“Good thing we got these in this week. Temps are supposed to drop next week. Kiyaya won’t have to burn as much wood either come winter,” Flirt said and stood back and looked at the front of the house.
“The new roof will help, too,” I said and turned when I heard the truck turning in.
“At least we didn’t have to work and listen to that trio. It was a good idea telling them they should go to the casino. Perfect timing on our part.”
“Thanks, brother, I thought so.” I patted Flirt’s shoulder. “I appreciate the help.” Then I set the tool case on the porch. I’d pack it away in the truck later before Flirt and my dad left for the motel.
“Anytime, you know that. We heading back in the morning?” Flirt asked as Kiyaya, Mac, and my dad started to get out of the truck.
“Yeah, we can head out as soon we hitch the trailer after you and my dad get here in the morning.”
“Sounds good.”
I looked at Mac as she walked toward me. The smile on her face was huge.
“I won two hundred and fifty dollars,” Mac said when she reached me.
“That’s great,cariño. Did you win at poker, blackjack, or slots?”
“Oh, she hit on the slots alright. A penny slot machine,” my dad griped.
“Don’t get all snippy because you played poker and lost.”
“Because you kept coming by and asking how I was doing.”
“Well, if me coming by made you lose, why didn’t you win when I left?”
Kiyaya walked by me and Flirt. “I’m going to lay down. Those two makes this old Indian’s ears feel like they are bleeding.” He opened the door and closed it behind him.
“Was the chase to lock her down, worth it?” Flirt asked as my dad and Mac continued to jab at each other.
“Every minute of it. Going to sound sappy but being with her is better than I imagined it would be.”
I watched and listened, finding humor with my dad and Mac going back and forth. Mac gave as good as she got. And from the crinkling of the skin at the corner of my dad’s eyes, I knew he was enjoying their verbal duel.
“Are we sure this truckis going to make it back?” Mac asked as we started back toward the house.
Flirt and my dad had taken off to the motel. Flirt wanted to clean up, and instead of coming back to have dinner at Kiyaya’s, he and my dad said they’d grab something to eat closer to the motel.
While Kiyaya napped, I cleaned up, and then Mac and I drove to the grocery. I wanted to restock a few things for Kiyaya before we left tomorrow.
“It will be fine. I checked stuff out and changed the oil when I was here eight weeks ago.”
“What is he even doing with the truck? He mentioned on the car ride over to the casino that he doesn’t drive.”
“Yeah, Suni takes him when she has to go.”
“Then why not get rid of the truck?”
“Because he likes having it in case something would happen that he needs a vehicle for,” I said as we came to a stoplight. I looked to my right and noticed the building that sat on the corner had a sign on it that read ICWA.
I turned and pulled into the parking lot. “It won’t take long. I want to check on two boys I met the last time I was here. This is where the caseworker is that was with them.”
“Oh, this is like the reservation’s own social services,” Mac said, and I nodded.
“Yes, they are involved when children from the res go into the system. The boys were placed in different homes while they wait for one family to open with two spots available. Mrs. Stone, the caseworker, said they would do their best to put them together. I wanted to check if that happened, “I said and got out, then walked around to help Mac out.
“Why did they go into the system in the first place?” Mac asked as we walked into the building.