Risky Undertaking Read Online Free PDF

of grief. Family rifts can be exacerbated into ugly scenes. I didn’t think such a history existed between Luther and the mayor, but why take a chance?
    Attendees got to their vehicles quickly. Uncle Wayne started the hearse. I signaled to Tommy Lee that we were ready. Instead of a deputy, the sheriff was driving the lead patrol car for the procession. Deputy Reece Hutchins would trail, but then he and the sheriff would leapfrog through intersections until we were outside the town limits.
    The journey from the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesboro to the cemetery on Bell Ridge was about five miles. Our community was one where oncoming traffic still pulled to the side of the road out of respect. We would keep our speed below thirty-five miles per hour to give time for those maneuvers.
    We traveled in silence down Main Street until we reached the outskirts of town.
    â€œIt was a lovely service,” Luther said.
    I glanced in the rearview mirror. Luther was speaking to his daughter seated beside him.
    He put his arm around her. “Your mother would have been very pleased.”
    â€œSo many people came,” Sandra said. “Almost the whole town.”
    â€œShe had lots of friends,” Luther said, his voice choking.
    â€œThen why would somebody send that note to stay away from the cemetery?” Sandra asked.
    â€œWhat?” The question popped out of my mouth before I could stop it. A tingle ran down the back of my neck.
    â€œI was going to mention it later,” Luther said. “This morning, we found a plain envelope mixed in with the sympathy cards. There was a broken feather and an order to stay away from Bell Ridge. Must have come yesterday.”
    â€œWas it signed?”
    â€œNo. But it had to be that Indian. Can you believe it? My wife’s not even in the ground and he’s making threats. I was going to tell you later. Right now I don’t need the aggravation.”
    â€œDad, we don’t know who did it,” Darren said. “It’s not worth getting upset.”
    â€œDid one go to the mayor?” I asked.
    â€œNot that I know,” Luther said.
    I wondered if that letter had been intercepted by someone in the mayor’s household who would have known the mayor would overreact. I decided not to mention that Archie had received the same message.
    â€œDid you save it?”
    â€œYes,” Luther said. “It’s at the house.”
    â€œI’ll talk to Tommy Lee. We should look at it.”
    â€œOK. Thanks, Barry.”
    We began the climb up Bell Ridge. As we neared the top, the brake lights on the hearse flared. I made a quick stop and skidded a few yards on the gravel.
    â€œCan’t you get us any closer?” Luther asked.
    We were a good fifty yards down the hill from the original Heaven’s Gate Gardens. I craned my neck to look beyond the hearse and saw that Tommy Lee’s patrol car had also stopped. He was getting out.
    â€œMaybe something fell across the road,” I said. “Tommy Lee’s checking. I’ll see if he needs help. Stay here.”
    I got out. Uncle Wayne was opening his door. I heard drums. And then I saw the picket line.
    Six marchers walked counterclockwise in an elliptical pattern over the width of the road. Their steps crunched the stones in time to the beat of two small drums played by two men standing at either side of the formation.
    Jimmy Panther held the largest sign, “Respect Our Dead As Well.” Other signs read, “Dignity in Death” and “Cherokee Rites Are Rights.”
    I recognized the man and woman who had been with Panther earlier in the week. The others, a mixture of men and women, appeared to range in age from late twenties to mid-thirties.
    They walked solemnly without speaking. No chanting. No native garb. No ceremonial paint. The men wore dark suits and the women, dark slacks and white blouses. They could have been attending a funeral themselves. I