Plant Them Deep

by Thurlo, Aimée

  Seeing them motion for her to come join them, Rose left Julian and walked over to talk to the men. “I’m glad you’re both here,” she said. “May we go inside the hogan to speak?”

  The hataaliis sat on the west side, the place of honor, and she sat in the north, as was customary for women. “I know the hataaliis have been on their guard, so I wanted to know if any of you have seen someone following you,” Rose said.

  Ben shook his head. “We were just discussing that particular problem. We’ve all seen the marks left by that little Army shovel, some very fresh, but no one suspicious is ever around by the time we get there. Sure we’ve seen neighbors in the area, and once or twice we’ve seen one of those white gas or oil company trucks, or a power plant service pickup, but they’re common sights these days.”

  “Although our patients are our first priority, we’ve all decided to take a more active role in trying to stop or prevent these thefts,” Clifford said. “We’re asking people we know and trust to keep an eye out for anyone who grows native medicinal plants in their garden and to call us if it appears that the garden has grown significantly in the past several weeks. If the thief is one of our own, we’ll find him.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Rose said. “I’m glad you thought of it.”

  Ben Tso stood up. “I have to travel to see a patient, so I have to be on my way. But please don’t get up. It was good seeing both of you again.”

  He walked out, and several moments later they heard his vehicle driving off. Rose remained where she was.

  “What’s on your mind, Mother?”

  “I’m worried about your son and his new bicycle. If you’d bought him a horse instead of that thing, he could still have had fun, but at the same time he would have learned about responsibility. There would have been balance in his life. With a bicycle …” Rose shook her head. “Do you realize how far he’s going and the trouble a young boy can get into by himself?”

  Clifford nodded and exhaled softly. “A bicycle costs a lot less than feeding and caring for a horse. That’s why I chose it. But I require him to wear a safety helmet, and have forbidden him to go anywhere that’s not within sight of the hogan. Yesterday he apparently rode up onto the mesa between your home and here and saw someone wandering around the canyon searching for something. I’ve been uneasy about it ever since. For all I know, it could have been the plant thief, and if the man saw my son …”

  “Did your son recognize the person, or remember what he looked like?”

  “He said he only saw him from far away. He was about to go up and talk to him when he saw a coyote, got scared, and came back home.”

  “A coyote?”

  He nodded slowly. “That’s what he said, but I have a feeling that what he saw was a dog. I’ve searched the area looking for coyotes, and I’ve found no indication of any.” He pursed his lips and remained silent for a few moments. “I’ve asked my wife to go visit her mother for a few weeks and take him with her. They’re leaving in a few hours. It’s the safest course of action.”

  “You’re right,” Rose said. “I know it’s hard for you to send them away, but I don’t think you had another choice.”

  Clifford looked up at her. “And how have you been doing without my sister and her daughter around? Is it too quiet at home now?”

  “I’ve missed them, but I’ve managed, even though I’ve had a few problems.”

  “Like what?”

  His eyes grew wide as she explained about the break-in, then added the news of the death of Charlie Dodge, and her fears that the plant thief might have caused it.

  “You should have told me right away, Mother. I would have come over and stayed with you.”

  “I’m not a child, son. Don’t treat me like one. I deserve to be shown more respect than that. I can take care of myself—and I have.”

  “I meant no disrespect. But I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Nothing will,” Rose said confidently. “Two is there with me, and I have a telephone. Tomorrow your sister will return as well. I’ll have police watching me hang out the laundry if she has anything to say about it.”

  Clifford nodded. “She doesn’t mean to interfere as much as she wants to protect you. It’s her nature.”

  Rose nodded. “And it’s mine to follow my own path.”

  Hearing the sound a vehicle, Clifford went to the door of the hogan. “It’s my patient.”

  Rose stood and walked to the door of the hogan. “I’ll leave you to your work, then.”

  As Rose climbed into her truck, she saw Clifford greet the middle-aged Navajo woman who’d just arrived. Rose was proud of her son. He was using his healing gifts to care for the tribe. She was proud of her daughter too, but dealing with Ella had always been much more difficult. Her daughter had always taken pride in going her own way. Danger, to her, was simply an interesting part of life, and certainly not something that would ever deter her from doing what she felt was right.

  Suddenly Rose realized that she’d described herself as well, and the thought irritated her. “Ella, you’re a difficult daughter even when you’re not here,” she whispered to no one at all.

  Rose arrived alone at the chapter house meeting, which was scheduled to start after sundown. Men were outside talking and smoking, and kids were playing, running up and down the field behind the building, shouting back and forth.

  As she walked from her parked truck toward the double doors of the building, Herman appeared from behind a row of vehicles and came over to join her. “The Anglo professor came up to me a few minutes ago. He said that you’d invited him?”

  “Yes, I thought his presence as an authority would help me if any of the council members who are against my work decide to come tonight and challenge what I’ve done. I can ask the committee chairman to allow him to speak if it becomes necessary.”

  Among the crowd that had gathered there Rose caught glimpses of the Plant Watchers, and waved whenever she caught the attention of someone she recognized. “I wonder how all these people are going to fit inside the meeting room,” Rose commented. “I haven’t seen a crowd this large since the gambling issue came to a vote.”

  As Herman and she entered the crowded hall, Jane Jim came up. “We’ve saved a seat for you on the fifth row. It’s the only one left. News that the traditionalists would descend here today must have reached a lot of ears, and now the modernists and new traditionalists are streaming in just to keep things even. I’m sorry there isn’t another chair,” Jane said to Herman.

  “I’ll stand in the back with the overflow. I just hope they don’t have to send some of us outside because of the fire code problem.” Herman shrugged. “See you after the meeting?”

  Rose smiled and nodded. Hearing someone tap the speaker’s microphone, Jane led her to their chairs among the group of Plant Watchers and sat down.

  There was a brief introduction, a Navajo prayer, then the business at hand was brought to the forefront, leading with the situation with the Plant People. The new director of the nursery, who was chairing the meeting, presented an overview addressing the rumors, then opened the floor to questions or comments. Rose stood, and the committee chairman invited her to come up to the microphone at the front of the room.

  She reported briefly on her observations, then added, “We’re going to have to be careful with the plants that are scarce. Digging them up indiscriminately will have disastrous results.”

  There was a lengthy silence in the room as she returned to her seat. Then, just about the time she sat down, rumbles began to grow.

  One elderly woman she recognized as Lena Clani’s closest neighbor stood. “We’ve been taught from our childhood how to pick the plants we need. We ask the Plant People’s permission, and leave an offering, then we take only what is necessary. That has always been our way. But now we go in with shovels. I don’t blame the Plant People for not wanting to be around us anymore.”

  Another woman Rose recognized as one of the nurses at t
he hospital stood up as soon as Lena’s neighbor sat down. “Plants are plants. They come, they go, as we’ve seen during the cold winters and recent drought. We’re no longer living in the sixteenth century, so we can’t afford to hold on to outdated thinking. Why are we blaming people for natural events? Some plants eventually die off. That’s the way it is. If certain plants are really necessary for our spiritual and healing needs, then let’s grow them at the Navajo Forestry Department nursery. We can maintain them there, and make them available to those who feel they need them.”

  The woman was deliberately ignoring the work of the plant thief, and she lacked some basic plant knowledge as well, such as the fact that some plants needed special conditions not present at the nursery. But Rose had to admit that some of what she said had merit, at least in concept.

  She was about to support the basic concept when Maria Poyer stood up and took the floor. As Rose glanced in her direction, she noticed that Willie was sitting next to her. Before she could guess at the reason, Maria began speaking.

  “If some of the Plant People want to move away, wave them good-bye. We’ll develop more suitable plants, varieties that are more drought-resistant, better able to take the heat, with more nutritional value for us and our livestock, and with higher yields. We’ve always been poor because we refuse to take the knowledge that off-reservation schools teach and make it work for us. Clinging to the old ways simply because that’s what we’ve always done will only lead us in circles.”

  As she took her seat, Ellen Mihecoby stood up. Rose knew her. She was of the Lone Tree Clan, traditional enemies of her people. Rose would have sooner trusted a rabbit to deliver carrots than believe Ellen would do anything but work mischief here today.

  “We’ve heard Rose Destea tell us all that part of the problem is that plants are being overharvested. Now the traditionalists will look at the modernists, and vice versa, and everyone will blame everyone else. But the simple truth is this—only certain traditionalist groups are harvesting our native plants and using them for ceremonies or healing. If anyone’s overharvesting, that’s where we have to look. They know the best sites, and by their own admission, they’ve been all over the Rez searching for these plants. I can’t think of better suspects.”

  Rose stared at her, aghast. The woman had publicly accused her and the Plant Watchers. Seething, but determined not to let it get the best of her, Rose stood. “As traditionalists, we follow the ways that have been taught to us for generations. We learn as children to never take more than we need, nor would we ever harvest the best. Using an entrenching tool to gather up the plants root and all, often destroying two plants before a third is successfully removed, is not the traditionalist method. We are not inept, and if we wanted to take a plant, it would be done in such a skillful way that no one could ever detect it was gone. Anyone who understood our teachings would know that.”

  She looked over at Professor Hoff and saw him waving at her, obviously wanting the chance to speak. Rose also noticed Maria was looking at him and her expression indicated she was annoyed.

  Rose immediately asked the chairman’s permission to allow Hoff to make a comment, pointing out his extensive credentials relevant to the issue. There were a few groans from some in the gathering, but Willie was allowed to speak.

  In just a few sentences, Hoff mentioned his recent work with her, verifying her conclusions concerning the problems with local plants and expressing shock that anyone would believe Rose or the Plant Watchers would harm the tribe’s plant legacy.

  When Hoff sat back down, Rose was pleased to see Maria wouldn’t even look at him, she was so angry.

  Then, as several other people stood and spoke, the battle lines became fixed. It didn’t take long before the meeting became more of a shouting match than a discussion. Finally the committee president took the floor again.

  “Our prayer at the beginning of this meeting said that we’d come together to make things beautiful for each other. But look at what we’re doing. We’re dishonoring the land and the Plant People by arguing about them in this way.” The stern admonition brought an uneasy peace. “I vote that we close this meeting for tonight. Nothing good can come when everyone is angry.”

  The meeting adjourned promptly thereafter, and as everyone left the building, Rose saw Professor Hoff and Maria leaving together through the side door. Their body language suggested Maria was still upset with him; still, their obvious friendship made her uneasy.

  Deciding that the time to speak with them together had come, Rose headed for the same exit, but the moment she stepped outside, Ellen came up to her.

  “For what it’s worth, I really do think you should take a close look at your own people. Even if you’re innocent, the Plant Watchers and the hataaliis are the obvious suspects. I heard recently that two girls—granddaughters of two Plant Watchers—were caught trying to dig up jimsonweed. There was a boy with them too, and I understand that he comes from a traditionalist family. My daughter goes to Shiprock High School, and everyone’s talking about the incident. I believe you were the one who called it to the principal’s attention.”

  Rose’s heart sank. She’d suspected as much after hearing the boy say that he’d gotten the drawings from a book his mother kept at home. But she hadn’t wanted to believe it, and had shut the offending thought from her mind. Now, as Ellen confronted her with it, she knew it was the truth.

  “Children make their own choices,” Rose said sadly. “As parents, all we can do is our best. Traditionalist families face the same challenges as everyone else.”

  “When the kids from traditionalist families get caught between what they’re taught at home and the real world, trouble is bound to follow. Look at the mess created by something as simple as a plant book one of the parents kept,” Ellen replied.

  “Modernist families face problems with their children too, such as drinking and drugs,” Rose reminded.

  Ellen shook her head. “You’re just too stubborn about the old ways. You won’t even come to the church your own husband founded. You should, you know, if only out of respect for him. I go each Sunday and people still ask about you.”

  “Do you go to the Catholic church as well?” Rose asked.

  “Why? I’m not Catholic,” Ellen replied.

  “Nor do I belong to your church. So why can’t you understand that I chose a different path than my late husband?”

  Ellen was about to reply when she glanced to the far end of the parking lot and suddenly scowled. “I have to get going. My cousin parked next to me and I know how she drives. I don’t have insurance either … .” Ellen stormed away.

  With a sigh, Rose looked around, trying to remember where she’d parked her truck, when elderly Linda Bidtah came up to her. Rose greeted her in Navajo.

  “Do you really believe that someone is deliberately stealing our Plant People?” Linda asked.

  “Yes, I do, and in fact one of the areas that has been disturbed is not far from where you live. Have you seen any strangers hanging around or walking about?”

  Linda thought about it, then shook her head. “No, I’m sorry.”

  As Linda walked away, joining her family, Rose saw another traditionalist woman she knew and walked over to greet her. Arlene Allison lived in the area around Crystal, another of the ravaged sites.

  “You held your own very well inside,” Arlene praised as Rose came up.

  “Thank you,” Rose said. “I’m glad to see you and I’d like to ask you a question. Have you seen anyone hanging around out by where you live? There are several collection sites near you.”

  “I haven’t seen any strangers, and only a few of my neighbors,” she said, then lapsed into a thoughtful silence. Moments later, she spoke again. “Come to think of it, something a little unusual happened about a week ago. I saw a gas company truck parked in the middle of a field near the area where I graze my sheep. I figured he was either lost or had run out of gas, but when I decided to walk over and ask him if he needed help, he drove
off.”

  “Did you see the driver’s face?”

  “No, not clearly, I never got close, but he had one arm outside the driver’s-side window, and from the skin tone, I’m pretty sure he was Anglo.”

  As someone called out to Arlene, and the woman walked away, Rose looked around for Herman, but he was nowhere to be seen. Lost in thought, she began walking to her pickup. The appearance of a gas truck around Arlene’s house bothered her. She was almost certain that there were no gas lines around there. Everyone in that area used bottled gas or wood stoves. The gas truck shouldn’t have been there—unless the gas company was planning on putting in new lines, or a new gas well had been drilled nearby. Or maybe the tribe was planning some kind of new development. She made a mental note to check into it.

  Rose was about to get into her truck when Herman came over. “My nephews came to the meeting and have asked me to join them for some pie at the Totah Café. Why don’t you come with us?”

  Rose shook her head. “Thanks, but no. My daughter and granddaughter should be home soon and I want to see them both. I’ve missed them.”

  After saying good-bye to Herman, she got into her truck, glanced into the rearview mirror ready to back out, and saw Maria Poyer getting into Willie’s fancy SUV. On impulse, she decided to make another attempt to talk to them and maybe learn exactly what their relationship was.

  Rose waved, trying to get Professor Hoff’s attention, but he was focused on maneuvering past another vehicle and apparently didn’t see her. They sped off. Making up her mind to find out more about them, Rose started the truck and drove out of the parking lot.

  Maybe, after she got a chance to visit with her granddaughter, Ella would be able to give her some pointers on what to do next.

  FIFTEEN

  When Rose stepped inside the living room, Dawn leaped off the sofa and launched herself into her arms. Rose held her tightly, smelling the baby powder from Dawn’s recent bath and suddenly remembering how she’d done the same for Ella at that age. “I’m so glad to see you back home!”