Riverbreeze: Part 1 (30 page)

Once the song was over and the members of
Tyler’s family were seated once again, the minister opened his
prayer book to the section titled, The Order For the Burial of the
Dead. He turned and faced the coffin, intoning. “
I
am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live’ and whosoever liveth
and believeth in me, shall never die. I know that my redeemer
liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth;
and though his body be destroyed, yet shall I see God; whom I shall
see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger.
We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed
be the name of the Lord.

Robert snorted quietly and turned aside,
showing his back to everyone. A gasp of shock came from behind.
Elizabeth glanced at him, confused by his behavior. He was on the
verge of being completely disrespectful.

The minister continued, “
Remember thy servant, O Lord…he may go from strength to
strength, in the life of perfect service, in thy heavenly kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord…Amen.”

“Amen.” The people recited. And this time
even Robin recited the word, copying everyone, and then turned his
expectant face up to his father, wanting praise. Robert was forced
to give it.

At that point, the minister nodded to the two
servants who had been waiting off to the side. They stepped forward
and Phillip and Jamie also stepped up to the coffin. Together the
four of them lowered the coffin into the grave using ropes that had
been placed underneath the coffin in readiness. Then the minister
called Maureen and their children to stand beside Phillip at the
grave. Jamie returned to his place beside Evelyn. As Maureen,
Phillip and the three oldest children each picked up handfuls of
dirt to throw on the coffin, the minister intoned, “
Unto Almighty God we commend the soul of our brother departed,
and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to
ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection
unto eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

One by one Maureen, Phillip and the three
oldest children dropped their handfuls of dirt onto the coffin.
Maureen was weeping pitifully and Phillip had to keep his arm
around her to support her. Jamie and Robert were expected to go
next, and Jamie, his expression solemn and sad, held out his hand
to Robert in a gesture of both need and of support. Robert took it
and gave it a squeeze, then let it go, knowing he would need his
stick in order to walk to the grave. Jamie waited for him, then
together, along with Robin in Robert’s one arm, they approached the
open grave. And also together they helped Robin gather a handful of
dirt and prompted him to release it over the coffin, saying, “Say
goodbye to Granddad, Robin.”

Robin obeyed, not fully understanding, his
little voice saying, “Bye, bye, Ganddad.” And his little hand
opened and closed in a wave, while the onlookers let out a
sympathetic, “Aawww…” Jamie brushed a tear away while Robert
scooped his son up and crushed the boy to his chest for a
grief-stricken moment. Then they sat down again, heads bowed.

The minister intoned the final prayer,
“
The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his
face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up
his countenance upon us, and give us peace, this night and
evermore. Amen.”

The night was quiet except for the crackling
pine torches, the stars started to fill the sky and Evelyn’s small
hand slipped into Jamie’s larger one and Elizabeth’s found its way
into Robert’s.

Even among this solemn moment, she felt
peaceful and hopeful of their future.

Chapter Nine: An Invitation is extended

They thought the service was over and folk
began to stir. Even Robert and Jamie were surprised to see Phillip
stand up and face the people. His voice was loud in order to gain
the attention of the dispersing crowd.

“Friends!” He called. “Our good friends. My
wife and I would like to thank all of you for your kind words and
support tonight. This was a most unexpected tragedy and we are
grateful for your company in our time of sorrow. But nothing has
changed in regard to the arrangements that we made earlier; our
home is available to you at any time as well as my
father-in-law’s…And speaking of my father-in-law…” At this point
Phillip actually smiled and his voice became more cheerful. “…he
has provided in his will powder and shot for the firing of guns in
his honor.”

The men erupted at this news, cheering and
hooting and hollering. Even Jamie’s face lit up and he immediately
turned to Robert, his eyes sparkling with hope and anticipation.
“May I?” He asked, and Robert laughed, nodding his head. The
brothers never shot their guns for pleasure alone. It was a waste
of powder and ammunition, but since someone else was providing the
powder and shot, there was no reason not to participate.

But before the men dashed off to the house
like a bunch of frenzied maniacs to retrieve their guns from the
kitchen, where they had left them when they had arrived, Phillip
waved his arms, calling out again to settle everyone down to
announce more news. “Please…please…everyone!” He called.

Finally everyone quieted enough for him to
continue. “I have one more important announcement to make.”

Robert frowned. He couldn’t imagine what
Phillip was going to say. Unless…He looked at Elizabeth and she
just smiled warmly at him and squeezed his hand.
How can she be
so calm about
everything
? He thought.

“…As you all know, my cousins by marriage,
Elizabeth and Evelyn Tyler…” Here he nodded politely to the girls.
“…have just arrived in the colony only three days ago. My
father-in-law had been appointed their legal guardian by his
brother, who unfortunately lost his life many months ago in London.
When Francis suspected that his life was coming to a quick end, he
made arrangements in his will for the future of his precious
nieces.” Phillip’s use of the word precious was in no way sarcastic
here. It had actually been a huge relief to him when he had been
told about the terms of the will. He already had a large family to
care for, and while the twins might have been a great help to
Maureen around the house, he didn’t want the responsibility of
supporting them and eventually finding them husbands. He was glad
to hand them over to the brothers, so his voice increased in volume
and enthusiasm as he announced, “Tomorrow morning you are all
invited to stay for the marriages of Elizabeth and Evelyn Tyler to
the Bassett brothers….”

This time the whole crowd broke out in a
flurry of gasps, exclamations and even a few cries from the once
hopeful teenage girls. They didn’t even wait to hear which twin
would marry which brother. John West, who was standing behind
Jamie, reached forward and grabbed the brothers’ shoulders, saying,
“Congratulations, lads!” Roger, worried for Robert, appeared from
behind John West. With concern in his eyes and in a soft voice, he
asked Robert. “Are you all right?” Robert nodded, a small smile on
his face, alleviating Roger’s concern. Then both brothers and the
twins were forced to stand and turn around to receive the onslaught
of congratulations and best wishes. Even the petite Mrs. Jenkin had
pushed her way through the people to personally offer her heartfelt
good wishes. She was particularly pleased; she hadn’t had to use
her matchmaking skills at all. It seemed that Mr. Tyler had had the
same thoughts as she had.

Presently the hoopla died down and the men
remembered there was some shooting to do. The girls had already
left with the women and children, including Robin; their ears
ringing from all the chatter about wedding plans. Jamie ran off to
the stables to fetch his and Robert’s pistols where he had left
them when stabling the horses. And Robert was once again left alone
with his best friend, Roger.

“I’m sorry, man; I’m so sorry about Francis.”
Roger spoke first, genuine sorrow in his voice. He gave Robert a
sympathetic hug. “I know how fiercely he loved the two of you; and
you, him.”

“Thank you, Rog, I appreciate that.” Robert
stepped back first, but squeezed Roger’s upper arms for dropping
his hands. He noticed that Roger was outfitted for traveling. He
was wearing a buff coat over his beautiful velvet doublet, a powder
horn slung over one shoulder, a shot pouch slung over the other
shoulder, the straps criss-crossing in front of his body. And there
was a sheathed dagger at his waist and his pistol was also tucked
into his belt.

Robert frowned at him. “Are you leaving or
joining the men?”

“I’m afraid I have to leave.” Roger said
reluctantly. “I must get home to Nikki.”

“Of course you must.” Robert said, trying not
to show his disappointment. He would have liked to have had Roger
at the wedding with him tomorrow. “I’m surprised you came at all
today with Nicole so close to her time.”

“She was the one who insisted I come.” Roger
said with a soft smile. “She knows how much I was hoping to see you
today.”

“Give her my best, will you? Tell her I shall
come to visit after the baby is born.”

“I will, but I still have a few minutes. Tell
me.” Roger said, his voice unusually soft and serious. “Was it in
the will?” He didn’t have to explain himself. Despite the fact that
Roger had teased Robert and Jamie earlier about the twins, he
hadn’t wanted his friend to have to remarry in this manner. He had
wanted Robert to meet a woman, get to know her first, fall in love
and then marry. He didn’t believe that anyone should be forced into
a marriage.

“Yes, it was.” Robert heaved a sigh and sat
down heavily on the bench. Roger sat down beside him, taking his
pistol out of his belt and placing it next to him on the bench. He
then draped his arm around Robert’s shoulders.

Nathan and Dolnick were shoveling dirt onto
the coffin and filling the grave back up. Robert felt a shiver run
down his spine as he listened to the sound of the shovels scraping
into the dirt and then the clumps landing on the coffin in soft
slaps. He heard laughter, shouting and yelling, come from the men
and then the first loud volley of the night. Both of them looked
over at the chaos and hoped no one was accidentally shot or killed.
It had happened in the past, but the tradition couldn’t be
suppressed. Even Jamie was right in the middle of the mob, laughing
and shouting just as loud, shooting, reloading, then shooting again
just as quickly as the others. This was a real treat for him,
Robert knew.

He waited for the noise to die down before
adding, “Francis had it written up earlier today. He suspected he
would need the new will soon.”

“But the will hasn’t been recorded yet, has
it?” Roger knew the law, almost everyone did.

“No.” Robert said simply. “But it does not
matter. We’re all in agreement. I will marry Elizabeth tomorrow
morning and Jamie will marry Evelyn.”

“I’m surprised you’re not ranting and raving
about taking a new wife.” Roger chanced teasing Robert seeing how
Robert seemed to be taking it in stride.

This time Robert nearly laughed. “I’ve
already done that…and not only about taking a wife.”

Roger did laugh. “I heard. The poor doctor
was highly insulted. You’ve made two enemies today, I fear.”

“Do not remind me.” Robert groaned.

“What does you bride think of your behavior?
Did she run screaming to the hills?”

Robert made a wry face, but chuckled
nevertheless. “No, but she did tease me…”

“She teased you!” Roger laughed, pleasantly
amused. “Oh, I think she is going to be perfect for you.”

“Mmph.” Robert couldn’t think of what else to
say. Then: “She’s teaching Robin to speak French.” He grumbled.

“French!” Roger exclaimed.

“And she wants me to learn it too.”

This time Roger really laughed out loud. “I
can just see you now in the tobacco fields, cursing the hawk worms
in French.”

“Maybe I’ll be able to talk them off of the
plants with pretty words and my nose in the air.”

“Get off---get off, you disgusting, filthy
worms!” Roger said in a very bad French accent. “Heed my fancy
words and my turned-up nose!” He was tilting his face up and pushed
the tip of his nose up with his forefinger.

Robert was about to join in, but one of the
other guests, a gentleman dressed all in black, suddenly appeared
from out of the dark. “Excuse me, gentlemen.” Peter Burnett said in
an extremely cultured voice. There was a touch of disdain in his
tone also.

Both Robert and Roger looked up at the man, a
little surprised. They hadn’t even heard him approach. Robert had
never liked Burnett, nevertheless he spoke first. “Burnett, how are
you, man? What can I do for you?” He asked, studying him. Peter had
always been a very serious and reticent man. Robert had never known
him to smile too much or to engage in light conversation. He was
extremely pious, never missed church services and looked down his
long nose upon those that did. Robert wondered how the man could
even stand to be in the same company with him!