“h-h-Hi,” Mica stuttered nervously and took the empty seat next to Garnet on the sofa.
Myron joined the eight adults gathered on the back patio. Clifford introduced his pleasant–faced housekeeper, Helen, to the new arrivals when she brought out a tray with glasses and a large pitcher of iced tea. Clifford retrieved his camera from inside and asked her to take a group shot of them. There was quite a bit of shuffling as they all gathered in close for the picture.
When they resumed their seats to enjoy their tea they separated. The women sat together on one side of the patio and the men the other. They chatted easily getting to know one another.
Before long Helen poked her head out the door to announce that dinner was ready. She explained that it was being served buffet-style because the dining room table couldn’t accommodate fourteen people.
When the kids arrived more introductions were made. Alice had been warned by Roberta that Phillip’s daughters looked like twins, but Richard didn’t know and was astounded by their resemblance.
Helen asked the teens to fix their plates and take them outside to the picnic table to eat. The food was arranged on the island in the kitchen with drinks in a cooler on the floor. The teenagers took their food and drinks out onto the patio while the eight adults took their food to the dining room table.
“Roberta and her family have been staying here at the house with me,” Clifford addressed his comment to Richard who sat on his right hand. “Myron suggested that you and your family stay at his house. He has a spare room. I made reservations at the hotel for Margie, Carol and their girls.”
“Thank you,” Richard said, nodding to Myron. “That is very generous of you. I think Mica will enjoy getting to know Garnet better.”
Mica held his silence, but he wasn’t so sure. Garnet and the rest of his cousins hadn’t made him feel very welcome in the TV room. They’d asked him a few questions but when he stuttered and stammered they quickly left him out of the conversation. Mica hadn’t made much of an effort to join the conversation, since he felt they all thought he was stupid.
“Okay, we will all meet back here at 9 a.m. and then go to the mortuary together. Is that agreeable?” Clifford said glancing around the table for confirmation.
The day of the funeral dawned bright and clear. Clifford took a cup of coffee out on the patio before anyone else woke up and enjoyed sipping it while watching the sun come up over his beloved Ruby’s rose garden.
“Please God help me get through this day,” he prayed silently. “Help me to remember that Ruby is in heaven with you Lord, and that I will be reunited with her there. Please God, bless my children and grandchildren. Help us all to deal with our grief and be able to move on with our lives. Please God, let my grandchildren accept the challenge that Ruby planned for them and use the time together to become friends with each other. Amen”
The family assembled as planned at the Warren home. Clifford went in when they arrived. When everyone was there he again asked Helen to take some group pictures. It took some doing to get everyone arranged for the pictures and it helped keep their minds off the coming funeral.
The funeral was public and there were lots of people in attendance; people who knew Ruby from Volksmarching and the Garden Club, as well as friends from Church, and Clifford’s former co-workers. The actual graveside service was to be private.
They had several speakers get up and share stories about Ruby before the Minister gave a short sermon and prayer. At the end of the memorial service Richard, William, Myron, Mica, Flint, and Garnet served as the pallbearers.
The hearse led the funeral procession through the cemetery gate and wound through the graves to a tent covered open grave where Ruby would be placed to rest. After the short ceremony, sensing that Clifford needed some time alone, the others quietly withdrew.
Richard looked back and saw his father kneel down beside the open grave to say a private goodbye to his wife. As he continued to watch Clifford gently tossed a bouquet of yellow roses onto the casket and stood up.
Clifford walked briskly down to join his family, a tearful smile on his face.
“She’s home with Jesus,” he said and hugged each family member in turn. “Our tears are for ourselves because we’re left behind. She wouldn’t want us to sad.”
“Let’s go home and prepare to celebrate her life with the people who will be coming to visit.
As expected many Volksmarching friends came by to offer condolences and share stories of their adventures on the trail. Trails shared with Ruby. The President of the Midland Walkabout Club brought along a pineapple upside down cake.
Roberta called Opal over and asked her to put the cake in the kitchen with the other food.
“That girl and another niece both live in your area,” she said to make conversation with the woman she’d just met. “Opal lives in Odessa, but the other one live in Midland.”
“We would love to have them come do some of our walks with us,” the lady replied eagerly.
“They are going hiking with their grandfather in Big Bend soon,” Roberta told her. “If they like that sort of thing they may be getting in touch with you.”
The doorbell rang and she moved away to answer it, and usher in more visitors.
Clifford knew most of the volksmarchers personally and they all stopped by his chair to pay their respects. He was tired and the effects of the prolonged visit began to show.
Finally the long day came to an end and he was able to retire to his room and spend some time alone with his grief of his lost love.
The day after the funeral Richard invited his Dad, William and Myron to join him for a round of golf. His Dad turned him down.
“Thanks son,” he said, “but I’m expecting company. Y’all go ahead without me.”
The three men dressed in golf shorts, polo shirts, and ball caps left to go hit some balls.
The ladies loaded the teenagers up into two cars and took them to play the miniature version of the sport.
The quiet house didn’t last long. Clifford’s guests, Evan and Ava Wright, arrived soon thereafter. Clifford had contacted Evan and told him that it was time to deliver the six walking sticks he’d carved for him the previous year.
Clifford had promised to pay handsomely for their delivery and explained that Ruby had died and all his family was in town.
Clifford drew the Wrights into the living room and asked Helen to bring them all some tall glasses of iced tea. Evan handed over the walking sticks and Clifford turned each one around admiring the carved designs and then laid them aside.
After they were seated and the tea had been delivered he proceeded to explain that he’d ordered the sticks for his six grandchildren.
“Ruby, as you know, loved Volksmarching,” Clifford began, as his friends sipped their ice tea and listened.
“Our grandchildren are strangers to each other. We’ve been remiss in having family gatherings. They never came here for summer vacations. Ruby realized that they would all be here for her funeral. She came up with a plan for them to get to know each other better.”
“We didn’t mean to play favorites with our grandson Garnet. It is just that he lived here and the rest of them lived far away and because of circumstances with their parents we didn’t get to visit often, and for some of them not at all. Divorce is just as hard on the grandparents as it is the children. We both missed getting to be part of our grandchildren’s lives and we thought of them often.”
“To make a long story short, Ruby came up with the idea of my taking the grandchildren hiking in Big Bend to hunt treasure after she died. We’ve done Volksmarches there. You know, you have Volksmarched there too.”
The Wrights nodded in agreement.
“Anyway we were familiar with the trails. So awhile back, while Ruby was still able, we hiked there and planted some caches for the grandchildren to hunt for.”
“That’s what the hiking sticks are for,??
? Evan said with a smile, “hiking in Big Bend.”
“Exactly!” Clifford continued. “It will be a perfect opportunity for me to get to know them and for them to get to know each other. Although Garnet has done Volksmarches with us, we’ve never taken him to Big Bend so it will be new to him also. I think the teenagers will enjoy the adventure and being outdoors. At least I hope so.”
“You haven’t told them yet,” Ava guessed.
“No, they will find out at the reading of the will tomorrow. If they do the hunt they will get access to their trust funds for school and approved activities immediately. If they don’t want to do it, they will have to wait until they turn 25 to get the money Ruby set aside for them.”
“I think the young people will do better on their own without their parents to fall back on,” Clifford continued to lay out the plan. “But I can’t look after the three girls properly. I was wondering if I could impose upon y’all to come hike in Big Bend with us. Ava would you mind being the chaperon for the three girls?”
Ava ran her hand through her short gray curls and exchanged glances with Evan at this unexpected turn of events. Ava knew she had vacation time coming she could use. She shrugged her shoulders and let Evan decide for them.
“I will, of course, pay all your expenses,” Clifford coaxed them, giving a big toothy grin.
“Sure, we’d love to come,” Evan agreed smiling back at him. “When will we be going? Ava will need to request vacation time?”
“If the grandchildren agree to this, we will leave next Monday and we will be there six days and seven nights. Ruby designed it so each one of the grandkids would lead a hike. Since McCamey is on the way we will stop and pick y’all up.”
The conversation turned to the grandchildren and Clifford told Ava and Evan about the shock of Phillip’s two daughters looking so much alike. With all the arrangements made the Wrights soon took their leave.
Because it was easier than assembling fourteen people in his office, the lawyer came to the Warren home for the reading of the will. The family assembled in the living room, the adults on the sofa and in the chairs; the teenagers standing near their parents or sitting on the floor nearby. The lawyer stood in front of the white brick fireplace and unfolded the document.
“As you probably all expected,” the lawyer began, “other than a few small bequeaths everything was left to Clifford. There is a list of jewelry here and an estimated value for each piece. All the jewelry is being left to Roberta. However, her cash bequest is reduced by the value of the jewelry. Once you get your bequest if you want to get together and exchange the jewelry the fair price is shown.”
“Clear so far?” he asked, making eye contact with each of the adults in the room all of whom nodded agreement.
“Good!” he continued. “The cash allotted is $50,000 to Richard, Myron, Margie and Carol. Roberta’s cash allotment is $20,000.”
He again looked around to the room. “Any questions?” he asked.
Margie and Carol looked stunned. Neither of them had expected anything to be left to them.
“Fine, now we come to the grandchildren’s bequests,” he glanced at the will in front of him. “Mica, Flint, Crystal, Garnet, Amber and Opal are each to receive a trust fund in the amount of $25,000, but these trust funds have some strings attached.”
The room erupted in jubilant chatter as the excited teenagers discussed the news. He stopped talking till the noise quieted down. When he could be heard again, he continued.
“Let me explain the details of the trust. I’m sure you are all well aware of Mrs. Warren’s love of the outdoors and Volksmarching. She felt compelled to share this with the children. She has requested that the six grandchildren accompany their grandfather to Big Bend National Park and do some hiking with him.”
Clifford had positioned himself next to the lawyer so he could gauge the reaction of the teenagers when they heard the news. As he expected, when he heard the news Garnet glanced at him with a big smile and nodded.
Flint and Crystal exchanged horrified looks. Amber and Opal turned to look questioningly at their Moms who were shaking their heads “no” at the idea of their daughters going off to Big Bend. Mica simply stared glumly at the floor.
A confusion of everyone talking at once again ensued. The lawyer raised his hand for silence.
“There is more,” he said. “Please, let me continue.”
“Ruby, who told me she hoped you wouldn’t think her a sentimental old fool, selected six trails and hid a cache at the end of each trail. I have here the first clue that tells which trail is to be hiked first and which one of the grandchildren is to lead the hike.”
“Let me get this straight.” Garnet interrupted him. “Are you saying that to get our inheritance, we are going to have to hike six trails in Big Bend?”
At the quick nod of affirmation from the lawyer Garnet burst out gleefully, “Too cool! I want to lead the hikes!”
Again the lawyer raised his hand for silence. “The actual money is in the bank, in a trust fund,” he informed them. “If all six of you grandchildren don’t all agree to hunt for the treasure map, the money won’t be available to any of you until you reach your twenty-fifth birthday.”
“So we all have to agree to this hiking deal in Big Bend or none of us get our trust fund?” Flint asked in disbelief, stressing the ‘none’.
“That is correct,” the lawyer confirmed. “If you all do the hunt and find all of the caches then the trust fund will be available to pay college or vocational school tuition expenses and give you moderate living expenses as long as you are going to school and get good grades. It can also be used for private music lessons, art lessons, etc. It is up to the trust fund administrator what qualifies. It can’t be used to buy a new car or take a vacation in Europe!”
“The decision doesn’t have to be made today, so I will let y’all discuss this, but let me give you the rest of the conditions so you know the whole deal.”
“We better let them talk it over for a few minutes,” Clifford advised. “Let’s take a short break.”
They stepped out of the room and an uproar of everyone talking at once erupted behind them.
Garnet was the only one whole-heartedly for the adventure. “This is going to be so much fun,” he told Flint.
“I’m not sure how much fun this will be, but I think we should do it,” Flint agreed with him. “I really can use that money for college next year.”
Garnet turned to Mica.
“You could use the trust money for a tutor for Guitar and Voice lessons,” he told him, knowing that is where Mica’s interest lay.
Mica was uncommitted, so Garnet turned his attention to his three girl cousins. He found them harder to sway.
“I don’t think I can do one hike, let alone six of them. I just don’t think I am physically capable,” Opal said in horror. “I’m not the outdoorsy type you know.”
“We can take as long as we want to reach the end of the trail and we will rest often,” Garnet said encouragingly.
“I’m an artist, not an athlete,” Amber added her input, growing impatient with him. “Why not just wait until we turn 25 to get the money?”
“Come on Crystal,” Flint joined the conversation appealing to his sister. “You’re a cheerleader. You’re probably more fit than I am and you know I really need this money for college.”
“Mom just inherited $20,000 she can afford to send you to college now,” Crystal said.
“Why should she have to give up her inheritance when we have our own?” her brother retorted sharply.
“Fine!” Crystal said with a resigned sigh. “I’ll do it just so you can get your stupid college money.”
“Thanks Sis,” Flint said, then turned his attention to his girl cousins. “Please!” he begged them.
The girls looked to their mothers for guidance. The women had been sitting there trying to take it all in. The other parents ap
parently had no qualms about letting their kids go off on this hiking trip. Margie and Carol weren’t convinced on the safety of the venture. Carol was particularly apprehensive about her 13 year old going on this adventure.
Carol stood up and signaled for silence.
“I need a lot more information before I can agree to this,” she said.
Garnet hurried out to bring the lawyer and his Grandfather back in.
The lawyer continued with the details about the hikes.
“First, if all six hikes are not completed, it will be the same as if you never did any of them. Second, the Trust Officer requires a picture of all six of you at the cache locations holding up the treasure. This is so you can’t cajole your grandfather into taking you to the last location and letting you out of doing all the hikes.”
The lawyer turned to Clifford and smiled. “Your grandmother, Ruby, knew he might give in.”
Clifford’s rueful grin was admission that Ruby had been right to make the rule.
“Each grandchild will take a turn leading a hike. That way you will all learn. The first hike will be led by Opal. It is the easiest hike and she is the youngest. Your grandmother asked me to tell all of you that she hoped the hunt will teach you to work together as a team and get to know each other.”
“Good Luck!” the lawyer said folding up the will and placing it in his briefcase. He shook hands with Clifford and took his departure.
Clifford brought out the walking sticks that he and Ruby had ordered carved. He started with Opal and asked them each to pick a stick.
“Wait a minute,” Carol said as Clifford brought out a stack of boxes.
“I haven’t agreed to let Opal do this,” she reminded him. “The only way I’ll let her go is if I come along.”
“I want to come along too,” Margie chimed in.
“No need to worry,” he reassured them. “I won’t be the only adult on the trip. I have some friends, a married couple named Evan and Ava, who will hike with us and help me chaperone. I felt the girls needed a woman to stay in their room with them at the resort. They will be in good hands, I promise they will be safe.”
“I’m not sure hiking is safe,” Carol continued to object. “What about rattlesnakes? And I’ve heard there are mountain lion and wild hogs in Big Bend.”