Secrets of the Anasazi

by Sky Whitehorse

  Roy backed down the driveway and put on his shades. "Only 741 miles to go."

  4. Winds of Change

  The colors of the evening Arizona sky rapidly changed over the Grand Canyon. A marvelous neon pink and peach transformed into a technicolor lavender and rose bliss with beams that broke through the clouds.

  A Native American woman with wild wisps of wiry white hair sat with her eyes closed outside of the Bed and Breakfast Escape at a café table under an umbrella that shaded her from the scorching sun. Her time-ravaged skin spoke of her old age.

  A tall Native American man stood next to the porch, grooming his chocolate and white horse. His skin was bronzed and weather-worn from his years of outdoor toil. He wore blue jeans, a plaid shirt with ripped off sleeves and collar, and a red bandana. Loose strands of his long black and silver hair flailed in the breeze. His features were chiseled and brusque. A long flute hung on a rope around his neck. One small braid hung from his left side with feathers clinging to it.

  "Ahote," the woman said, sitting up straight.

  "Yes, Oriel?" He stroked the brush down the horse’s back.

  "They're coming tonight." She took a sip from her glass of iced water.

  "Tonight? Your son-in-law said they wouldn't be on their way until tomorrow.” There was a slow and rhythmic pattern to the way he spoke.

  "Yes, there must have been a change in plan. They’re on their way. Four more hours.” The breeze made her thin cotton shirt flap. “I feel it." She spread her fingers over her knees, leaning forward.

  "It will be difficult for them to find this place in the dark of night. Call for me when they are near. Warren and I have work in my hut." Ahote mounted his horse and headed for the stables where there were twenty stalls and a fenced-in area. The hut was next to the stables on the right-hand side, with dried palm leaves covering the roof. There was a place for a bonfire in front of the hut with logs to sit on. The area was a half mile from the hotel. Not far behind it was the mouth of the Grand Canyon’s gaping slot canyons that appeared burnt orange in the sunlight.

  Oriel waited by the front steps as night fell over the distant canyons. She sat on the stoop, motionless. She honed into her thoughts until the black of night swept over the desert-like sands and the stars gleamed brightly in the night sky. Her wit sharpened as her clairvoyance came to her. "Ahote?" she shouted.

  Ahote emerged from the hut, walking with his horse by his side, and holding a lantern.

  "They are close. Let us greet them." Oriel stood with her hands out to feel for the brown and white horse. She found the saddle by touch. She was small in stature but mounted the horse on her own.

  "It is dark," Ahote said, getting behind Oriel in the saddle.

  "In my world it is always dark," she replied, petting the horse.

  "Hototo, hup," Ahote called to the horse as he tapped his heel in his flank. They trotted up a rocky dirt road for about ten minutes until they reached another dirt road. "Whoa," Ahote said as he pulled back on the reins. Hototo stopped at a sign with an arrow pointing west that read Bed and Breakfast Escape. “There’s a strawberry moon tonight.”

  "I love the strawberry moon.” She combed her fingers through Hototo’s bristly mane. “My mother used to trade her baskets for the first fruits of the season. My brothers and sisters would sit and eat them all. They’re all gone now,” she whispered.

  Ahote placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “They are around the bend,” Oriel said as the wind kicked up.

  A trail of dust could be seen in the distance. Ahote dismounted and held his lantern high. A red sports car appeared. "You never cease to amaze me," he said.

  "They are here, are they not?"

  "They are," he replied.

  ⭐⭐⭐

  The moon was full and pink in the rearview mirror.

  "We're almost there," Roy said as they rounded a rocky corner.

  "Finally.” Maya could hardly wait to stretch her legs after being cooped up in the little sports car for eight hours with only one pit stop along the way.

  "Hey, there's someone over there," Roy said, "and he’s holding a lantern."

  "And someone’s sitting on a horse," Maya said.

  Roy squinted as he attempted to get a better glimpse. "Hey, that's Ahote, the guy that trains the horses, and Grandma’s on the horse.” Roy cursed under his breath. “Dad must have told her we were coming. He always spoils everything.”

  “Stop being a grouch.” She slipped her shoes on as Roy rolled to a stop. They got out.

  “Good evening,” Ahote said. His chiseled features were prominent in the lantern light, as if carved of wood. His skin was the color of a perfectly toasted marshmallow.

  “Hey, nice to see you again,” Roy said. They hugged, slapping each other on the back.

  “Hi,” Maya said, helping her grandmother down from the horse, then showering her with hugs and kisses. “Grandma! I’m so excited to see you.”

  “I have missed you.” She squeezed her close.

  Maya hugged Ahote. He smelled of incense and smoke.

  Roy hugged Grandma and yelled into her ear, "Grandma, you ride back in the car with me. You'll be more comfortable. Maya can ride back with Ahote."

  "I'm blind, but I can hear just fine, Leroy," she replied. She walked to the passenger side of the car.

  He put his hands in his pockets. “Sorry.”

  Grandma grasped the top of the car door. "I need to tell you kids something before you get to your rooms.”

  They turned to face her.

  “Never open your windows after dusk."

  Maya and Roy exchanged glances.

  That was random.

  Roy twirled his finger clockwise around his ear so only Maya could see. "Okay, Grandma, we won't." He winked at Maya and tried to grab his grandmother’s arm to guide her into her seat.

  "I'm not crippled. I can do it myself," she croaked, pulling her arm away from him.

  Roy shrugged and mouthed the words, "Tough granny."

  "I heard that," Oriel said.

  They raised their eyebrows.

  “Roy means well, Grandma.” Maya chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

  Oriel got into the car and shut the door.

  Maya approached Hototo. She grabbed the saddle and put her foot into the stirrup, but the horse was high. She tried to raise herself up, but it was more difficult than it looked.

  "Let me help." Ahote held her hand while she tried to step up. She tried to swing one leg over the horse's back and realized it was too short to reach. Ahote hoisted her onto the saddle. Hototo was large and she hadn't ridden a horse since the last time she had visited years ago. She stroked his bristly mane. Ahote got on behind her.

  "Hup," he said as he tapped Hototo's flank. The horse began at a trot. Ahote gave two more taps and they began cantering.

  The stars and moon were like a welcoming party. In the city, they were never this bright. Roy started the engine and two headlights gleamed behind them. Maya’s hair whipped behind her. Her bottom lifted off the saddle. The reins jingled in motion and the clop-clop-clop of hooves sounded. Ahote gave one more tap and Maya froze as she felt Hototo's body lift from the ground. She leaned back into Ahote's chest, wide-eyed.

  "Does this frighten you, young one?" he laughed.

  Her jaw locked. She nodded.

  "Whoa," Ahote called, pulling back on the reins. Hototo slowed to a canter.

  As they rounded a wall of rock, the Bed and Breakfast Escape came into view. It was as large as she remembered it, with nostalgic new features, like the porch with tables for outdoor picnicking and large glass doors. It still resembled a vintage cobblestone castle; the only things missing were a mote and a drawbridge with crocodiles. There were turrets on each corner of the building with black, cone-shaped roofs. The outdoor porch lights lit up its prestigious rocky exterior.

  The horse headed toward the stables just east of the hotel.

  "I'd forgotten how much I missed this place."
Maya closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. "The horses, the canyons, the river... When I was little, I used to think there was magic here." She glanced over her shoulder with a smile.

  Ahote arched an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  She laughed. "Well, I was twelve at the time, but there is still something about this place."

  "If you are not too tired, you can say hello to Warren. He's working late tonight," he said as they approached.

  She felt a flutter in her stomach at the mention of his name. The last time she had visited, her chest felt tight every time Warren was near her. He was older than her by two years, and was always helping his father with the horses, or giving people tours of the canyon. She tried not to appear overly excited. “Why not?”

  5. New Beginnings

  Ahote put the flute from around his neck to his lips and played three notes. Maya watched in awe as Hototo trotted into an empty stall, drooped his head, and snorted. She had never seen a horse obey a flute.

  The screen door to the hut was next to the stable on the end, and a light was on inside. They passed barrels of grains, bales of hay, and rakes. As Maya headed toward the door, a familiar horse stuck his nose out to be petted. He was pure white, and his big brown eyes beckoned her to him. "Fearless!" She smiled, hugging him like a long-lost friend, and stroked his soft muzzle. He flicked his tail with happiness.

  "Fearless Legend has a big day ahead of him tomorrow. A lot of horseback riding," Ahote said. "He needs his rest." He motioned for Maya to follow him into the dimly lit hut. As they walked through the door, the first thing Maya noticed was the locked medicine cabinet with glass doors. It had jars and bottles with handwritten labels on them. She remembered her mother telling her to stay away from it. Herbal remedies and poisons that were gathered by spiritual leaders for healing were dangerous, and mother didn’t believe they were good for anything. Maya passed them by.

  In the south corner lay several dried ears of corn stacked two feet high, and each of the four walls had different multi-colored ears hanging from it. On the north wall, a dream catcher hung in the open window. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, with its large wooden circle, white webbing resembling thin cotton strands, and feathers dangling from the bottom. Maya reached to touch it.

  "Ahem." Ahote arched an eyebrow at her.

  Maya withdrew her hand, smoothing it over with a smile. She noticed Warren sitting at a table with four chairs around it. He wore his red Cardinals cap backwards. In his large hand he held a small, fluorescent yellow frog with black feet, and in the other was a pointed stick, which he rubbed on the frog's belly. Several frogs were in a cage on the table.

  "Maya!" Warren said, looking over his shoulder. His voice was a baritone. Putting the frog down, he got to his feet. He sterilized his hands and held his arms open to her. She felt her heartbeat quicken as she stepped forward and bridged the gap between them, hoping she didn’t seem desperate to cling to him. He enveloped her in a hug. His muscular arms were firm around her waist; she felt a thrill run through her core as her cheek touched his neck.

  Warren was a peach she wanted to devour, the kind that made her mouth water after slicing into it. His bare arms were smooth against hers. He was chiseled and brusque like his father, and had a square jaw and sharp cheekbones.

  She remembered him constructing the hut and the fence around the stables the last time she had visited. He dug holes for the planks, hammered, carried wood, and handed the palm leaves up to his father on the roof. He had been raised doing hard labor. Roy was the same age, and he had never worked like Warren. His father always kept him busy and he never complained. He was either taking care of the horses or giving guests rock climbing lessons. He volunteered for the least favorable tasks, especially when he was helping others, putting their needs before his. He was like no other boy she knew, a compassionate giant.

  “It’s been so long,” he said, pulling away.

  Her eyes met his. She admired their caramel color, and how large and round they were.

  She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt and said the first thing that came to mind. "What are you doing with the frogs?"

  "Making blow darts." He lifted one of the sticks and added a feather-like flight to the end of the shaft.

  "The frogs secrete natural poison through their skin that protects them from predators," Ahote added. He put his hand into the aquarium, and one of them crawled onto his finger. He took one of the points and rubbed it on the frog’s belly. "There is no harm done to the frogs in the process of collecting the poison. We make the darts in case of animal attacks. In this severe land, most wildlife can be dangerous."

  "What kind of animals are there?" Maya asked, leaning over to examine the frogs.

  "Not the frogs. Those come from South America. Here we have eleven types of rattlesnakes, coyotes, and Gila monsters. You must always keep watch where you step. There are scorpions as well. They like the river." Ahote put the sharp tip down and sanitized his hands.

  She nodded. "Have you ever been attacked?"

  "One time, something grabbed onto my clothes. It was dark and I felt deep scratches slicing up and down my back. I tried to punch its lights out." Ahote's eyes opened dramatically while making a fist.

  Her eyebrows lifted a notch. "What was it?"

  His eyes bored into her. "It turned out my shirt was caught on a creosote evergreen bush."

  Maya laughed.

  He raised his chin. “You do not want to tangle with them. Not only are the animals treacherous, but the heat can be deadly. Wherever you go, make sure to bring water. Heat stroke can come over you quickly if you get dehydrated."

  Maya rubbed her eye.

  "Tired? Shall I show you to the front door, young one?" he asked.

  Her eyes averted to Warren. She watched as his Adam’s apple moved up and down as he swallowed, wishing there was an excuse to stay longer; but there wasn't one and it was late, so she nodded.

  Warren turned to her, relaxing his posture as he leaned against the table. “I’m glad you’re here for the summer.”

  She bit her lip. The way he spoke to her directly made her self-conscious. “You are?” Maya wanted to facepalm.

  “Sure. It’s always nice when friends visit.” He looked back at the frogs.

  “Right,” she said, trying not to show her disappointment. He’s already friend-zoning me. She winced. “Well, goodnight.”

  He gave her a brazen smile. “Goodnight.”

  She turned to Ahote.

  "This way," he said, opening the door, and walking outside. "Careful, watch where you step."

  Maya rolled her eyes as they strode along and then suddenly she felt something squish under her foot. She looked down to find her shoe immersed in a large pile of manure which clung to both sides. She shrugged. Ahote arched an eyebrow at her, then continued to the hotel. Maya followed, shaking her foot between steps.

  "The hotel has been sold out many nights this week. I hope you do not mind staying in the same room with your cousin, Chantal."

  "No, I don't mind at all!" She thought of all the fun things they could do: talk about their love life, have pillow fights, sit up watching romance movies. The list was endless. "I prefer it that way."

  "I suggest you rise early. The mornings and nights are hot… but the afternoons and evenings are sweltering. Best to get things done before the sun is at its peak."