Fiction: Jaudon – An American Family (a novel) [36]

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Chapter 36. Rafael’s Funeral

The new century brought new and wonderful things, but it left some old things behind. The first of these was Rafael Rodrigo. On November 6, 1905, at the age of 57, Rafael died in his sleep of a heart attack. Even with his bad back, James made the trip to McAllen, Texas, to say goodbye to his old friend. He had to go first to Brownsville and there change trains for McAllen. No direct line from San Antonio yet existed.
    Now was the first time since James and Rafael were young men together that James felt alone. Rafael had also cast a long shadow over Texas.
    Claude and Ricardo also came, of course, and José and his family would arrive on the last train of the day.
    Claude and Ricardo walked through Jésus’ orange grove. After Jésus’ death, the Rodrigos had expanded the grove, and it went on as far now as the eye could see. One day it would become Juan Martinez’s, and this might be the day.
    Ricardo said, “It’s a shame your family never got to know Jésus. His vision for Texas was as large as J.F.’s vision back when my father and he rode the first cattle drives. Jésus could see the future as clearly as anyone. One day the oil will be gone, the cattle will be fenced in, but the fruit trees, which nobody is killing people over, will be what makes Texans millions of dollars.”
    Ricardo had brought tequila, and Claude took the bottle and turned it up. He coughed and handed the bottle back. “It wasn’t my doing. J.F. sent them away to be safe, and I don’t know why he didn’t bring them back. I also don’t know why Rafael or my brothers never came to the ranch to visit.”
    Ricardo took a drink and offered the bottle to Claude again, but he shook his head no. “I don’t know why my father didn’t visit J.F., but your father never came here until today. I never heard my father say one bad thing about him. Jésus and José are another story altogether. They felt abandoned. They were cast out and it was your father’s job to come and get them, which he didn’t do. You can’t blame them for being bitter.”
    They had turned and were walking back to their horses, which Cornell was holding. “Who is the Negro that you have with you at all times?”
    Claude smiled. “Cornell is my bodyguard. I was almost killed in Beaumont.”
    “So – what? – you think you’re going to be killed here?”
    “No. He just insists on being where I am. Also, there may not be any danger here, but I still feel better knowing someone is watching my back.”
    Ricardo took another shot from the bottle and smiled at Claude. “I’m happy to see that all of your money has brought you peace of mind.”
    Claude slapped Ricardo on the back. “With all of your investments, you could buy and sell me, so don’t play Poor Little Me. Millions of dollars pass through your hands every day. Some of the richest men in Texas, and even outside of Texas, trust you with their fortunes. If you’re not King of the Hill, I don’t know who is.”

    The three mounted their horses and, with Cornell out front, they rode back to the house. They saw the change to the plaza as they rode through the gate. Large, colorful sheets flapped in the breeze. They covered the square to protect the serving tables of food and drink and the dining tables for mourners from the glaring sun. On the front veranda were a number of chairs for the family.
    The trio handed their horses’ reins to the young man that came running up to them. Claude surveyed the setting. “The porch doesn’t seem to have enough seats.”
    Ricardo turned and looked hard at Claude. “This is not a Jaudon funeral. Only Rodrigos and their families will be seated on the porch.”
    Claude patted Ricardo. “Of course. That is how it should be. I was wondering about the children?”
    Ricardo pulled his shoulder away from Claude’s hand. “A nursery for the children has been set up in the house. Your children are welcome there. Even the black one.”
    Claude grabbed and spun Ricardo around to face him. “Do you wish to say something about my son?”
    Ricardo patted Claude on the shoulder and started walking away. “You might want to keep him out of the sun. He seems to get darker each year.”
    Claude watched the man he had called brother walk away. At that moment he could have killed Ricardo and buried him with his father.
    Cornell felt the tension and moved his hand to his gun. He now carried two – one under each armpit. But Claude turned and said, “Come, let’s get something to eat.”
    A table at the front had been set aside for the Jaudon family, because James would be giving the eulogy. Cornell and Claude took a seat and began to eat. A young lady brought cups with wine at the same Dominique came to join them.
    Claude asked, “Where are the kids?”
    Dominique picked up his cup and drank some of the wine. “They’re playing with their cousins and having a wonderful time. We have to invite them to visit us. The children need to know their family.”
    Before Claude could answer, James came out of the house dressed in a suit. Claude shook his head. He had never seen his father in a suit. James nodded at everyone and sat down. Everyone continued to attend to lunch, enjoying what food and wine they cared to eat and drink.
    Presently the show got on the road, as the casket was carried out and placed on two sawhorses directly down from the Rodrigo family on the porch. James repositioned his chair to face the family. Maria, dressed in black, was crying. Others on the porch, and a couple of the pallbearers, could be seen wiping their eyes.
    The priest walked around the casket with two boys swinging incense in metal containers as he prayed and sprinkled holy water on the casket. Claude looked around at the people gathered on the porch and realized that most of them didn’t speak English. He wondered whether James had thought of that.
    After many prayers and signings of the cross, it was James’ turn. He stood and walked to the casket of his old friend and placed a hand on it.
    “I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. Some of them even God may not be able to forgive. But the best decision I ever made was to invitie my friend Rafael, his wife Maria, and their son Ricardo to join my family. Rafael and I rode many a hard trail together. I saved his life and he saved my life. I never worried about my back, because I knew where Rafael was at all times. A better friend a man could never have. A better husband a wife could never have. And no children could have a better father. He was my friend, my brother, and the better part of who I am. He will be deeply missed.”
    Tears were coming down James’ face as he patted the casket one last time and said, “Pick me a good horse amigo, we’ll have a long ride ahead.”
    Claude rose and helped James back to the table.
    The pallbearers stepped forward and hoisted the casket. The priest followed them with the young boy and their incense. Then the Rodrigo family, James, and the rest of the mourners walked to the family plot outside the compound, where they placed Rafael in his grave.

Claude had rented a Pullman car for the members off his immediate family and it was on the sidetrack in McAllen, where they proceeded after the burial and saying their good-byes.
    Dominique asked, “We were offered rooms. Why didn’t we stay with the Rodrigos and your brother?”
    Claude sat beside Trey in their room on the train. “They aren’t really family. Dad was close to Rafael, but the rest of us are not that close.”
    “I don’t understand. José is your brother. His children are your nieces and nephews. How is that not family?”
    Claude sighed, “Okay, it’s family, but we’re not close family. Now please, let’s drop this subject.”

Copyright © 2020 by Ed Rogers