Wade Garrison God's Coffin by Richard Greene

Author:Richard Greene [Greene, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Richard Greene
Published: 2014-06-08T20:00:00+00:00

Twenty-One

The Funeral of Jasper Talbert

Four days after the accident, a gathering of friends and neighbors stood under the oak tree next to Jasper’s pine coffin that was resting on two boards spanning the width of the grave. An elderly preacher by the name of Jonas Drake dressed in a black suit and tieless, white shirt buttoned to the collar stood at the head of the grave. He had a long, thin, somber, clean-shaven face and his thinning, gray hair fluttered in the slight breeze. His soft but powerful voice read the words printed on the flimsy paper of the Bible he held. The soft breeze played in the leaves of the oak tree above the grave accompanied by chirping birds that seemed happy on a day of sadness.

Wade stood behind Sarah with his hands gently on her shoulders as she sat on a wooden, high-back chair next to her mother. Sarah and her mother held one another’s hand, their free hand holding white hankies on their laps, already damp from tears. As the words of the Bible flowed from the preacher’s mouth, Wade stared into the distance at the Rocky Mountains as his thoughts found his son lying in bed, his leg broken, and his head bandaged. He looked down at his wife, Mrs. Talbert, at Seth, and finally, the pine coffin holding Jasper’s broken body wondering if Booth Fox was responsible.

“Amen,” said the preacher

Wade looked from the Rocky Mountains to the pine casket hearing the silence that seemed everywhere as he, Tolliver Grimes, Harry Block, and Seth Bowlen walked to the edge of the grave and the pine coffin. Wade and Tolliver bent down, picked up two ropes, and handed the other ends to Seth and Harry Block. Then, as if rehearsed, they slid the ropes under the ends of the coffin and lifted it, so the two the wooden planks could be pulled from under it.

Everyone was standing with heads bowed, looking solemn as wives held onto their husband’s arms while small sobs mixed with the sound of the lowering of Jasper Talbert’s casket. Janice stood at the edge of the grave and looked down into the shadows at the coffin that held her dear, dead husband. Sarah put one arm around her mother and gently moved her back as shovels of dirt were tossed into the open grave, sending back lonely, thunderous echoes that seemed so final to Janice Talbert.

Food to Ease the Sorrow

As is the custom, neighbors, friends, and ranch hands gathered on the front porch, in the yard, and inside the main house to talk of Jasper’s life. While the women went about the business of food, several of the ranch hands gathered chairs and placed them around the yard so people would have a place to sit and eat.

Janice Talbert made it a point to visit and thank each person for coming to Jasper’s funeral, making sure they partook in the food. Wanting to keep busy, Sarah fixed a plate of food for Emmett, who was now awake and complaining about everything.

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