Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone by Darlene Foster Page B

anything else happens. Besides I have some more work to do in Calgary.” She shook her head and started the car.
    Once back home, Leah said to Amanda, “Your mom seemed annoyed. Maybe we shouldn’t ask her to drive us places anymore.”
    â€œShe gets like that sometimes. She works too hard and gets stressed. Mom needs to take a break once in awhile.” Amanda placed the stone back on the bookshelf.
    â€œAnd something else, why did you let Hank get off scot free? You should have told the Mountie that he was threatening us. That would’ve put an end to it.”
    â€œI know. It was just that I was scared Hank would tell him about the stone in my pocket and say I stole it or took it illegally from the badlands.”
    Leah sighed. “I do wish you would just get rid of it. It seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.”

Chapter 17
    The next morning Don Ross entered the kitchen whistling. He spotted the girls eating cold cereal and asked, “How do you like those, who-do-you-think-you-are, Hoodoos?”
    â€œThey are totally brilliant,” replied Leah.
    â€œOh, Dad, you think you’re so funny, but you’re so lame.” Amanda punched her dad on the shoulder.
    â€œWatch who you’re calling lame.” Amanda’s dad pretended to punch her back.
    â€œHow did those rocks get like that, I wonder?” asked Leah.
    â€œThe Hoodoos were formed by the erosion from the water, wind and frost,” said Amanda’s dad while he poured himself a mug of coffee. “And you’ll only find them in areas that have hot, dry summers and cold winters like here in southern Alberta.”
    â€œI see,” said Leah as she took another mouthful of cereal.
    â€œOr,” added Mr. Ross. “The ancestors of the First Nations believed the Great Spirit turned evil giants into stone to stop them from bothering the people.”
    Leah shrugged. “That’s an interesting story, but highly unlikely. Your first explanation makes more sense.” Her face lit up. “By the way, we met a real Mountie when we were there.”
    Amanda kicked Leah under the table.
    Leah gulped. “He was very nice and polite. He just wanted to know if we were enjoying the Hoodoos.”
    Amanda quickly changed the subject. “Why are you home, Dad, and in such a good mood?”
    â€œIt’s the first day of our holidays, sweetie. I’m letting your mom sleep in. She had one of her headaches last night.”
    â€œSo what are we doing today?”
    â€œWhen Mom gets up, we’ll drive down to Medicine Hat. The family reunion is tomorrow. We want to get settled into the hotel and have an early start to the pancake breakfast the next morning. Wait until you meet all of Amanda’s crazy relatives, Leah.”
    â€œYou mean there are more of them?”
    â€œOh yes, lots more,” said Mr. Ross as he filled a bowl with cereal.
    â€œWill Aunt Mary be there?” asked Amanda.
    â€œYes, she’ll be coming with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Marjorie and the kids.”
    Amanda smiled, happy about the chance to finally show Aunt Mary the stone.
    * * *
    That afternoon they loaded the car and headed down the Trans Canada Highway.
    â€œThis road is so straight,” remarked Leah. “I can see forever.”
    The Ross family and their guest drove past flat, sage-green fields where delicate antelopes grazed. At times, little light-brown gophers scampered across the road, dodging traffic. Prickly tumbleweeds clung to barbed wire fences on either side of the highway. Occasionally, they drove past a herd of cows munching on grass and swishing their tails to keep the flies off their backs. The girls kept occupied by playing I Spy in the back seat.
    Three hours later, after driving for what seemed like forever, they came over a hill and descended into a lush oasis. Spread out below them, a peaceful river flowed through the middle of a pretty city, surrounded by