Buffalo Mesa Mummy

Chapter 27

“Wow! Look at that!” Charlie exclaimed when the Limousine pulled up in front of the McMillan estate in Albuquerque. It was quite an estate; spreading over a full city block and surrounded by a six foot high stone wall. The electric gate purred open and Fredrick pulled the long black car through the opening, down the long drive and up to the house.

The kids piled out of the car and stood staring at the house, which was more than huge. The two story stucco was painted a traditional light pink and was horseshoe shaped with a portico stretching across the center.

The front door opened and Miss Anna came out to welcome them to her home. She hugged them all in turn and then led them inside to look around while Fredrick unloaded their bags. Miss Anna had invited them up so they could see the house they would be living in when they came to study at the University. They were going to stay a whole week and even were to meet the president of the college. Their parents were going to drive up on Sunday. 

“I’ve been in hotels smaller than this place.” Peter whispered to Charlie as they went from room to room. Maria was so excited she fairly danced beside the older woman as they walked.

Finally, at the end of a long hallway Miss Anna opened a door and said to Maria, “I think you will be happy with this room.”

Maria went inside and stood in the middle of the room and turned a full circle with her mouth hanging open. The ceiling was twelve foot tall and one wall was entirely windows with a double French door leading out to a courtyard. A large canopy bed sat against the opposite wall and the other two walls were covered with framed photos. Most of the shots were of the desert and various cliff dwellings.

Suddenly Maria realized where she was, “Is this, I mean….”

Miss Anna placed her arm around Maria’s shoulders and smiled, “Samantha’s old room? Yes it is, and I think she would have been overjoyed for you to be staying in it. I mean if you would like. There are plenty of other rooms if you would rather….”

“No, no, this is perfect. I would love to have this room.” Maria said excitedly.

“Well, good, then it is settled. There is an advantage to this room. Do you see the garage right across the courtyard?” Miss Anna asked. There was a five car garage directly across from the room, although it looked more like another house than a place to keep cars.

“Above the garage is a nice apartment. It is where the mechanic used to live with his family. My husband loved his cars and liked them to be in perfect condition. I only need one now and Fredrick sees that it is taken care of for me.” As she spoke Miss 

Anna led the group out through the French doors and across the courtyard toward the garage.

“I thought it would be the perfect place for the boys to live while you are all here at school. It has two bedrooms, a kitchen for midnight snacks and a nice open living room.” She continued, as they reached the building and entered a side door. A staircase led up from the corner of the garage to the apartment and they followed Miss Anna as she climbed the stairs.

Like Maria’s room there was a wall of windows and a door led out onto a big covered porch that ran the entire length of the building.

Mrs. McMillan stood smiling as she watched the young friends go from room to room. When they had finished all of them went out onto the porch which overlooked the courtyard and an Olympic sized swimming pool.

“I like to swim in the afternoons during the hot summer months so the pool is kept clean.” Miss Anna explained.

“This place is incredible.” Peter said, taking in the view of the grounds and mansion. “Are you really sure you want us here messing stuff up and making noise and all?”