by Verna Clay
Thomas clasped the General's hand. "You too, sir."
The General said matter-of-factly, "About that escort to the red rocks…the fort is already short-handed and we need every man available. Looks like–"
Thomas lifted a hand. "I understand, sir. No need to apologize."
General Crook slapped Thomas on the back and said, "The Captain assures me there hasn't been any trouble north of here for months."
Thomas smiled. "I appreciate your concern, General, but you have more important things to consider at the moment."
General Crook acknowledged the truth of that with a curt nod before exiting the house with Captain Wallace.
16: Castle in the Sky and Mysterious Water from the Earth
At daylight Thomas stood on the porch of the Commander's quarters and watched General Crook lead a regiment of cavalry on yet another quest to capture the illusive Geronimo. Sighing, he returned indoors to check on Amy. She was sleeping peacefully and he made the decision to rest the remainder of the day at the fort.
Shortly after dawn the next day they continued onward. The previous evening Thomas had reviewed his map with the quartermaster for the best route, and now he and Amy set out for Beaver Creek. Soon they were following the creek and enjoying the antics of diligent beavers intent on the business of building. Amy often paused, pointed, and laughed.
Thomas lifted his eyes to the cerulean sky and breathed a prayer that his daughter's laughter would continue throughout a long and happy life.
Before sunset they came upon a site so magnificent they both paused with gaping mouths. Amy had spotted the ruins first and pointed. "Papa, look! There's a palace up in the rocks."
Thomas looked in the direction she indicated and gasped, "Amy, I've never seen anything like it!"
They hastened along the trail that followed the creek and then Thomas lifted Amy off Stanton, holding her hand as they could cut across terrain shaded by tall sycamores and ponderosa pines. Soon they were standing beneath a cliff wall and staring up at ruins built into a deep recess. The stone and clay dwelling was so high they had to crane their necks for the best view.
A chuckle from behind startled them. Thomas whipped around to see a man in his late thirties or early forties smiling broadly as he approached. The gentleman moved his gaze from Thomas and Amy to the palace in the sky. He said, "Those ruins are called Montezuma's Castle, although I suspect Montezuma had nothing to do with them and neither are they a castle. I think the pioneers passing this way wanted to choose the most magnanimous description they could, so they came up with that name." The stranger returned his gaze to Thomas and stuck out his hand. "My name is George Rothrock and I'm a photographer." He pointed to a clearing and Thomas saw a camera set on a tripod.
Thomas shook the man's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Rothrock. I'm Dr. Thomas Matthews and this is my daughter, Amy."
Mr. Rothrock's smile was amiable as he said, "Please call me George. Do you prefer to be called Dr. Matthews or is your given name acceptable?"
"Call me Thomas or Tom."
George knelt in front of Amy. "And would you like me to call you Miss Matthews or Amy?"
Amy giggled and said shyly, "You can call me Amy."
"Then Amy, it is."
He stood and asked, "Where are ya'll headed?"
"Our destination is the red rocks."
George smiled again. "Been there many times to take photos. As far as I'm concerned, it's the most beautiful place on earth." He made a waving motion, "My camp is set up beyond that clearing. You're welcome to join me if you like."
Thomas had been assessing Mr. Rothrock's countenance and actions and could see no obvious reason to distrust him. "Now that's very kind of you, sir. Perhaps we will. I left my horse and mule at the creek to drink. It'll only take a minute to retrieve them and then you can lead the way."
Walking back to their animals, Amy talked nonstop about the castle and how she couldn't believe anyone could build something so high off the ground. "Do you think they used magic, Papa?"
He laughed, "Little darlin', I don't think magic had anything to do with it. I think the builders were just incredibly intelligent and strong." He watched his daughter's expression turn to one of disappointment and tweaked her braid. "However," he continued, "I'm not ruling out the possibility of magic. Maybe the prince of the forest commanded the fairies to build him a castle in the sky."
Amy's eyes sparkled. "Yes, and he built it for his princess."
Not long after setting up camp with George, the friendly man retrieved a large leather album and proudly opened it to tintypes for Thomas and Amy to view. Although Thomas had little knowledge of photography, something he actually considered as "magical" as building adobe structures inside a cliff wall, he recognized the man had genuine talent for freezing a moment in time. George showed them tintypes he had taken on previous visits to Montezuma's Castle, as well as those he had taken in the past two days. He pointed to different photos and explained how sunlight was instrumental in capturing different moods. He then turned the page of the album to another tintype of what appeared to be a huge sinkhole and chuckled, "Now this water hole is called Montezuma's Well and it's not far from here. In fact, I'm headed there tomorrow and since we're traveling in the same direction, we can travel together."
Amy's eyes rounded and she asked, "Did the people who lived in the castle go there for water?"
George turned the page to another tintype of the sinkhole. "I believe they traveled there, but I don't know if the water was drinkable because I've heard that no fish swim there. It was definitely used for irrigating crops, though. And like here, there are ancient dwellings in the cliffs surrounding the water pit. They're not as elaborate or elevated as Montezuma's Castle, but still incredible."
Amy leaned over and studied the picture while George continued. "And there's this path that leads down to the water where there's a cave. But the place you just have to see is on the backside of the cliff with the cave. It's positively magical. It's where the water from the sinkhole escapes beneath the cave and pours into an irrigation ditch on the other side. The ditch was dug by Indians long ago." He sighed. "When I'm there it's almost as if I can see and hear the ancient ones going about their daily chores." He looked slightly embarrassed. "I guess I should admit to having an overactive imagination."
Amy said, "Oh no, Mr. Rothrock, I want to hear more. I can't wait to go there."
Thomas listened to the easy conversation between Amy and George. George was an encyclopedia of information and soon Thomas was just as fascinated as Amy.
George reached for another album. He flipped through the pages until he found what he wanted. "Aha. Here's a photo of some of the monumental rock formations you'll encounter when you reach the red rocks. He handed the album to Thomas. Thomas glanced from the picture to George. "This is amazing! I've never seen such huge stones."
George chuckled, "I only wish the photo was in color so you could appreciate just how red everything is. Perhaps someday cameras will capture pictures in every shade of the spectrum. I can only hope it happens in my lifetime." He pointed toward the tintype and sighed. "And the colors are not only red, but orange, brown, yellow, purple, a veritable rainbow depending on the time of day." Thomas handed the album to Amy and George asked her to turn the page. "I believe this is my best photo thus far. I took it just as the sun was setting. Everything, even the air, shimmered with golden orange light."
Amy's eyes glowed as she studied the monument carved by nature. She said, "It looks like a bell."
Thomas scooted closer to his daughter and whistled low. "That's the landmark we're supposed to follow, and as big as it is, I don't think we'll have trouble locating it."
Amy said, "Are you going to the red rocks, too, Mr. Rothrock?"
George smiled affectionately at Amy. "No, little one. I'm headed to Flagstaff to take pictures of a family who commission me. Then it's back to my photography studio in Phoenix."
Amy looked disappointed. Thomas also felt disappoin
tment. He genuinely liked George and his intelligent and interesting conversations.
George said, "Now, I want to show you another incredible sight. He retrieved yet a third binder and opened it. "This is the Grand Canyon, my friends. Something you'll definitely want to see in your lifetime." He set the album in Amy's lap.
Thomas and Amy turned page after page and glanced from the tintypes to each other with widened eyes.
George said, "That's the reaction I always get."
Incapable of finding words to describe the vastness of the canyon, Thomas shook his head. He had heard about the Grand Canyon many times, but these photos now made the descriptions by others pitiable by contrast.
The remainder of the day was enjoyable as George told stories and showed more of his wonderful pictures. The next morning everyone rose at sunrise and prepared a quick meal. Afterward, Thomas helped George load his camera equipment onto his mule and together the threesome headed for Montezuma's Well.
In the late afternoon they arrived at a rocky trail leading up a tall hill and George called over his shoulder, "We're almost there."
Thomas glanced around and scanned the desert shrub and cacti covering the hill. There was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. George waited for them at the crest. Thomas guided his horse with Amy in the saddle, and his mule tied to a lead, until they were beside George. The view was anything but ordinary. Amy pointed, "Look, Papa! Look! It's just like the picture."
Thomas took a step closer to the edge and marveled at the murky water about seventy-five feet down from where they stood. The almost perfectly round sink hole had to be over three hundred feet wide. It was much larger than he had expected. Debris and broken branches overgrown by green muck had shifted to one side of the water and made for a truly eerie scene. He lifted his gaze to the cliff walls surrounding the sinkhole and spotted first one adobe dwelling, and then another, built into large crevices. Thomas grinned at his daughter. "What do you think, honey?"
"It's wonderful, Papa. I wish I could walk into their houses."
Thomas glanced from the surface of the water, up the cliff face to the dwellings, and then to the ridge above. He decided the inhabitants must have had the climbing ability of goats to reach their homes.
George pointed to the closest dwelling. "The first time I came here a couple of cowboys dropped ropes from the ridge and lowered themselves down. After they climbed back up they said the only items inside the ruins were broken pottery and decaying sandals. I suspect they were hoping to find a treasure of gold."
At the mention of gold, Thomas thought of Jacob Waltz, the miner he and Amy had met at the base of the Superstition Mountains. He chuckled to himself. He had no doubt Jacob would have been the first to inch down a rope looking for gold.
George said, "Come this way. There's a trail leading to the bottom. We can leave our animals tied here."
Thomas said, "I don't know if Amy is up to it."
George gazed curiously at her. Thomas hadn't informed George about his daughter's illness.
Amy said, "Oh, Papa, we must go. I feel strong today."
One look into Amy's pleading eyes and Thomas knew he wouldn't deny her. "If you feel weak in any way, you let me know so I can carry you. Promise?"
She crossed her heart and said, "I promise."
Rather than explain anything to George, Thomas secured his animals to a juniper tree twisted into a ghostly shape by the wind, and lifted his daughter from Stanton. He said, "Lead the way, sir."
The trek to the bottom didn't take more than fifteen minutes and ended at the entrance to a large cave.
Thomas said, "I imagine this cave would have housed three or four families. Or maybe they used it for storage."
Amy, who was resting on a rock, pointed. "Look, Papa, there's Mr. Rothrock's name on that big rock."
George grinned and said proudly, "I wrote it during a visit in 1878. Now I'm part of the history of Montezuma's Well." He made a waving motion toward a small stream flowing from the sink hole and disappearing under the cave. "The water goes underground and comes out on the other side of the cliff. That's where I want to take you next."
Thomas studied Amy for signs of exhaustion.
"Papa, can we go there? I still feel good."
Thomas nodded but said, "Only if I carry you part of the way." He reached to lift his daughter.
George said, "I believe I may have missed something in our conversations, is Amy ill?"
Before Thomas could speak, Amy said, "Sometimes I have spells and fall down or I can't see good. We're going to the red rocks so the healing woman can make me well."
George frowned in confusion.
Thomas explained, "Modern medicine hasn't been able to help Amy and I heard about a woman who has the ability to heal…" his words trailed because he had no idea how to finish the sentence.
George said, "Now that I recollect, during one of my expeditions there I heard some old-timers talking about her. They said she lives alone except for the animals that come to her for help."
Thomas was taken aback. "The animals come to her?"
"That's what they said. I wish I'd paid more attention, but I was just passing through and figured they were talking crazy. Years of gold prospecting does that to miners."
Thomas decided to change the subject because he didn't want Amy to feel discouraged. "George, lead the way to the backside of the cliff."
"Gladly, sir. And if you need me to carry Amy, don't hesitate to ask."
Retracing their steps back to the rim of the cliff, George continued along the top. He called behind him, "It only takes a minute to reach the other trail."
Amy said, "I can walk Papa."
He set her down. "Just hold my hand, sweetie."
Veering into some foliage they came to a different path and it was like entering another world. The terrain became less desert-like as they followed a stairway of stones downward. Within minutes they were on the opposite side of the sinkhole under a canopy of cottonwood and pine trees interspersed with ferns. Water flowed from beneath the cliff wall separating them from Montezuma's Well on the other side, and entered a narrow ditch.
George said, "This is the irrigation canal dug by the Indians." He made an encompassing motion. "Isn't it beautiful here and just like I told you—a magical place?"
Amy said reverently, "It is."
Thomas felt the same reverence for such beauty. Under the living canopy of trees a profusion of vines and ferns flourished. He had never thought of a place as being mystical or magical, but this tiny secluded forest certainly was.
17: Almost There
Thomas and Amy again camped with George but they parted ways the next morning. It had been too late the previous day for George to photograph Montezuma's Well, so he intended to stay another day or so before heading toward Flagstaff. Thomas shook his new friend's hand in farewell and bid him much success with his photography business.
George humbly shrugged. "Thank you, Thomas, but the competition grows daily." He chuckled. "If I'm not successful in this lifetime, maybe in years to come my photos will have value for documenting the history of Arizona. Who knows, perhaps the territory will eventually become a state in the Union." He shrugged again and turned to Amy. "Amy, dearest, you must get well and then you and your father come to my studio in Phoenix. I'll create a portraiture of the two of you."
Amy turned shining eyes on her father. "Can we go when I'm better, Papa? We could hang the picture over our mantle at home."
Thomas smoothed a hand down his daughter's shiny golden tresses. "Yes, we can."
After parting ways with George, Thomas anticipated it would be two days before they arrived at their destination and his anxiety increased with each step. Had he been foolish in bringing Amy on such a long journey? Were the healing woman's abilities simply a rumor with no substance? And how could she possibly help Amy if she had no medical training?
18: Preparation
Granddaughter, he's nearby. Prepare the bedroom
for a man and his daughter.
Tana jerked awake. For long moments she stared at the ceiling and then spoke aloud to her grandmother. "Frannie, you know I never allow strangers into our home."
There was no reply since Frannie only spoke to Tana in dreams. She drifted back to sleep and suddenly received an answer. You must make an exception this time Tana. Prepare the bedroom.
Tana woke again and sat on the side of the bed and whispered as much to herself as to her grandmother, "Why the exception, Frannie?" Rather than return to bed, she rose, lit a lantern, and walked to the bedroom that had once belonged to her parents. She had many uses for it now and stared at the baskets of dried herbs, and the fruits and vegetables drying on the leather of animals she had skinned. She had never killed an animal, but those that came to her for help and did not survive, she used their hides and made jerky of their flesh. Only the previous autumn the cow that had provided milk for many years had died of old age. Tizzy's passing saddened Tana but she knew the animal had chosen to die at that time to provide Tana with hide, meat, and bones before winter. Since then she had purchased a goat named Beulah from the closest settlement to replace Tizzy's constant supply of milk.
She closed the bedroom door and walked to her woodstove to start a fire. Filling a kettle with water, she decided she needed something stronger than tea and reached to the highest shelf above her sink to retrieve a jar of precious coffee beans she had recently roasted. Placing the beans between two cloths she crushed them with a granite stone. Lifting the bottom cloth, she emptied the grounds into the kettle, along with crushed egg shells to remove the bitter taste and also settle the grounds to the bottom. Just before the coffee boiled she removed it from the stove and allowed it to sit. Several minutes later she poured a large mug for herself.
Wrapped in a shawl she stepped onto her porch, settled into Frannie's old rocking chair, and watched the stirrings of dawn splash the sky with shades of pink. Long after her coffee turned cold, she continued to sit and sip. Finally, with a sigh of resignation, she returned to her cabin to begin clearing and cleaning the extra bedroom.
