Black Owl and his band returned to Bear Valley, and we spent the rest of the summer there. How peaceful it was, there in the broad, grassy valley. Shadow and I had our own lodge at last, pitched next to that of Black Owl. Often, in the afternoon, I sat outside with Fawn and New Leaf, enjoying their company as we basked in the sunlight. Never idle, we always had a task to occupy our hands, be it sewing or mending, fashioning new moccasins, or making tiny baby things for the child Fawn was expecting in late February. Fawn fairly glowed with excitement and anticipation. And Black Owl could not stop smiling, so pleased was he with the prospect of being a father again. Hunting was good in the valley that year, and we feasted on juicy red buffalo hump and venison. There were berries and wild plums, as well as wild onions and roots and nuts. I learned to make jerky and pemmican that year. I also learned which herbs were good for seasoning, which were good for medicinal purposes, and which ones were poisonous.
