her. If they weren’t going to come calling on her, she would have to go to them.
She left him stretched out, napping in the light breeze coming into the cabin. She noticed the roof had an opening in the roof cover. It was over the firestone and worked like a chimney for the smoke to go out and helped to draw fresh air in through the open door.
No wonder he was tired. She couldn’t remember a time when he’d talked so much. While she mended her torn skirt, Gabe had …show more content…
Little Sparrow sat where she had minutes ago, talking and laughing with the other women. For a minute, Alma wanted to turn back to find Gabe. But she needed to get this over with and so she hurried forward and smiled at the women who had let her sit with them earlier.
“I brought this hide, Gabe killed and skinned a little deer to get this for me and I’d like to work it like you have this pretty piece,” she said as she held out the smelly hide. They had dusted it with wood ashes and rolled it up tight. The second night, Gabe had showed her how to scrape some of the loose bits of fat and told her as it rotted, they would scrape more.
Sparrow wrinkled her nose and the women giggled. Alma felt foolish, but the old woman said something and the giggling stopped. She checked the smelly skin, handed Alma a long flat stone.
Sparrow pointed over to a distant rock. Obediently, Alma carried the hide over. She spread it out on the rock and was relieved when the old woman joined her and showed her where and how to scrape