A Rare Breed (30 page)

After the taping of Yolanda's show, friends and family gathered for a late night party hosted by the Romeros. Brit and Jake were invited as honored guests. Again, the feast was fit for kings. This time, a band played lively music and the crowd was exuberant and boisterous.

Rudi was ebullient and went around embracing everyone, even Jake. "Hey, buddy! Glad you could come. Isn't that woman fantastic?"

"Which one? Yolanda or Brit?"

"Hey, that's good! Both, of course!"

"The show was great," Brit added. "The public is going to love it!"

Yolanda joined them. "You two weren't offended, were you? I didn't mean to make fun of you—"

"Yes, you did," Brit said with a shrewd smile. "And we loved every minute of it."

"So, how's the movie going?" Rudi asked.

"Not bad. We go on location next week."

"And what about when it's over?"

There was a moment's pause when no one spoke. Then Jake
said casually, "Oh, well proba
bly move to Flagstaff, get married, settle down and have four kids."

Yolanda leaned forward. "Run that by me again. Did you say you two were going to get married?"

Brit beamed. "Yes, but I’ll probably finish college before the kids. I've always liked history, but I think that, in light of what Jake does, anthropology would be best for me. That way, we can complement a project from both angles."

"Congratulations, bud," Rudi said shaking Jake's hand and hugging Brit.

Yolanda hugged them both. Then she walked on stage and interrupted the band in her un-abashed manner. "Attention, everyone! I have an announcement. There's going to be a grand wedding to go with my Grand Comedy, and all this came out of one little accidental trip to the grandest place down in the earth. Break out the champagne for a celebration!"

Jake pulled Brit closer and kissed her. "Grand is right."

"As right as it'll ever get," she murmured. In her heart, she knew that Jake would be her ever-lasting love. He was truly a wonderful and rare breed.

Knife Wing and I married in the Zuni tradition. We loved each other deeply. He cared for Sara, as much as any father could, even though she was not his blood child. When our son was born, Knife Wing was very proud. All the days of his life, Knife Wing loved me genuinely and beautifully. He was truly a rare breed and wonderful man to love
.

THE END
.

Here are recipes for foods Jake, Brit, and the Romeros ate in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. These are foods the Native Americans might have eaten as well.

Nopalitos

These vegetables are highly nutritious. Choose the new spring growth which is the most tender of the prickly pear pads. Wearing gloves for hand protection, scrape the stickers off the pads with a sharp knife. Wash the pads. Parboil them in salted water along with an onion about 20 minutes. Drain, salt  and pepper and use in scrambled eggs, a salad, along with other vegetables, or with meat.

Black Bean Salad

4 cups black beans

1 medium red onion, minced

1 medium red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

4 large tomatoes, chopped or sliced

1/8 cup cilantro, minced

¼ cup Mexican goat cheese or feta cheese

Rinse canned beans before using. Put all ingredients into a bowl, crumble cheese over all and add a vinaigrette dressing to taste.

Green Corn Chili Soup

½ cup green chiles

1 ½ qts. Chicken broth

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, pressed or minced

¾ tsp. cumin seed

2 cups corn kernels

2 – 3 large tomatoes, cored and diced

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken

2 fresh limes, sliced

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

Combine broth, onion, garlic, cumin and corn. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until the flavors are blended, about 15 minutes. Stir in the tomato and chicken and cook on low heat another 10 minutes. Add the green chiles and top with shredded cheese and cilantro. Serve with lime slices.

Recipes from Corazon Contento, Sonoran Recipes and Stories from the Heart, Madeline Gallego Thorpe and Mary Tate Engels, Texas Tech University Press.

Mary Tate Engels, author of more than 30 romance novels, soon to be on e
books at Amazon
, also has two non-fiction southwest history books with Texas Tech University Press: Tales from Wide Ruins, Jean and Bill Cousins, Traders; and Corazon Contento – Sonoran Recipes and Stories from the Heart, co-authored with Madeline Gallego Thorpe. She has three sons, two granddaughters, has raised a wolf in her back yard, and currently has two black cats for good luck.

Connect with me online at: www.marytateengels.com