Pilgrimage (The New World) Read Online Free Page A

the sheriff as he drove by, but Robert had asked him not to do anything that might tip off little Jessica. Elizabeth knew all too well the meaning of an ambulance returning from a scene at a slow and quiet speed. Either everything was just fine, or the worst had happened. She also knew that whatever the case may be, she had an extra little girl to watch over until informed differently.
    Following the suggestion of Ross, Robert agreed a long walk to clear his head was in order. That would ultimately be safer than driving over to the Wright’s place and it would give the two of them a chance to discuss how to break the news of Grandpa Hank’s death to Jessica. The time to cover the half mile walk was somewhere between the deliberately slow pace Ross had set with Jessica, and the frantic sprint of his return to the house. During the walk Robert and Ross had one of their best conversations in recent years. It was just a shame that such a devastating circumstance had been necessary to create more of an open dialogue between father and son.
    As they opened and moved through the front gate, Elizabeth stood from the bench on the front porch. In an act of pure habit she smoothed the front of her dress to become more presentable for her company, but she knew it was wasted motion. The facial expressions of Robert and Ross showed her that her appearance would go un-noticed because the worst had happened.
    Patty and Jessica were playing inside the house, so Ross was sent in to retrieve them while the two adults conferred. When they all returned, Robert picked up Jessica and put her in his lap as he sat down on the front porch bench. A few seconds later she was crying in her father’s arms, and Ross began to weep as well. He had been strong up to that point fearing that crying was a sign of weakness, but he knew that Patty and her mother wouldn’t hold it against him. A short time later Robert thanked Elizabeth for keeping an eye on Jessica, and she offered the service anytime he needed help. In spite of her leg now being rested enough for the walk home, Jessica rode home with teary brown eyes on her father’s shoulders as the three of them trudged onward in quiet contemplation.

 

     
     
    NEWS OF GRANDPA Hank’s death spread through the town quickly, and the weekend went by in a blur. Robert had contacted Fort Hood to request some emergency leave for the arrangements of the upcoming funeral, and the elementary school had been notified that Ross and Jessica would be absent at least one day during their final week of class.
    It was very strange for Ross and Jessica on Monday morning to be riding to school in their father’s car as opposed to Grandpa Hank’s truck, and Ross got a blank stare from his father when he reached out his arm for the parting handshake. At the diner, Hank’s friends whom he shared coffee and conversation with every Monday through Friday raised their cups in tribute to a fallen veteran, and Mable shed a tear.
    The funeral had been set for Wednesday morning before it got too hot, and the majority of the town came to the cemetery for the service. Before leaving the house that morning, Robert had a few quiet moments with Ross. He handed him a necklace with a small shiny emblem attached that had belonged to Grandpa Hank, and informed Ross that it had been his grandpas wish that he be given the necklace when he passed away.
    Ross had of course seen the necklace many times before, and had spoken to his grandpa about the origin of the emblem on several occasions. He thought it had been a secret between the two of them, but apparently Robert knew all about the origin as well. Ross immediately put the necklace on, and then loosened his shirt and tie so that he could wear it inside of the clothes just as his grandpa had always done. Robert patted his son on the shoulder as Ross readjusted his tie, and then asked him to go check on his sister.
    The family sat together in quiet reverence as the color guard from Fort