...she was used to talking and listening to the bad men at the brothel, she wasn’t used to doing chores.

William Robinson Leigh By late day they arrived at the ruins and Maria was mesmerized. The ruins were high up in the side of the mountain and here and there walls and buildings could be seen peeking out from the honeycombed face. It was as if the people had just walked out the day before. Maria stood, jaw hanging. “Where are they?”

Juana chuckled. “Dead.”

“How? Were they attacked? Did they get sick?”

“No, Maria, they’ve been dead a long long time. Millennia.”

“What’s that?”

Juana shrugged. “I don’t know, the bad priest said it. It’s a long time.”

They wandered about and found an entrance. A little further on, they discovered a box canyon which would be a good corral for the burros. Maria put them there and cut some mesquite to make a fence to insure they stayed. She hobbled them for good measure. They were content; there was much for them to graze on. She found Juana and they went to the nearest cave.

“Whew. It stinks of bat shit in here.” Juana held her nose.

“It’s not so bad.” Maria peered at the walls which were still good. This would be a perfect home for them. She sat down and made a fire and soon had a good blaze going. Juana dug through their kit and prepared a meal. She wasn’t much good at helping because she was used to talking and listening to the bad men at the brothel, she wasn’t used to doing chores. Maria didn’t mind. She liked working and she enjoyed Juana’s company and constant banter as she watched her new partner work. Maria was always working it seemed, it is what made her happy.

They got their oil lamps and lit them. It was time to explore. Maria was enthralled and Juana bored. They found the place with the most guano and surmised that the bats used that part of the cave. The rest would be cleaner and smell better and it wouldn’t be bothersome when the bats flew in and out. This is where they’d make their home.

Further up, they found by walking a steep incline of narrow steps, a beautiful high fortress-like structure. It offered a commanding view of the entire valley below. They would be able to see any intruder for at least a mile away. This is where they’d sleep.

Next, they moved down another set of steps, a steep decline into a dark and narrow passage. Maria heard movement—water, and in short order they came upon a fairly swift moving stream, flowing from under a deep crevice in the rock. She tasted the water and it was good. It was clear and cold; they would be good here indefinitely as they’d never want for water.

Before Juana could say anything Maria had dropped down into the swift current and was wading her way across to the other side. She held her lamp up high to illuminate her way. She eventually reached the far side and was soon perched on a narrow ledge, up high and invisible from Juana’s side.

“What are you doing?”

“We’ll hide our money here. No one can see it and they won’t think to wade and carry a light like this. They won’t ever think to look here.” Maria's Trail