Treasure of the Anasazi

by Michael R. Watson

  “We know. Now, please go away and leave us alone.”

  There was no way I was going to just turn and leave, knowing there was a small boy and young lady out here, alone for all I knew.

  “I was working nearby and saw the boy,” I turned to point to where I had been and turned back, “and became concerned that…” She was gone. I walked over to where she had been standing. There were no tracks in the sand. There was no evidence she had ever been there at all. I knew it wasn’t a hallucination. I was hot and tired, but I was sure I was still in control of my faculties. I searched the area as best I could but found nothing, but refused to be discouraged so easily. Now I was more curious than ever. I continued up the trail. There were the sounds of low, deep, guttural growls again, coming from somewhere in the brush ahead, indicating a large animal of some sort. I still couldn’t see anything, but it was enough to stop me in my tracks. Familiar with the animals in the area, my first impression was that it was a coyote, but I’d never heard any like that before. Besides, I’d always heard that coyote were skittish and rarely aggressive, unless cornered. I was out here alone, in an off-limits region of the park, which probably wasn’t a good idea anyway, but I had to know if they were all right, regardless of what Sarah had told me. As far as I knew she could have been the danger. Another growl came from off to my right. Then another one from my left. Evidently, a decision was being made for me. This was the end of the trail, at least for now. I needed help if I was going any further into the canyon. I decided to go back, collect my tools and report what I’d seen and heard to Sam at the park office. Once I turned back, the growls stopped.

  I had volunteered to examine, photograph and take measurements of the undocumented cliff dwellings. Today’s site was located along the East Rim near the Restricted Area, a few miles East of those open to the public. I offered my services to the Park Service whenever I could, between assignments for the Whitney Foundation. It was something I looked forward to and enjoyed, taking away a great deal of satisfaction. There were approximately six hundred known cliff dwelling sites on the park property, but only a small percentage had been properly documented. New discoveries were being made all the time, and there just wasn’t the time or manpower to do it right. Who knew how many more sites were waiting to be discovered in the shadows and brush covered alcoves.

  I pulled up to the Ranger Station and glanced at the thermometer hanging near the entrance as I went inside. It read 101 degrees F. Today, there was no breeze at all, making one think that it was even hotter. At least it was a dry heat, which made it slightly more bearable. The screen door slammed shut behind me.

  “Hi, Julie. Is Baker around?”

  “You know Samantha doesn’t like it when you call her that, and would you mind shutting the door, please? You’re letting all the cool air out.”

  The swamp cooler in the window struggled to keep the outer office at a tolerable temperature.

  I smiled and closed the door. “Yes ma’am.” It was amazing how much cooler it was inside with the use of just a swamper in the window. Baker was Ranger Samantha Baker, or more accurately, Acting Ranger. She had stepped in temporarily to fill the shoes of Ranger Emitt Barnes while he was on extended leave, recovering from being shot in the shoulder a few weeks earlier. The best the authorities had been able to figure out was that someone had accidentally mistaken him for a coyote in the poor light at dusk. No one had come forward, and whether accidental or not, it was still illegal to hunt on park property. The slug had gone completely through Emitt’s shoulder, so there was only a suspicion of what caliber had been used. The wound was consistent with one made by a 30/30 bullet, a popular caliber used for coyote hunting. Fortunately, he was able to get back to the Ranger station on his own. He made several more failed attempts to call Sam on the radio before reaching her by telephone at home. Instinctively, she had turned her radio off when getting ready for bed. Answering his call, she immediately called the ambulance to meet her at the park office. Emitt was found unconscious sitting up, head back in his favorite swivel chair. The doctor in the ER had determined there shouldn’t be any permanent damage to his shoulder, but he would be down for a while.

  Samantha had been Emitt’s right hand, so to speak, for ten years and knew the place almost as well as he did. This opportunity, even on a temporary basis, would probably be her only chance to be head Fred around the place, even though it wasn’t the way she wanted to get it. The Park Service hadn’t seen fit as yet to allow women to take on the lead role of Ranger, but on a temporary basis, she was made Acting or Interim Ranger. She was determined to prove to the higher powers in Washington that women were just as capable as a man.

  “No, she just left for the café,” answered Julie. “She should be back before too long. Do you want me to have her give you a call?”

  “No. I think I’ll run on up there. There’s something she needs to know about right away. The Mancos Café? Right?” Julie nodded.

  I hopped into my jeep and drove the ten minutes to the Mancos Café. As I got out, the smell of grilling beef hit my nose. Oh, that smelled good. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was, but I usually avoided a big meal in the heat of the day. I found Baker sitting in a corner booth near a small oscillating fan, having a late lunch. I guessed from the perspiration on her face and neck and the stains coming through her uniform, she had been working outside. She looked up as I walked toward her table. She slowly shook her head.

  “Trader, can’t you see I’m eating? Go away!” she ordered.

  I slid into the booth opposite her anyway.

  “Baker,…”

  “Ranger Baker,” she corrected.

  “You’re not going to take this Ranger thing too far are you? You know Emitt will be back one of these days.”

  “What do you mean by taking it too far? I plan to take it as far as I need to. I’m not going to let Emitt down. And for your information, I talked to him this morning and he may not be back. He’s sixty-two and thinks it may be time to pack it in.”

  Marlene, the waitress, in a voice loud enough to be heard over the sound of clinking silverware, clattering plates and glasses, and customers socializing, asked, “Jack, iced tea?”

  I smiled and nodded.

  I turned my attention back to Baker. “Well, if he does, I’d like to see you take over permanently; however, we both know that brings up another issue.”

  “Yeah, I know. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

  “I’m here because I saw a couple of people out by my worksite today, in the Restricted Area. I thought you should know, but if you don’t care anything about it I’ll be on my way.” I slid to the edge of the booth and stood up, ready to leave, even though I had no intention of doing so.

  “How do you know someone is in the Restricted Area unless you were in there too? Did you cross the fence?”

  I hesitated to answer. I was going to be in trouble regardless of what I said.

  “I followed a small boy. He showed up where I was working. I thought he might be out there alone, and I knew he shouldn’t be there.”

  She gave me an exasperated look and signed. “Okay. Sit down. Where exactly were you working today?”

  “East Rim, towards the south end of White’s Canyon.”

  Baker flashed on the memory of it being near the area where Emitt was shot. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck. Now he had her full attention. She had never been totally convinced the shooting was an accident.

  “That is the Restricted Area. How many people did you say you saw?” asked Baker.

  “I only saw two. First, there was a small Indian boy, but he took off before I could talk to him. I was catching up to him when I came to the fence and a no trespassing sign.”

  “And you crossed anyway? That’s just like you,” said Baker.

  “Didn’t you hear me? There was a little boy out there. I think… no, I know you would have done the same thing if you’d seen him.”

  “Okay, okay. Go ahe
ad.”

  “I didn’t see the boy anymore after that. I tried to follow, but I lost his trail.”

  “You said a couple of people. Who else?”

  “There was this young Indian woman. She appeared in front of me when I was trying to follow the boy.”

  “What do you mean she ‘appeared’ in front of you?”

  “Just that. All of a sudden she was just there, asked me to leave, then disappeared without a trace, not even a footprint.”

  “It all sounds a bit peculiar to me. How long were you out in the sun?”

  “I’m telling you I saw her.”

  “You’d better not be pulling my leg. It’s too hot out there for a wild goose chase.”

  “I’m not foolin’ around. I just thought you should know. There was something else.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I heard low, rumbling growls from brush all around me. There was no way I was going any further. I couldn’t see anything, so I don’t know what it was or how many there were, but it sounded like a large animal from the deep guttural sounds. You know that feeling you get when you think you’re being watched? The sensation of hairs rising on the back of your neck? Well, that’s exactly what I felt. I couldn’t see them, but I knew they were watching me. I backed away and took off for the fence as fast as I could. I didn’t hear any growls again, but I still sensed I wasn’t alone.”

  “Probably just coyote. You probably wandered too close to a den and they were just giving you a warning.”

  “I know what coyote sound like. These were not coyote or none like I’d ever heard before. Besides, they’re usually skittish and go out of their way to avoid human contact. That’s what was so strange. These animals sounded aggressive. Anyway, I thought you should know about the people out there. That’s the main reason why I’m here.”

  “If you got too close to a den, they probably would be aggressive. Nevertheless, there still shouldn’t be anyone in that area. Can you take me out there and show me?”

  Raising my eyebrows and forcing an exaggerated grin, “Why sure, Baker. I’d like that. It’s been awhile since we’ve been alone together.”

  “Knock it off, Trader.”

  Marlene set down the glass of iced tea.

  “Thanks,” I said as I winked at her. She returned a smile.

  “Really?” asked Baker. I shrugged.

  “So, let’s get going,” said Baker.

  “You mean right now? You haven’t even finished your lunch yet.”

  “I’ve lost my appetite.”

  “And I suppose that’s my fault? It’s still awfully hot out there and I just got my iced tea.”

  “Bring it with you. Remember, you came to me. So, let’s go. I want to find out what’s going on out there before it gets dark. Meet me at the office. You can leave your jeep there. We’ll ride out there together.”

  * * *

  A couple of booths away sat three men, Billy Hightower and his younger brothers Donny and Daryl, pretending to mind their own business while listening intently to everything Jack and Samantha said. They too had an interest in what went on in that part of the park. Their reputation was less than respectable according to anyone who had any dealings with them. As far as anyone could prove, they weren’t a violent bunch, but if there was a buck to be made, legal or not, they had their hand in it. If you’ve heard the term ‘questionable-characters,’ then you have a pretty good idea about the brothers. However, word was that they would do anything for each other. You didn’t cross one without consequences from the others.

  After Jack and the Ranger left, the three followed them out the door. The brothers piled into their pickup with Daryl behind the wheel. They sat with the engine idling until after the Ranger’s jeep had pulled onto the highway.

  Chapter Three

  “Follow them, but not too closely,” instructed Billy. “We don’t want them to know we’re back here. If there’s someone near one of our sites, we need to know who and what they’re up to. We have a sweet deal going on here, so no one better be sticking their nose in our business. For their sake, anyway.”

  “What if they are?” asked Donny.

  “Do you want someone interfering with our business?” asked Billy.

  “No, but I don’t want to see anyone get hurt either.”

  “You let me worry about that. I’ll make you a promise, Donny. We won’t do anything to hurt anyone unless we don’t have a choice. Okay?”

  That seemed to make Donny feel better. When people met Donny, their first impression was that he appeared to be a little slow, but that wasn’t the case at all. Granted, he was a little introverted and timid at times, but that was a result of the way his big brothers treated him. So much so, he even began to doubt himself. His brothers hadn’t intentionally been cruel, it was just the way they were, probably something that had rubbed off of their old man. They just didn’t know any better. The fact is all three remained a tightly knit group. They always looked out for each other, especially since their pa had been sent off to prison ten years earlier. Their Mother had died from cancer while they were all still relatively young. They had special memories of how beautiful and loving she was. One of their favorite memories was of her reading to them every night. Always smiling, she was constantly busy doing something around the house. No matter how busy she was, she was always there when any one of them needed her. They didn’t remember ever seeing her just sitting around. She always seemed to find something to do to keep her hands busy and that was the way she liked it. After she was gone they would wonder how she ever got together with their pa. They seemed to have been complete opposites. If opposites actually do attract, then this was a perfect example.

  The boys had been sneaking into the Mesa Verde Park since they were teenagers, exploring and collecting souvenirs. Now that they were older, they knew their way around pretty well, and their adventures had transitioned into a profitable little business. There was a high demand for the artifacts they removed from the park. Over the years they had built up a solid list of unscrupulous clients. Though some may say it wasn’t the proper path, their pa had taught them how to survive, continuing in the family business. From years of poking around the park and the surrounding area, the brothers knew the roads better than anyone else, except maybe for Emitt. It was impossible for the limited resources of the Park Service to patrol and protect all six hundred known sites within the eighty-one square miles of the park. Of course, that didn’t even take into account all the sites still to be discovered.

  * * *

  I followed Sam straight to the park office from the café, parked my jeep, and got in with her. As the crow flies, the site was about four miles south and east from the Ranger’s Station. However, it wasn’t going to be quite that easy. The dirt road, which was more like a jeep trail, led us in every direction of the compass including back to the north. It was rough, dusty and slow going. It took us almost thirty minutes to get near the site where I had been working earlier, including a short drive along an animal trail that led us to the edge of an impassable ravine. I told Sam we would have to walk the rest of the way.

  * * *

  “Daryl, I told you not to get too close,” said Billy, a bit irritated. “Pay attention! Didn’t you see their brake lights come on?”

  “Look! They just turned up ahead. They’re heading for the Restricted Area,” said Daryl.

  “I can see that,” said Billy, “but there’s no reason to get excited just yet. Pull over here and stop. We’ll let them get a bit further ahead. We don’t want them to see our dust trail.”

  Billy was the oldest of the brothers and the self-proclaimed and undisputed leader, as he liked to think, the brains of the family. It was a fact that the other two looked to Billy for guidance.

  They waited about five minutes, then Billy said, “Let’s go, Daryl, but not too fast. We don’t know when we’ll actually come up on them. Both of you keep your eyes open and stay alert.”

  “I’m getting a bad feel
ing, Billy. Maybe we should go back,” said Daryl.

  “No. We’re not going back so just keep going. We’ll be okay. Slow down and get ready to stop just below this next ridge. Okay. Stop right here. I just want to run up there and take a look over the top. You two stay here.”

  Billy jumped out of the truck, leaving the door open, stooped over as he crept toward the ridge. He heard the truck door shut. He turned around to see both brothers following right behind. He held up his finger to his lips and signaled for them to keep down.

  “What are you two doing? I told you to stay put.”

  “We want to see, too,” said Donny.

  “Okay, just keep down and stay quiet. Can you do that Donny?”

  “Quit talking to me like I’m a child. I’m a grown man, Billy. And…”

  “Okay, okay. Just do what I do.”

  Billy got down on his belly to crawl to the top of the ridge. Donny crouched down, touching the hot sand with his hands.

  “Billy, the sand’s too hot!” he cried out, jumping back up, wiping the sand from his red hands.

  “If Daryl and I can take it, so can you. Now, get down.”

  Donny watched as his brothers scraped away the top layer of sand before placing their hands and knees. He smiled and nodded.

  They crawled up to the crest of the ridge to a point where they could see. They panned the horizon ahead, Daryl with the binoculars.

  “There!” said Daryl, pointing. “At about 2:00 o’clock. See ‘em? They’re outside the jeep, walking down that ravine.” Daryl handed the binoculars to Billy.

  Billy adjusted the focus. A few seconds later, “I see ‘em, headed straight for one of our best sites.”

  “What are we gonna do now?” asked Donny.

  “We’re just going to keep our distance and watch ‘em. Daryl, pull the truck behind those junipers, and we’ll follow on foot from here. Grab the canteen while you’re at it.”

  * * *