Worthy of Riches (12 page)

Jean heard a truck pull up to the house.
He's home,
she thought and quickly set a rising loaf of bread in the oven warmer and walked to the door. Will had been gone longer than he'd expected. “It's about time,” she said, opening the back door and stepping out on the porch.

But it wasn't Will. It was Frank Reed, Ray Townsend, and Celeste. Jean immediately knew that something was wrong. She pressed a hand against her stomach and stared at the truck as she went down the steps. Mr. Townsend slid out, then Celeste. Ray Townsend had a cast on his leg. Father and daughter both looked desolate. Celeste's eyes and nose were red as if she'd been crying. Afraid, Jean stood still and waited.

His face ashen, Ray hobbled on crutches toward her. Celeste stayed at his side, careful not to look at Jean.

Lord, what is this?

When Ray was about a yard away, he stopped. Leaning on the crutches, he stared at the ground, then looked at Jean.

Jean braced herself.

“Mrs. Hasper … I … I've always been a direct man, but I don't know just how to say what I have to say.”

“It's Will, isn't it? He's hurt.” She bunched up her apron and pressed it against her abdomen.

His gray eyes meeting hers, he said, “It's worse.” He glanced at Luke, who stood in the doorway. Brian and Susie walked down the steps and stood beside their mother. Ray glanced at the children, then continued, “We were tracking that bear and split up into pairs. Figuring we'd have a better chance of cornering him, I sent my partner up on another ridge.” He paused a long moment. “Will was following me.” He leaned hard on the crutches. “I fell down a ravine and broke my leg.” He glanced at his bad leg. “Will was helping me when … when the bear came at us. We only had one rifle, and it was jammed.” His voice quavered, and he swallowed. “Well, ma'am, the bear got him.”

The world tipped, and Jean thought she might fall. She managed to ask, “Is he alive?”

“No, ma'am. I'm real sorry—real sorry.”

Anguish swept over Jean. The strength went out of her legs, and she started to fall. “No,” she whispered.

Celeste ran to her and held her, then carefully lowered Jean to the bottom step of the porch. She was crying. “I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hasper.”

“What happened?” Luke demanded, storming down the steps. “It's your fault, isn't it? Tell me!”

“Please, Luke, no,” Jean said. “Not now.”

Luke glared at Ray Townsend, then stumbled back onto the porch. He stopped at the door, pressed his forehead against the frame, and wept.

Brian stepped up to Ray. “You're lying. He's not dead! He promised me he'd be all right!” When Ray didn't answer, Brian turned and walked to his mother. “Daddy's all right, isn't he?”

Jean scooped the little boy into her arms. After a few moments she held him away from her, and looking into his frightened eyes, she said softly, “Daddy's gone to heaven.”

His eyes filling with tears and his chin quivering, Brian shook his head no.

Susie joined her brother. “Daddy?” She started to cry, and Luke picked her up.

“Here, give her to me,” Jean said and took the little girl. She set Susie on her free leg and held her two youngest close.

His eyes hard and jaw set, Luke jumped off the porch and stormed toward Ray Townsend. “How did it happen?”

“Daddy was hurt…” Celeste started.

Ray lay a hand on his daughter's arm to quiet her. “I fell down an embankment and broke my leg. Your father came to help me. I lost my rifle in the fall, and your father's was jammed. When the bear came at us, we were helpless. Your father could have saved himself, but he wouldn't leave me. I told him to go.” Ray's gaze wandered to Luke's feet, then he looked into the young man's eyes. “It's my fault. When we split up, I let him go off on his own. Everyone spread out; we should have stayed close. That way, if someone needed help …” He stopped and shuffled his crutches. “I was in charge.” He looked at Jean huddled on the porch with her children. “I'm sorry. Real sorry.”

“Sorry isn't good enough!” Luke exploded, lunging at the man and hitting him.

Ray stumbled backward.

“This is your fault! And you're going to pay!” He hit Ray again, clutching his collar. “You'll pay!”

Celeste grabbed Luke. “Stop it! He didn't mean for anything to happen!”

Frank hustled out of the truck and stepped between the two. Gripping Luke's arms, he pushed him back firmly. “Settle down. This ain't gonna' help.”

Luke fought to get past him, but Frank kept a tight hold on the young man. Finally he stopped struggling. For a long while he glared at Ray, then the fight went out of him, and he dropped his arms. He started to weep, and with a lurching run, headed toward the fields.

Leaning heavily on his crutches, Ray watched him. “I didn't mean for anything like this to happen.”

Her voice hard, Jean said, “You better go.” Turning tormented eyes on Celeste, she asked, “Can you send Adam and Laurel over?”

“Yes. Right away.” She hugged Jean, then broke down again.

Jean held Celeste away from her, then without another word, picked up Susie, grasped Brian's hand, and walked into the house.

With Susie in her arms, and supported by Laurel on one side and Luke on the other, Jean made her way to the gravesite. She stared at the plain wooden casket. How could his lifeless body lay in that box? How could he be dead?

This is a nightmare. I'll wake up soon.
She glanced around at family and friends. The minister stood at the head of the casket, his Bible in hand. Birds sang, the sun felt hot, and mosquitoes assaulted bare skin. This was real. Will was gone.

An unbearable ache squeezed her chest and throat; tears burned her eyes.
How will I live without him?

Laurel tightened her arm around her mother. “It'll be all right, Mama,” she whispered.

“No. It can never be all right.”

A murmur moved through the mourners, and Jean looked up to see Ray Townsend and Celeste join the gathering.

“What's he doing here?” Luke asked.

“I don't know. I don't want trouble, so keep still. And I don't believe your father would mind him being here. He died for that man.”

Luke didn't say any more, but he continued to glare at the intruder.

The minister met Jean and the children. Taking her hand, he said, “You have my deepest sympathy, Mrs. Hasper. Will was a good man, one of the finest I've known. We'll all miss him.”

Jean only nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

The minister returned to stand at the head of the casket. He scanned the people, and finally his eyes stopped on Jean and her children. “Our Lord is a God of comfort. He will not forsake you in your time of grief. Lean on him and he will sustain you.”

He opened his Bible to a place he had marked. “Isaiah 41:10 says, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.'” He lifted his eyes. “Grieving is a human emotion, and it is right and good for us to come together to mourn the loss of someone we love. Mrs. Hasper, I want you to know
that we are all here to help you through your sorrow. You're not alone. Above all, remember it is God who upholds us all.”

Heads nodded, and compassionate eyes sought out Jean and the children.

“On behalf of the Hasper family, I want to thank you all for coming.” He paused. “We know the length of our lives is limited, that a day will come when each of us must face death. For some, life will be short, but all who belong to the Lord have an eternity in paradise waiting.” He glanced at his open Bible. “Three days ago Will Hasper faced his day of death and began his eternity. He would want us to rejoice.”

The minister scanned the faces and smiled. “Will would be pleased to see so many of his friends and neighbors here. He loved you all.”

Many cried openly while others fought their tears. The reverend read several passages, finishing with Psalm 23. His own eyes moist, he went on. “We've lost a good man, but Will Hasper will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He's waiting for us.” He looked at Jean. “And those he's left can be assured that sorrow is only for a time. Joy will return.”

He bowed his head and finished with a closing prayer. Then the choir broke out into a chorus of “Rock of Ages.” People joined in. Jean tried, but grief choked off the words.

When the singing stopped, the minister looked out over the people. “Before we close, would anyone like to say something?”

Surprisingly, Miram spoke up almost immediately. “I remember when we were on the boat.” She sniffled. “I thought we were sinking. Mr. Hasper was real kind to me, and he went right down to check to see what was wrong.” She blew her nose softly, then continued, “He's always been that way—kind and helpful. I'll never forget him.”

Drew Prosser was the next to speak. “I've only known Will since we met on the train two years ago, but I realized right off he was a good man, someone who could be counted on. He's been a friend to me and my family. I'm grateful I had the chance to know him.”

Struggling to keep his tears in check and holding Laurel's hand, Adam faced the people. “When I first started out with all of you, I was pretty obnoxious.” A flicker of a smile touched his lips. “Even so, Will Hasper treated me fairly and accepted me just as I was.” He wiped his
nose with a handkerchief. “He was the only father I ever knew. I grew up in an orphanage, but he was my dad. I've never known a finer man.” He choked back a sob, and Laurel hugged him, crying softly.

Several others spoke up, and then it was quiet. The minister said, “Let's pray.”

“Wait a minute. I have something to say.” Ray Townsend stepped forward. “I know some of you don't think I belong here, and you're probably right, but I wanted to say good-bye to one of the finest men I've ever known.” He cleared his throat. “And I need to say something to all of you.” He gazed at the casket.

“You all know that Will Hasper saved my life, but he did something I don't think most of you know. He showed me Christ, and he saved me from an eternity without God.” Tears washed into the big man's eyes. “He didn't have to stay with me. He could have left me and saved himself. Instead, he stood beside me and faced that bear with nothing but a club. I've never known anyone who gave his life for someone else, and especially not for an enemy.” He glanced at the minister. “I've been in church a lot of years, and I heard about Jesus Christ and about how he died for mankind, but I never really understood it. To me Jesus was just a symbol of goodness, someone from history.”

He searched the faces of his neighbors. “After all this happened, I closed myself off with my Bible, and I began to read … I'm ashamed to say for the first time in my life. Now I know Jesus is real. He lived in Will Hasper. Will gave his life for mine, and now I understand.” Again tears filled his eyes and he wiped them away, struggling to go on.

“I'm the worst sinner in this valley, but Will stayed by my side. I'm the last one to deserve compassion. After everything I did, he should have hated me. But not Will Hasper. All he could see was another human being who needed help. So he stayed. And he died.

“I've been praying and searching for the truth. Will died in my place. Jesus Christ died in my place.” He looked at Jean. “I understand now. I've accepted God's love and forgiveness; I'm not the same man I was three days ago. I'll understand if you don't forgive me. It's all right.”

Jean only stared at Ray. What could she say? It was too soon to know what she felt. Right now, all she wished was that Ray Townsend were dead and Will were alive.

Ray turned back to the crowd. “This might not be the time or place, but I've got something else to say. I've been thinking on it, and I've got to tell you. Here it is.” He took a deep breath. “I've done some terrible things, things I'm not proud of.” He glanced at Celeste. “I'm sorry, honey. I have no excuse.”

Clasping his hands behind his back, he continued. “Ever since Ellie passed away I've been angry—at myself and at God. For a long while I took it out on anyone who irritated me, and when the colonists came, I focused on them. They were an easy target, and I took out my bitterness on them. I figured if life was bad enough they'd leave, so I made trouble for them in lots of ways.”