"You do?" Eve smiled, how could one so young express love so easily.
"Is it all right to love him, mommy?"
"Yes darling, it is…"
"But he's an Indian isn't he?" Jane Ann asked.
"Yes, he is. Who told you he was an Indian?"
"Matthew. He likes him too." Jane Ann said sweetly. "What's an Indian Mommy?"
Eve smiled with understanding. "Well darling, there are many types of people in this world. And Indian is one of them."
"Are we Indians?"
"No…"
"I'd like to be an Indian."
"Why?" Eve asked curiously.
"'Cause I love Hawk. He takes care of us like a real daddy."
The truth from a baby's lips, Eve smiled.
"Yes, he does, but…sweetheart, some people might not understand our feelings for Hawk. Because he is an Indian, we can't share those feelings with others. Do you understand? And when the white people come around, we must not speak of him like that."
"Why mommy?" Jane Ann frowned.
"Because some people don't like Indians. They wouldn't understand how we feel. And we don't want anything to happen to Hawk."
"Okay mommy, I won't tell
."
"I know you won't, sweetheart."
"Mommy?"
"Yes darling."
"Do you love Hawk?"
Eve smiled into her precious daughter's face and nodded, knowing she could not lie. "I-I…Yes darling, I do."
"I'm glad." She clapped.
"Me too, darling, me too!"
But as Hawk and Matthew came back Hawk smiled at Jane Ann, "What are you so glad about."
"That I love you, and mommy loves you and Matthew loves you!" She smiled happily.
Eve started to stop her, but she couldn't think of how!
"Well, now, I love you too, Sweet Pea?"
"Do you love Matthew?" She asked as he picked her up in his arms.