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plants and packed them in a dirt pouch. Since they ate with the families wherever they stayed, they didn’t need to take much food, and no bedding, so he had more room for gifts. Each family received a small strawberry plant or two with instructions on how to grow them, but he made them promise that, as their plants created new ones, they would also share. The people were always appreciative of this contribution to their small gardens. The meager homes they stayed in usually had only one bedroom and the main living quarters, so the hosts had always insisted he take the one bedroom. Now that she was with him, he insisted she take the bedroom and he slept in the living quarters with the family. “Besides,” he laughed, “I’ve slept on those beds, and I’m sure I can do just as well on the floor.” She had to admit he really had a point there. She was amazed, however, at the things she found she could sleep on after a long day of riding. When dining with these poor families, their fare was always simple, but prepared perfectly. There would be fresh vegetables from the garden, coarse, ground bread hot from the hearth, and if lucky, chicken or some kind of roast pork. She had no doubt they were served the very best the family had, and the food was always extremely delicious even if it was simple. In fact, Louise decided the simplicity of it was what made it so good. After dinner, Alexander did something else that drew her heart to him. He would go to his saddlebag and pull 77