Romance Fiction posted October 19, 2014 | Chapters: | ...14 15 -16- 17... |
Soni and Jim arrive at the reservation.
A chapter in the book Texas Dream Catcher
CHAPTER OCHO; PART DOS
by barbara.wilkey
Background Soni Adler owns the Rockin' A ranch. I35 goes through it. Drug & human traffickers use I35 for transportation to other parts of the US. Jacob Blackwood is an ICE agent. Can these two find love? |
ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:
"I see Alex educated you." Soni smiled and turned toward the road. "Let's get moving." As they continued, she kept talking, "The trailer isn't large enough to make it worth their while to poach buffalo. It'll only fit two at the most. Maybe that's all they need to feed their families."
"My gut tells me they want more than bison." Jim petted Goliath. "I'm sure he agrees."
TODAY'S POST:
Their speculation ended when Soni and Jim arrived at the reservation. Jim sat straighter and stared out the window as he studied each small house and store.
Soni asked, "What did you expect it to look like? This is close to a normal reservation. On many other reservations, the Native Americans live below the poverty level. "
"I'm not sure what I expected. But I never expected a small town."
"Did you expect teepees or wigwams?"
"No." Jim paused and turned toward Soni. "How many Native Americans live here?"
"Grandfather says they come and go, but usually around 600. Many work on the ranch. Some work in Rocksprings and others drive to Brackettville. Most of the children attend school in Rocksprings. A few are home taught. Lipan Apache culture's still very strong." Soni paused as she parked the Range Rover in the driveway. "This is Grandfather's house." She smiled as Kuruk opened the door. "And here he is right on cue." Soni and the two large dogs stepped from the van. Jim stood beside her.
"What took you so long? Alex and Tatiana arrived over thirty minutes ago." Kuruk hugged his granddaughter.
"We met four men along the way. I think they were up to no good, but we don't know what." Soni kissed her grandfather's cheek and then continued with the story.
"I can send some men to look around."
"Not necessary. I doubt they'll cause trouble. I took one of the hook-up brackets. They won't be hauling anything." Soni pointed toward an open area where people had started to gather. "Let's get this celebration started." She took Grandfather's arm with her right arm and Jim's with her left. The dogs followed.
The three joined Alex and Tatiana standing in the serving line.
After everyone was served and seated, Kuruk stood and blessed the food in his native language.
Afterward, Soni leaned toward Jim and whispered, "Grandfather thanked the Great Creator for the bountiful harvest they've had this year and asked that he continue to watch over, guide, and protect them."
"I figured as much." Jim held his fork up and asked, "What's this?"
"Baked mescal. It's a desert agave plant. Apaches have eaten it for generations." Soni pointed to a green vegetable on Jim's plate. "That's prickly pear cactus. Try it. It's good." Soni took a bite of hers. "These were grilled with portabella mushrooms. The fried flatbread goes back generations, also."
"I know what this is." Jim pointed to his plate. "This is fish." He took a bite and chewed. "I'm guessing largemouth bass from the Nueces River." Then he forked a piece of meat. "This is probably buffalo and next to it are tators."
"Tators? Since when do East coasterners say tators?" Soni laughed.
"About the same time you started saying coasterners." Jim chuckled. "That's a mouthful." He pointed to another meat. "What's this?"
"Gator. The river is full of them."
"I guess they use whatever is available."
"They do. Native Americans prefer to live off the land. They believe if they take care of the land, the land will take care of them."
When they had finished eating and were visiting, Kuruk asked, "Sonsee-array, are you going to participate or sit this year out?"
Soni glanced at Jim. "I'm not sure. I haven't missed a celebration in fifteen years."
Jim held up both hands. "Don't stop tradition because of me."
"Jim's right." Alex nodded. "We'll take good care of him. Go ahead and get ready."
After a sigh, Soni stood. "Did you bring everything?"
Kuruk nodded. "Yes, I was afraid you'd forget. They're in my spare bedroom. Hurry-up!"
Soni and the two large white dogs ran off to her Grandfather's house.
"I see Alex educated you." Soni smiled and turned toward the road. "Let's get moving." As they continued, she kept talking, "The trailer isn't large enough to make it worth their while to poach buffalo. It'll only fit two at the most. Maybe that's all they need to feed their families."
"My gut tells me they want more than bison." Jim petted Goliath. "I'm sure he agrees."
TODAY'S POST:
Their speculation ended when Soni and Jim arrived at the reservation. Jim sat straighter and stared out the window as he studied each small house and store.
Soni asked, "What did you expect it to look like? This is close to a normal reservation. On many other reservations, the Native Americans live below the poverty level. "
"I'm not sure what I expected. But I never expected a small town."
"Did you expect teepees or wigwams?"
"No." Jim paused and turned toward Soni. "How many Native Americans live here?"
"Grandfather says they come and go, but usually around 600. Many work on the ranch. Some work in Rocksprings and others drive to Brackettville. Most of the children attend school in Rocksprings. A few are home taught. Lipan Apache culture's still very strong." Soni paused as she parked the Range Rover in the driveway. "This is Grandfather's house." She smiled as Kuruk opened the door. "And here he is right on cue." Soni and the two large dogs stepped from the van. Jim stood beside her.
"What took you so long? Alex and Tatiana arrived over thirty minutes ago." Kuruk hugged his granddaughter.
"We met four men along the way. I think they were up to no good, but we don't know what." Soni kissed her grandfather's cheek and then continued with the story.
"I can send some men to look around."
"Not necessary. I doubt they'll cause trouble. I took one of the hook-up brackets. They won't be hauling anything." Soni pointed toward an open area where people had started to gather. "Let's get this celebration started." She took Grandfather's arm with her right arm and Jim's with her left. The dogs followed.
The three joined Alex and Tatiana standing in the serving line.
After everyone was served and seated, Kuruk stood and blessed the food in his native language.
Afterward, Soni leaned toward Jim and whispered, "Grandfather thanked the Great Creator for the bountiful harvest they've had this year and asked that he continue to watch over, guide, and protect them."
"I figured as much." Jim held his fork up and asked, "What's this?"
"Baked mescal. It's a desert agave plant. Apaches have eaten it for generations." Soni pointed to a green vegetable on Jim's plate. "That's prickly pear cactus. Try it. It's good." Soni took a bite of hers. "These were grilled with portabella mushrooms. The fried flatbread goes back generations, also."
"I know what this is." Jim pointed to his plate. "This is fish." He took a bite and chewed. "I'm guessing largemouth bass from the Nueces River." Then he forked a piece of meat. "This is probably buffalo and next to it are tators."
"Tators? Since when do East coasterners say tators?" Soni laughed.
"About the same time you started saying coasterners." Jim chuckled. "That's a mouthful." He pointed to another meat. "What's this?"
"Gator. The river is full of them."
"I guess they use whatever is available."
"They do. Native Americans prefer to live off the land. They believe if they take care of the land, the land will take care of them."
When they had finished eating and were visiting, Kuruk asked, "Sonsee-array, are you going to participate or sit this year out?"
Soni glanced at Jim. "I'm not sure. I haven't missed a celebration in fifteen years."
Jim held up both hands. "Don't stop tradition because of me."
"Jim's right." Alex nodded. "We'll take good care of him. Go ahead and get ready."
After a sigh, Soni stood. "Did you bring everything?"
Kuruk nodded. "Yes, I was afraid you'd forget. They're in my spare bedroom. Hurry-up!"
Soni and the two large white dogs ran off to her Grandfather's house.
Recognized |
Thank you google images for an image of buffalo/bison meat. I really struggled with a photo for this post. It's the best I came up with. Thank you for reading and reviewing. If you have not read from the beginning, you WILL be confused. I don't redefine each character in every post.
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