Soft Feather, her mother, was very much concerned and went to talk to her husband. But just as many fathers do even today, the chief said,
“Be patient, she is young and she will learn.”
Soft Feather was quite disturbed and each day she would ask Little Dove to come and begin to learn, but each day Little Dove would run off to play with the younger children while the older children were busy learning the work that goes with adult life.
One day young Little Dove noticed an Indian boy that she had seen several times sitting by himself shaping a bow.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I am shaping a bow so that when I marry I will have a fine weapon with which to bring down the running deer.”
For a long while Little Dove sat with the young boy, and nothing more was said. Finally the young brave rose and, bidding good-bye to Little Dove, started for his home.
Little Dove was now twelve and each day she would see the young boy at work or play. Finally she went to her mother.
“Mother, the young boy who has the pretty belt and bone-handled knife, who is he?”
“That, my daughter, is your father’s best friend’s son, Straight Arrow. Why, do you like him especially?”