Two-Spirit

Chapter 29

"Good morning." I say as I sit up in our bedding seeing Ama sat on the edge with a bowl on her lap.

"Morning." She turns to me with a smile. I move up and sit next to her letting my lips meet her waiting ones for a kiss.

She smiles and holds the bowl out for taking. "This is pork bacon as your people call it."

With furrowed brows, I take it seeing it holds a few strips of what looks like bacon but I would have assumed it be deer bacon as that is usually what it is. "How did you get pork?" I ask but take a piece and bite.

"Dakota went to town and traded some deer and beans for a bit of pork."

Her tale only leaves me more confused. "Your people are allowed in town?"

She nods. "Yes, but it is dangerous. Your people allow it but there are those that harass us just for the fun of it. The only who go to town are the ones that resemble white men such as Dakota. They take him to be their own because of his complexion."

"Don't they question the way he speaks?" Her people have a unique lilt when they speak English I noticed but It is one I enjoy, their voices are soothing.

I continue to take bites as I listen to her."Not usually maybe those who recognize it but most haven't made contact with us knowingly."

I hum in understanding and swallow what I chewed. "This is delicious did you cook it?"

She nods with a small smile. "I did."

I continue eating before realizing I took the whole bowl from her. "Have some more, I don't need it all." I offer, holding the bowl in front of her. Surely she needs to eat more than me.

She lightly pushes the bowl away. "No. The rest is for you, love."

I grin so largely that my cheeks hurt. "Thank you."

She hums and points to the table at the back of her hut where my flower journal lays along with the feather and ink. "What is that book?"

"It is my flower journal, you may view it if you wish." Happily, she stands and goes to her table to grab it.

She returns to my side laying it on her lap. She smiles as she flips the first page. "These are beautiful. What are they?" She motions to the bright bluish cornflowers that I have pressed. It was the first I'd ever done, many years ago.

"They are called cornflowers from back home." I explain.

"Cornflowers? They look nothing of corn or its flowers." She says with furrowed brows.

I giggle. "I believe it is because they often grow in cornfields back in London."

When I lived in London I would read many books on flowers. Every time I added a new flower to my book I would read on it. I enjoy learning new things. That's why it's such a shame I can never attend university.

She still seems confused. "I've never seen them in our fields."

I hum. "It could be that they are only found in London."

She nods. "Likely. Are all the flowers in this book from your home, London?"

"All but the last." I smile.

Curiously, she flips until she is on the last flower I pressed. A big smile adorns her face. "Is this the one I gave you?"

I nod with a now shy smile.

"I'll be sure to get you more flowers to add to your book." She promises with a smile.

I smile back. "I'd like that."