Thunder on the Plains by Gary Robinson Page A

wanted to stay for the rest of the meeting. There was another topic the council was discussing that Robert was interested in. I decided to take a look around the tribal offices.
    Most of the offices were closed, but I noticed one open door. The sign on it said “Tribal Chairman, Buddy Spotted Horse.” My curiosity got the better of me. I went in to take a look around.
    The tribal chairman had a nice big office with a lot of stuff hanging on the walls: Indian paintings, awards, plaques, and certificates. Who knows what they were for. On his desk were many stacks of papers. I moved in closer to get a better look.
    I noticed a stack of papers with the tribe’s official seal stamped at the top. I picked up the top sheet from the stack and looked at it more closely.
    It was the chairman’s official stationery. Next to the stack were some letters that the chairman had signed.
    Then I got an idea! In my mind, I flashed back to school in L.A. I remembered the little prank I pulled with the principal’s stationery. I thought this time I could do something important.
    Quickly, I glanced toward the door to make sure it was safe. No one was around. I took five or six sheets of the stationary from the stack. I grabbed one of the signed letters and quietly slipped out of the room.
    I stepped back into the council room just as the meeting was ending. After the meeting, I showed the papers to Crow.
    â€œWhat are you going to do with those?” Crow asked.
    â€œGive Yellowstone National Park a reason to release fifty buffalo to us,” I answered.
    Crow’s puzzled look told me he didn’t understand what I was saying.
    â€œNever mind now,” I said. “I’ll tell you later. Right now, I need you to do something for me. Can you find that list of phone numbers of the kids from survival camp?”
    â€œI guess so,” Crow said. “My dad has that somewhere at the house.”
    â€œTomorrow, get on the phone and call them all to a meeting for next Saturday afternoon.”
    â€œWhat for?” Crow asked.
    â€œWe’re going to rescue us some buffalo.” I could hardly believe what I was saying. “But don’t tell anyone else. It’s our little secret for now.”
    I was able to sneak the papers home without Robert or Grandpa seeing them. The next day I began my buffalo rescue project. Using my computer and a scanner that was small enough to hold in my hand, I started creating a letter. The tribal chairman didn’t know it, but he was about to write to park ranger Jasper Perkins at Yellowstone National Park. The letter asked the park to release fifty head of buffalo to Danny Wind and his “associates” on behalf of the Rocky Point Tribe.
    On Saturday, Ben, Charlene, and a couple of the other kids made it to the meeting site: the Pizza Hut in Buffalo Gap. I revealed my plan to them.
    â€œWe’re going to ride horseback for two days across the country to rescue a herd of buffalo and bring them back here to Buffalo Gap.” Everyone looked shocked.
    â€œYou’re nuts,” Ben said. “What makes you think we can pull off a stunt like that?”
    â€œA week in the wilderness with you guys,” I said.
    Charlene looked straight into my eyes. “If Danny thinks we can do it, then I say let’s go for it.”
    I blushed. But it felt good to have her support.
    After a few more minutes of discussion, the kids agreed to help out. This would be great. I was on a roll.
    The next step in my plan called for a real leap of faith. I needed to ask Grandpa to take the forged letter to Jasper Perkins in person. This would make our story more believable.
    I took the risk and laid the whole plan out for Grandpa. It was like lighting a match to a pile of gun powder. When I was finished, Grandpa whooped and hollered until I thoughtthe whole house was going to come crashing in. He hugged me close and said, “When do we start?”
    The next day,