Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone (4 page)

“Are we still going to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Mom?” Amanda asked the next morning.

“I still have a couple of days off so I thought it would be a fun day trip. Sorry, Leah, no stores for you, but it is interesting.”

“I'm actually loving all this prairie stuff that I didn't know about before. I just find castles and old cathedrals so very dull.” Leah pulled her hair back in a low ponytail. “I suppose that's because I'm surrounded by them all the time.”

“That's so funny. I've always thought the prairies were boring.” Amanda reached for the cowboy hats and two bottles of water. “Looks like another scorcher. Glad we have A-C in the SUV.”

Soon after they left the city they passed a herd of large, shaggy, dark brown animals, each with a hump on its shoulders, grazing in a field.

“Are those really…bison?” asked Leah. “I thought they were all extinct.”

“They almost were, but some ranchers are raising them now and slowly increasing the herds. They will never be as numerous as they once were though.” Mrs. Ross pulled over to the side of the road. “Would you like to take some pictures?”

Leah took a few shots. Then she stood in front of the barbed wire fence while Amanda took pictures of her and the bison roaming behind her.

“My mates back home will love this photo. I'll post it on Instagram tonight.”

* * *

An hour later, they stopped at an interpretive centre in the middle of the prairie.

“Wowza! Is it ever hot here,” said Leah as she got out of the air conditioned jeep. “There isn't a tree in sight for shade either. It's like the UAE.” She quickly put on her cowboy hat.

“Yup,” replied Amanda. “It can get up to forty degrees Celsius here in the summer. But it can also go down to minus forty in the winter.”

“Oh, I couldn't handle the cold.” Leah shivered in spite of the heat.

“You just bundle up, that's all.” Amanda took a sip of water.

“Are you girls going to stand around and talk about the weather or are we going to see the sights?” asked Amanda's mother.

They entered a building built right into the cliff, the same beige colour of the sandstone and rocks surrounding it. Inside, they followed the signs of the small red buffalo directing them to the seven levels of displays. Amanda and Leah were intrigued as they read the storyboards explaining the geography, climate and native people of the area and of the buffalo hunt itself.

They stopped to listen to a man who introduced himself as a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He explained how his ancestors used their knowledge of buffalo behaviour and the terrain to their benefit.

While he talked, he pointed to the series of murals showing the stages of a buffalo hunt. The first picture showed how young men, disguised under animal hides, lured the herds towards the cliffs. He called them the Buffalo Runners.

The crowd of listeners kept growing as he continued his talk. “Other tribe members, mainly women and children, hid behind stone cairns, placed to create a V path to the cliff's edge. They would shout and wave buffalo hides to keep the animals on the track.”

The series of pictures showed clearly how effective the technique was. “Hunters ran behind the herd, further frightening the animals. At last, the buffalo plunged over the cliff to their death on the valley floor. This was how a tribe could obtain a large amount of food in a short time.”

He chuckled. “In those days we didn't have Superstore. Without the buffalo hunt the people would not survive the long winters.” The crowd laughed at his joke.

“My, they were ever so clever,” commented Leah.

“Yes, they were,” said the man. “There was little waste too. Almost every part of the animal was used.” He handed a crude version of a spoon to Leah. “For instance, this spoon was made from the horn of a bison.”

Amanda picked up another item. “I guess this would have been a hammer.”

“You're right. They used those hammers to pound the animal skins to make them soft.”

She became lost in examining the bone handle with a rock tied onto it by a tightly wrapped leather cord. She felt someone near her and looked up.

A cowboy leaned in close to her and said in a harsh whisper, “Be careful how you handle the artifacts.” His steely grey eyes fixed on her for a few moments and then he moved away. Amanda searched to see where he had gone, but her view of the exits was blocked by other people in the room.

Leah continued talking to the guide, asking questions. Amanda put her hand on her friend's shoulder to get her attention. “D-did you see the guy who was just standing here?”

“No, I didn't see anyone. But I was busy looking at these old tools.”

Mrs. Ross appeared and suggested they go to the top floor where there was a lookout.

At the top of the cliff, the girls gazed over the rail at the sweeping sage-green prairie. They noticed the remnants of the rocks piled up to create cairns thousands of years ago. A guide explained that this historic site was older than the pyramids in Egypt or Stonehenge in England. He pointed out the spot where the bison tumbled over the cliff. A hot, dry wind blew across the plateau. Amanda imagined the frightened, huge beasts thundering along unaware of their fate, and she felt sad.

The guide showed them the tipis set up in the valley below, ready for the butchering. He described how once the animals were skinned and cut into chunks, the parts were taken back to the campsite for storage. He then invited everyone to walk down to the valley along a trail if they wished.

“You girls can check it out if you like.” Mrs. Ross blotted her face with a tissue. “It's too hot. I'm going to the café for an iced tea. Meet me there later.”

Leah and Amanda followed the guide down a path that led to the bottom of the cliff.

“Is it called Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump because the animals smashed their heads when they went over the cliff?” asked Leah.

“Legend has it that a young boy wanted to get a good look at the buffalo as they went over the cliff. He stood too close and a buffalo fell on top of him smashing in his head. The people then called it Head-Smashed-In.”

“Maybe the parents used the story to warn other children not to get too close,” remarked Amanda.

“Perhaps.” The guide nodded. “Many of our legends have a lesson in them.”

Soon they came upon some tipis in a circle. The tops were painted with black dots and stripes and a single huge buffalo decorated each side.

While Leah continued to ask the guide questions, Amanda examined the nearest tipi. She looked to see if she could spot any more symbols similar to the one on the rock. She ended up around the back of the tent when the same cowboy appeared.

“Where is the stone?”

“I…I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” The cowboy put both hands on her shoulders. “I heard you have the stone and I want it!” He began to shake her.

Amanda stepped back. The cowboy moved forward. She took another step back, tripped in a gopher hole and fell flat on her back. The cowboy fell on top of her.

“If you know what's good fer you, you'll hand over that stone to me,” he growled through his yellowed teeth.

His breath smelt of stale cigarette smoke and onions. Amanda held her breath.

A hand came around the cowboy's throat and pulled him back. His hat fell to the ground, revealing curly ginger hair.

“Leave her alone, Hank. She doesn't have anything to do with this.”

Amanda looked up and saw Dan with the cowboy firmly in his grip. Leah stood behind him with her eyes wide and her mouth open as if she wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.

Hank struggled to free himself from Dan's hold, picked up his hat and slammed it against his leg before plunking it on his head. He stared hard at Amanda and strode away.

Amanda trembled as Leah and Dan helped her up.

“Are you OK?” asked Leah.

“Boy, am I glad you guys showed up when you did.”

“I wanted to tell you Dan was here, but I couldn't find you. We heard a noise and came back here to find you being attacked by that awful man. What did he want?”

“I…I don't know,” stammered Amanda as she brushed dirt and dry grass off her arms and legs.

“Perhaps we should go back to the café, Amanda. We've been gone for some time and your mom might be worried,” said a concerned Leah.

“A good idea. I feel a bit weird. I need a cold drink and my water bottle is empty.” Amanda turned to Dan. “Would you like to join us?”

“I think I will. I wouldn't want that ranch hand bothering you again.”

“Isn't he the guy who got in a fight with your uncle at the Bar U Ranch?”

“I don't know. I wasn't there.” Dan shrugged as he surveyed the area.

“Shouldn't we report what happened?” asked Leah.

“I'd rather not,” said Amanda. “I don't want my mom to know what happened. She'll just get upset.”

“It's probably best,” agreed Dan. “Though I'd steer clear of Hank and Andy and those fellows at the ranch if I were you.”

* * *

Mrs. Ross looked up from her cell phone and smiled when she saw the girls and Dan enter the café. “You all look like you could use some iced tea?”

“Oh yes, please,” said Dan and Amanda at the same time.

“I'll have a lemonade, if that's OK,” said Leah. “I'm just not into cold tea.”

“Don't you drink iced tea in England?” asked Dan.

“Not usually, we prefer hot tea.”

Dan helped Amanda's mom bring the drinks to the table.

“I just received a text from Uncle Jimmy saying that Great Aunt Mary has been released from the hospital. Perhaps we can stop at her house on our way home.”

“That would be awesome.” Amanda took a long drink and then said, “What brings you to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump today, Dan?”

“You mentioned yesterday that you were planning to come out here. It's been a long time since I visited this place. I had the day off so I decided to take a drive out here.” Dan finished his drink. “Thanks for the tea, Mrs. Ross. I best get going.” He looked at Amanda and Leah. “Take it easy, eh. Don't talk to any strangers.” He winked.

Amanda wondered what he meant by that remark.

“Leah, you hardly touched your drink. What's wrong with it?”

Leah scrunched up her nose. “When I asked for lemonade, I thought I was getting a fizzy drink.”

“Oh, that's right. I forgot. In England, the lemonade is like a ginger ale or a sprite. Sorry, Leah.” Amanda gave her friend a hug.

* * *

Unusually quiet, Leah and Amanda barely spoke in the van until they got to the city. Aunt Mary lived in an older house near the Bow River. Filled with artifacts from travels with her late husband, it smelled like old books and lavender. Her home had a real cozy feeling.

“How kind of you to stop in, Evelyn. They couldn't wait to kick me out of that hospital. They don't keep you in very long these days. Just as well, the food's terrible. What did you think of Head-Smashed-In, Leah?”

“It was grand, thank you,” said Leah. “It was like being in an American Western. I learned so much about things I hadn't known before.”

“I've been going out to that site for years, long before it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I've found some interesting arrowheads and tools. Donated them back to the museum of course.”

“Aunt Mary has a lovely garden out the back. Would you like to have a look at it, Leah?” asked Mrs. Ross.

While Leah and Amanda's mom checked out the garden, Amanda took the opportunity to ask her great aunt some questions about petroglyphs.

“I have a book for you. It's there on the shelf,” said her aunt.

Amanda picked up a book with pictures of interesting rock carvings on the cover.

“Do you still have that stone you told me about?”

“Yes, and I haven't told anyone else about it. Not even Leah. Do you think it might be important?”

“Well, it might be. Perhaps you should bring it with you the next time you come for a visit, so I can have a look at it.”

Amanda was tempted to tell her about the incident at Head-Smashed-In, but thought better of it.

* * *

Later that night as they got ready for bed, Leah plunked her hands on her hips and turned to Amanda.

“What actually happened today? Do you realize what a fright you gave me? What if we hadn't shown up? What are you not telling me?”

Amanda sighed. It was time to confess.

“At the parade something fell out of the clown's pocket and I picked it up.” She walked over to her bookshelf and picked up the stone. “It was this.” She placed the stone in Leah's hand. “I didn't think it was important, but now everyone seems to want it.”

Leah ran her thumb over the smooth stone and traced the mark. “I wonder what this means?”

Amanda reached in her backpack and pulled out the book Aunt Mary gave her. “Maybe this book will help us figure it out.”

Leah looked at her friend. “Honestly, Amanda, is this what the cowboy wanted from you? Is that why he had you pinned to the ground?”

“Well, he didn't actually push me down. I moved back to get away from him and tripped in a gopher hole. That's when he fell on top of me. It probably looked worse than it was and he actually seemed embarrassed. He demanded I tell him where the stone was. I have no idea how he knew I had it in the first place.”

“It looks like you've got yourself in a pickle, again.” Leah shook her head. “Let's look through this book. Maybe it will give us a clue as to why anyone would want a silly old stone so badly.”

The book was full of fascinating rock carvings from all over North America. Amanda turned to a section on Canadian Aboriginal Art and Culture and read out loud, “In the past the Plains Indians didn't have a written alphabet so they passed on their history and stories by painting images on bison hides and painting or carving pictures on rocks.”

“Look at these amazing petroglyphs pecked into the rocks. They kind of look like kid's drawings, don't they?”

Leah looked over Amanda's shoulder. “Do you think that is supposed to be a buffalo? And perhaps those are the buffalo tracks.”

They both looked closely at the picture.

Amanda said, “They could be tracks, I guess. The marks look a bit like a horseshoe but more like a ‘v' than a ‘u'.”

Leah looked at the smooth rock in her hand with the faint impression of a V.

“Do you think this piece of rock could be part of a larger drawing telling a story?”

“Perhaps, and maybe it's valuable.” Amanda took the stone from Leah and gently stroked it as she wondered how old it might be. “I think it's time we consulted Great Aunt Mary. She'll know what to do.”