Searching For the Lode

Sam, that’s what he wanted to be called, Pocowatchit rode his dappled palomino through a ravine. He knew he was no longer on the reservation. He was on the white man’s land. A family that had claimed this land for generations.

He didn’t want to be on the reservation, like so many generations before him had done. They believed they were destined to stay on the reservation. Make it better.

Sam felt constrained by the reservation. It was time for his people to move forward. Not that he wasn’t proud of who he was, but the old ways, they just didn’t help him get to where Sam wanted to go.

He rode on, paying particular attention to the rock outcroppings of the cliffs on either side of him. He was looking for a life. Sam became a student of geology where he learned that certain combinations of rock and minerals meant gold.

Sam stopped Pale Moon, named that because of his color reminding Sam of the face of the moon, and took a sip of water. The hot sun beat down upon him but it didn’t hinder Sam. That’s when the glint of quartz caught his eye.

Getting down from Pale Moon, Sam you inspected the area more closely. The line of quartz seemed to go into the side of the ravine. Looking up to down, Sam noticed what appeared to be a slight hole under the rocks at his feet.

Sam tied up Pale Moon to a bush just by the opening, almost hiding it. Gazing at the rifle on his holster. There was no one else around; he wouldn’t need it.

Down upon his stomach, Sam worked free some rocks around the opening, making it wider. He was able to work himself through, arms first, then pulling the rest of himself through.

There was a downgrade, which Sam slid down. Grabbing the small flashlight from his pocket, Sam turned it on. Examining the opening, it was clear that the opening was much larger at one time. It appeared to be closed up.

Sam worked the light to the area where the quartz disappeared into the rocks. He followed the line until he saw the slightest bit of yellow near a shelf of rock. He took a closer look, shocked at finding a pile of bones upon the shelf. They were human bones, so said the skulls of at least four people staring at him.

A closer inspection revealed ancient Comanche artifacts. He had found the old burial grounds his grandfather had spoken about. The ancient burial site had been lost to his people after being driven from the land centuries ago. They were lost, but not in the memories of the older people, who kept the legend alive by their stories.

He couldn’t let this secret out. Sam was sure there was gold here. The quartz lode told him that. He wouldn’t be able to search it if it was known this was a sacred sight. He’d need to return with pics and more lighting.