Kinta Tsosie sat at Malia's kitchen table with my whole remaining family surrounding him. Madelene and Ella were included and Julio Garcia too. His relationship with my sister deepened to the point where he was included in all our business decisions and I insisted he be included here as well.

Ella, with her direct logical mind, asked the first question.

"The Mama's are the ones who make the family work, right?"

Kinta's expressive face showed surprise, but he answered, "Yes, in our tradition, the men marry into a clan and move to their wife's home. The bride's family provide a home, like this one. A hooghan with eight sides facing the rising sun."

"I like to see the sunrise. I get up with Auntie Malia every morning to see it," Ella said.

"We all do," Julio added, "whenever possible. It is good to be grateful for the new day."

"And so, it should be for all our people," the medicine man agreed. "Are you observing the traditional bride price?" His liquid brown eyes pierced mine and then stayed steady on Chayton's waiting for an answer.

"Because of our lives away from our land, we have agreed to some modifications," Chayton said.

"Our people have adapted well in some ways, but we need to find ways to provide traditional foods for those who still live deep in our lands. A goat or two for milk and meat when they get too old would be a huge improvement for them," Kinta said, "But that is neither here nor there, I approve of how you have agreed to share what you have worked hard to achieve. That is between you, Alyana, and Chayton."

We smiled at each other, and I added, "I think there is a way for us to help with the donation of goats here and there across our land. It can be arranged through a charity attached to the ranch. This one is outside the reserve border, so we can take advantage of the tax laws. Malia, Madelene and I are partners here, and we have been trying to decide how we can give back to help our people."

Ella nodded, and asked, "Would chickens help too? I can let some of my eggs hatch."

The smile Kinta gave her lit his face and her answering grin melted my heart. The tall slender man wore two braids which went well down onto his chest, and had such an empathic way about him, I felt his care in every word he spoke.

"A very good idea, child. Ask your Aunties and your Abuelita to help you figure out how to do it. I will speak to your healers, as well Alyana. As a medicine man, I am about to break with one tradition which has nearly cost us our native healing practices." He pushed himself back from the table and stood to pace.

"Malia, your knowledge is imperative. Your grandmother taught you well, as she did with your healers. We are about to create a ceremony to give them the same status as our medicine men enjoy. The elders have agreed, and there will be a powwow to celebrate it within the next year."

Tears formed in Malia's eyes. "You honor our grandmother. It was her wish and she risked much. As did her father."

Julio's arm came around her in a quick hug, and I watched her turn her face into his shoulder. There was definitely more than just a friendship there now. I wondered how many more rooms we would add to our grandmother's central hooghan.

"Next, has your family come to see the ranch here, Chayton?" Kinta asked.

"Memorial Day weekend. We will have a gathering here. My sisters, my mother and all their children. They will likely bring their horses as well."

"I will trust Aponi to organize the expedition then. You have confirmed it?"

I nodded. "They are excited. Calving will be over, as will our own births with the goats. Shearing of the Cashmere and Angora goats will happen after our wedding as far as we can tell."

I was surprised when Malia found a source of Angora's as well. Keeping the various herds apart was a headache for our growing group of shepherds. Snow and Patch would need companions to help keep the growing population safe.

Conversation drifted into the similarities of Madelene and Julio's Aztec traditions and how to blend them with ours. Ella excused herself to go out and get eggs, but not before saying we should make sure our food challenged families should get first crack at them.

Julio volunteered one of his construction vans as a way to make sure they were delivered. It meant refrigeration needed to be installed, especially if we wanted to add cheese and butter to what we delivered.

Bartering as payment was another idea which came up. Some of them were skilled craftspeople. Malia wondered if there might have a way for some of them to spin her fiber. Mohair and Cashmere hand spun wool was a lucrative market.

The afternoon drifted by and before I knew it, Ella complained she was hungry. I glanced at my watch and said, "Goodness. It's after four already."

Kinta picked up his water glass and drained it before saying, "This meeting lasted far longer that I expected. However, this is worth every bit of time when have put into it. We'll keep in contact on the wedding and all the other ideas we have discussed via email. I have a regular meeting with the elders, as I mentioned. Now I have considerably more to add to it."

"I can add meats from my ranch as well, and I'll talk to my mother," Chayton said. "There is a lot to consider, but it can be done."

Kinta nodded. "I'll say goodbye for now. We will meet again in mid June to continue planning. There may be others who will want to help with this."

I stood stretching to relieve my back. The conversation and ideas we shared were so fascinating I barely moved other than to type notes on my phone. Chayton and I went out with Kinta to confirm the dates we needed him in September and the date of the June elder's meeting. He decided part way through the afternoon we needed to be there to present our food delivery program. We had approximately six weeks to flesh it out and apply for the various permits and licensing we needed.

"Who are we going to put in charge of this program?" I asked as we waved goodbye to Kinta.

"Not sure. Neither of us is going to be available day to day to deal with it. I'll have to see if Shelby can do it, or maybe Kate?"

Chayton's suggestion had me shaking my head.

"That's not going to work. Both of them are going full time at their own businesses. This is going to be more than a volunteer position. Crap, I have to apply for a non-profit status charity, and we need to come up with a name for it on top of that."

"Bring it up at Seeking Hozho's next staff meeting. You can sponsor the charity as part of it's financial structure as well," Chayton suggested.

Ella came running out with a half eaten apple and tugged at Chayton's hand. "Are you staying for supper?"

"Is there enough in the stew pot?" I asked.

"Abuelita just added the leftover vegetables from yesterday. She's making the dough for dumplings right now."

"I guess we're staying. We're going to need somewhere on the ranch for us," I said the last part half under my breath.

"Talk to Julio. We'll put another hooghan together here. We're in town for work a lot, so it would be prudent. My ranch is a one, maybe two week a month thing.

Chayton scooped Ella up and settled her on his hip. "I'm not going to be able to carry you much longer, little one."

"I know Uncle Chayton. I need new shoes and clothes, too." She put her arm around his neck and pulled his head down so she could kiss his cheek. "I finished grade one and grade two this year, and I'm starting grade three already. Abuelita showed me how to track my chicken and egg numbers on the computer."

We needed to talk to Madelene about putting her into the regular school in September. So many things to think about and under it all, I was wondering about our next rescue mission. Spunky was due back here in a few days. My phone was vibrating in my pocket as well.

Chayton let Ella down, and said, "Go tell Malia and your Abuelita we will stay. Can you send Julio out to us Ella? We need to speak with him."

"I will tell him." She dashed away, disappearing through the bright red door of our grandmother's home. I said a small thank you to her as Chayton wandered past the raised garden beds toward a slightly raised area at the top of a red sandstone mini mesa.

"What do you think? I love this spot, with the drop off on the other side. The arroyo is beautiful." He clambered up to lead me over to the other side.

"We don't need much, an all in one bedroom, a bathroom and a desk. Basically, a small guest house. We would eat with Malia in the main house. This is a great spot. Grandmother used to come out here to sit and enjoy the view," I said.

Julio arrived as I was speaking.

"So, an adobe hooghan? Let's say approximately eighteen feet across the interior. I can have one of my guys design it for you. But I agree, when you aren't here, we can use it for anyone else who needs a place to rest," Julio said.

"Go go for it," I said.

"It will be my gift to Malia. Her bride price," he said, "but don't tell her. I haven't asked yet. I wanted your approval first, Alyana."

"I haven't seen her this happy ever," I said. "Ask, I'm sure she will say yes."

"Congratulations, bro," Chayton held out his hand, but Julio responded with the traditional military wrist to elbow grasp.

"We'll talk, my friend. I have been where you are."

I cocked my head. What secrets was our contractor holding? I knew I would leave it between the men. There were some things I would never understand.