Amanda in New Mexico Read online

  MULE PARKING ONLY.

  ALL OTHERS TOWED AWAY.

  She snapped a picture.

  The group followed Ms. Bowler through the door which opened into a square courtyard. The teacher handed out a map of the hacienda to each student. “The people who lived here spent most of their time outdoors. This placita or courtyard would have been a hive of activity. Imagine the inhabitants processing wool and leather, cooking and baking, mending equipment and other farm activities. These rooms surrounding the courtyard would have been used only in bad weather.” She pointed around. “You have an hour to explore the rooms on your own. Don’t forget to take pictures, make sketches and jot down notes. Any questions?”

  Amanda put up her hand. “Why is the front door so huge?”

  “The large, heavy door was built so that in the event of an attack, the wagons and livestock could be brought into the courtyard for protection. Notice there are no windows on the outside and the walls are two feet thick. The hacienda was considered a refuge for the family and their neighbours.”

  Amanda glanced at an old stone well in one corner and a donkey cart in another. “Where should we start?” she asked Cleo.

  “Let’s start here.” Cleo pointed on the map. “Please stay close to me though; it’s spooky here. I have a bad feeling.” Cleo tugged at the curls escaping from her baseball cap as she squinted.

  “Don’t be silly. This was just a family’s home.” Amanda entered the dim room called a sala and read the explanation on the map. “It says here this was the main living area.”

  “There isn’t much in here,” Cleo said, scanning the packed-earth floor.

  “I guess they didn’t have much furniture. Look, the beds are above the stove. That would keep them warm.” Amanda stroked a carved chest. “I wonder what they kept in here.” She tried to open it but it seemed locked.

  A bright light flashed.

  Cleo screamed.

  Amanda whirled around.

  Caleb grinned from ear-to-ear. “Got you!” He held up his camera.

  “Don’t do that! Look how you frightened Cleo.” Amanda glared at the boy.

  Cleo trembled. Her freckles stood out on her pale face. Amanda steered her out into the sunlight.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t go into any more rooms,” said Cleo.

  Amanda groaned. “But I really want to see more. Cleo, there are no ghosts or anything like that.” She crossed her arms. “It was just a camera flash.”

  Cleo looked down and chewed her thumbnail.

  Amanda sighed. “I know, you can wait by the well if you want. Why don’t you draw some sketches of the courtyard while I look in the rest of the rooms?”

  Cleo pulled her sketchbook from her backpack. “OK, good idea.”

  Amanda followed the map and looked in the chapel, granary, kitchen, and trade room. She joined Caleb and some of the others in the sala grande.

  “This is the only room with a wood floor in the hacienda. It was made especially for Spanish dance parties called fandangos,” explained a guide wearing a brightly coloured full skirt, a blouse with puffy sleeves and an apron. She opened a trunk. “You can try on some of clothes that were worn at the time.”

  Amanda placed a sombrero on her head. It was way too big and slipped over her ears. She laughed as Caleb took her picture. Then he flung a colourful striped serape over his shoulder and danced around.

  “Do you think you’re at a fandango?” said Amanda as she took his picture.

  A shadow appeared on the wall. They both turned to see what caused it. No one was there. An awful toilet smell filled the room. Amanda looked at Caleb. He shrugged his shoulders.

  The guide returned and Amanda asked, “Where were the bathrooms?”

  “We get asked that a lot.” The guide chuckled as she placed an embroidered shawl around her shoulders. “The truth is, there weren’t any! Here, in the early 1800s, folks either used chamber pots or they went outside to relieve themselves. Outhouses didn’t become common until the late nineteenth century. Bathing was almost unheard of and lice were prevalent.”

  “Yuck, they must have been awfully smelly.” Amanda wrinkled her nose and scratched her arm.

  Caleb sniffed. “Like you.”

  Amanda punched his shoulder. “More like you.”

  They stepped outside and Amanda noticed students going through a narrow stone corridor. Amanda called over to Cleo. “Are you OK? We’re going through there.” She pointed to the passageway.

  Cleo looked up from her sketch pad and waved. “I’m good. You go ahead.”

  Once through the opening, they entered a smaller courtyard with more rooms surrounding it. Doors led into a blacksmith’s shop and weaving room.

  Amanda stood in front of a door the map showed as the Santos Display Room. “What’s in here?”

  Along with Caleb and a couple of other students, she entered the dimly-lit room containing glass cabinets filled with pictures and statues of various saints. A sign explained how the families in Spanish America always kept a shrine to a saint in their homes. The shrine often held Milagros, tiny silver shapes attached to statues of the saints. There were legs for people who couldn’t walk, eyes for those who had bad eyesight and animal figures to wish a farmer a productive year with his flock. Amanda was fascinated as she peered through the glass at small objects stuck on the figures.

  She looked up and gasped. At the end of the narrow room stood a life-sized skeleton of a woman riding in a wooden cart. Amanda, heart beating, crept closer to the scary figure wearing a scraggly white wig and a long dark robe. She carried a scythe in one hand and a globe in the other. On the wall beside the figure, a plaque told of Doña Sebastiana, the female saint of death, or Santa Muerte. During the Holy Week procession at Easter, this female Grim Reaper was rolled out in her death cart and transported through the town. Parents would point her out and tell the children if they did not behave, Doña Sebastiana would come for them.

  Amanda gulped and peered more closely at the horrible figure. She couldn’t understand why parents would want to scare their children like that. ‘Imagine the nightmares!’ Amanda thought.

  Just then, everything went black. Something brushed Amanda’s shoulder. She froze.

  “Caleb,” she whispered. “Is that you?”

  There was no answer.

  A cold breeze passed over her.

  4

  AMANDA FELT HER WAY TO THE DOOR AND PUSHED IT OPEN. She didn’t realize she had been holding her breath until she stumbled into the bright sunshine.

  As she took a gulp of fresh air, she noticed Caleb chatting and laughing with the other boys. “If that was your idea of a joke, it wasn’t funny.”

  Caleb stared at her. “What’re you talking about?”

  “You switched off the lights and left me alone in there.”

  “Uh, no way. The lights were on when I left. I thought you were right behind me. I wasn’t staying in there with that creepy skeleton thing.”

  Mr. Samson shouted, “It’s time to go now. Finish what you’re doing and meet at the front gate in five minutes.”

  Still shaking, Amanda found Cleo by the well and sat down beside her. Cleo showed her a sketch of the donkey cart.

  “That’s very good,” said Amanda as the sketchbook shook in her hand.

  “Thanks.” Cleo looked up at her. “Are you all right? You look a bit funny.”

  “I’m fine. Just a bit hungry, that’s all.” She decided it would be best not to tell her ghost-believing friend what had just happened.

  Amanda looked at Cleo’s picture again. Beside the donkey cart stood a young girl in a long, flowing white dress. She looked transparent.

  “Who’s this girl?”

  “I don’t know. She just walked into my scene while I was drawing. She was so pretty, I decided to include her.”

  “Um, she is very beautiful.” Amanda narrowed her eyes. ‘Is this girl real or is Cleo imagining things? This day is just getting too weird.’ She sighed and picked up
Cleo’s backpack. “We better get on the bus.” Amanda scanned the courtyard once more before going through the big door. She swore someone was watching them.

  Back at the house, they had some free time to relax before dinner.

  Amanda peered out the window. “It’s still nice outside. I’d like to explore the grounds before the sun sets. Want to come?”

  Cleo looked up from the book she was reading. “No, thanks, I think I’ll stay here.”

  Amanda passed through the main sitting room, stopping to look at some of the art on the walls. She examined the printing press that Spud Johnson used to print his magazine, The Laughing Horse.

  Audrey entered the room. “That there machine is quite different from how magazines are printed these days. It’s all done with computers now, I suppose. Did you have a good day?”

  “Oh, yes. It was so interesting. Audrey, are there any ghosts around here?”

  Audrey scratched her head. “Well, there are those folks who believe there are ghosts in these parts. Me? I’m not so sure. In the old days, many people came to an untimely end here. It was quite wild and dangerous. So you never know.” She gave Amanda a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t concern myself with it if I were you. I’ve never heard of any old ghosts hurting someone anyways.”

  “Thanks, Audrey. I’m going to have a look around outside.”

  “Don’t be long now. We’ll be eating soon.”

  The spacious grounds, scattered with flower gardens and adobe buildings, had lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Amanda found a statue of St. Francis of Assisi tucked in among pine trees and shrubs. Surrounded by clay birds and small animals, the kind monk held out a bowl of water. Her great aunt had a similar statue in her garden. Aunt Mary had explained that St. Francis was the patron saint of animals.

  A rustle in the shrubs startled Amanda.

  “Don’t disturb me.”

  Amanda gulped. “Who said that?”

  She looked around her. No one was there.

  “Leave me alone.” The harsh whisper sounded closer.

  Her stomach tightened. Amanda dashed into a wooded area. She raced down a path not knowing or caring where she was going. Spooky shadows danced along the path. She looked left and right, not sure where to go next. A cold breeze pushed her forward.

  She scurried around a corner into a clearing, bending over to catch her breath. When she looked up, several birdhouses sitting on top of poles stared down at her. Different than any she had seen before, they reminded her of mini condominiums. One had six floors, with holes for eight feathered residents on each floor. She wanted to stay and examine the interesting birdhouses but she couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that someone or something was following her.

  A twig snapped.

  Amanda jumped.

  Holding back a scream, she fled out of the bird village. She spotted a terracotta gate with a small bell hanging from the top. Running through the opening, she saw a building with a set of mud steps leading up to a blue door. Amanda needed to get in that door, to safety. She barely noticed the sombre-faced native woman with shoulderlength black hair painted on the side of the stairs.

  Amanda bolted up the steps, two at a time, the menacing cool breeze at her heels the whole way. She yanked the handle. The door wouldn’t budge. Her mouth went dry. Her heart pounded loud in her ears. She felt trapped.

  ‘Is this a bad dream?’ she wondered.

  Convinced someone was behind her, Amanda stood still. Without turning around she said in a slow firm voice, “I don’t know who you are, or what you want. Just go away and leave…me…alone!”

  “Amanda, who are you talking to?”

  She spun around to see Caleb standing at the bottom of the steps with his hands on his hips.

  “Have you lost your mind? Only crazy people talk to themselves.”

  Amanda felt her cheeks get hot. “I—I thought someone was chasing me.”

  Caleb laughed. “Maybe it was Doña Sebastiana coming to get you. Come on down. It’s time to eat. I was sent to find you.” He walked part way up the stairs and reached out his hand to help her down. “Are you OK? You’re shaking. You look like you just saw a ghost.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. It just got dark and spooky out here.” Amanda felt her ears turn red and she let go of his hand. “I wonder what we’re having for supper tonight. I’m starved.” She sprinted ahead.

  5

  THE SUN SHONE BRIGHTLY THE NEXT MORNING AS THE noisy group of students got on the bus.

  Cleo joined Amanda. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer on this trip. I don’t know why I’ve been so silly.” She pulled her cap down over her red curls and smiled.

  “No worries.” Amanda grinned back at her friend, pleased that she finally seemed happy. “This place is so fascinating. Let’s just go have fun.”

  “Absolutely!”

  Sometimes, Cleo seemed like two different people.

  Amanda reached into her backpack. “Now, what’s on the agenda for today?” She pulled out the schedule the teacher had given them. “I see we’re going to an old church called Saint Francis of Assisi in the historic Ranchos Plaza. According to this, it is one of the most photographed Spanish Colonial churches in the U.S.A. Glad I brought my camera.”

  “And I’m glad I brought my sketch pad,” said Cleo.

  “There is a Saint Francis statue in the gardens where we’re staying. He’s obviously popular around here.” Amanda continued to read. “It also says there is a mystery painting at the church. I wonder what a ‘mystery painting’ is?”

  “As long as you girls don’t get spooked by it.” Caleb leaned over the back of the seat in front of them.

  “We’re more likely to get spooked by you and your scary face.” Amanda rolled her eyes at him.

  “Ha, ha. You’re sooo funny!” Caleb turned back around.

  Cleo whispered, “I think he likes you.”

  “I don’t think so. Besides, he can be so annoying. I’ve known Caleb since kindergarten. We’re just friends.”

  “Not like me. I’ve only been at this school for a few months now.” Cleo looked a bit sad again.

  “Well, I feel like I’ve known you for a long time.” Amanda patted her hand. She realized she really didn’t know that much about Cleo except that she used to live in another province before she moved to Calgary. Amanda had never been invited around to her house or even met her parents.

  The church was quite different from the ornate cathedrals Amanda saw on her travels in Europe. Simple and plain, it was covered in smooth rust-coloured mud like everything else in the area. Three white crosses stood out against the clear blue sky, one over the doorway and one on top of a bell tower flanking each side. A thick mud fence surrounded the building.

  A hush fell over the usually noisy students as they entered the peaceful courtyard through an archway adorned with another white cross. A statue of St. Francis greeted the visitors. In the centre of the stone pathway leading to the white doors of the church stood a large cross with the words, San Francisco de Assis.

  The clicking of cameras broke the silence.

  “OK, everyone, we are allowed to have a quick look inside the church but you are not allowed to take pictures inside,” Ms. Bowler announced.

  Dozens of fresh lilies decorated the church. Elaborate paintings of biblical scenes in heavy wooden frames covered the walls. Large timber beams held up the ceiling.

  Amanda’s nose itched from the strong scent of the lilies. Eager to leave the dark church, she returned to the bright courtyard where she spotted Caleb taking pictures around the side of the building.

  “Anything interesting?”

  “I wonder how they get the walls so smooth. What I really want is to get a closer look at those cool buildings over there.” He pointed to some ruins. “Wanna come with me?”

  Amanda nodded and followed Caleb out of the gate.

  The derelict buildings seemed to have been deserted for some time. Most of the
mud had fallen off, revealing the adobe bricks underneath. The roofs sagged. Jagged ends of rotted wood beams stuck out the sides. The dark, open spaces of absent doors and windows looked like missing teeth. Amanda and Caleb crunched through the dry, overgrown weeds to get a closer look.

  Amanda patted the rough bricks. “I wonder who used to live in these buildings.”

  Caleb concentrated on taking pictures. He turned on his flash and pointed the camera through a partially boarded up window.

  “Is there anything in there?” Amanda stood on tiptoe to peer inside but only saw darkness.

  “Caleb! Amanda! Over here. It’s time to see the mystery painting. Hurry up!” Ms. Bowler called from a doorway.

  Caleb looked at his last picture and gulped.

  “What is it?” asked Amanda.

  “Nothing. It’s nothing.” Caleb put his camera back in the case hanging from his neck. “We can’t miss seeing the Mystery Painting.” He made quotation marks with his index fingers.

  They approached a building where the other students waited outside a wooden door decorated with carvings of two monks. A cross painted in the middle split in two when the door opened. The students entered and sat in folding chairs facing a curtain. A woman with a Spanish accent introduced herself as Maria.

  “What you are about to see is unexplainable. It is a painting called The Shadow of the Cross done by a Canadian artist, Henri Ault, in 1896. This is our greatest treasure. It is a life-size picture of our Lord standing by the Sea of Galilee. This is what it looks like with the lights on.” She pulled the curtain open to reveal a painting of Jesus wearing a brown robe and a blue shawl over his shoulders, surrounded by faint white clouds on a light blue sky.

  Amanda thought it was a very nice painting and felt proud that a fellow Canadian painted it.

  Maria continued, “Now I will turn out the lights so you can see how the painting changes. There is nothing to be frightened of.”

  The lights went out. The children gasped. Immediately the once bright painting turned dark and stormy. The sea and sky glowed. The shadowy black figure looked 3D. A cross stood over his left shoulder and a halo circled above his head. In one corner of the choppy sea, the bow of a small boat emerged.