25

The Marble and the King of Hearts

December 1977, Sunday, 6:50 a.m.

“I love you. I’ll be back this afternoon,” Gabriel said, feeling content. Standing at her side of the bed, he leaned over and kissed her tired forehead.

She rolled over and moaned. “It’s a holiday. Where are you going at this hour?” She rubbed her eyes and looked at the clock that showed six fifty a.m.

“I just need some time.”

“Everything okay?” She squinted as she looked into his eyes to see if there was anything behind his departure.

“Yes, of course. I’m going to the Cathedral. I’ll be back before dinner.”

She pulled his head down to hers and kissed his scruffy cheek.

Gabriel went to the back door and grabbed his black peacoat, twirled his gray wool scarf around his neck, and pulled his army-green knit cap down over his hair. Before getting in his Jeep, he made his way down to the water’s edge to breathe the damp, cold air. The gentle flow bubbled through the quiet canyon with a relentless peace. He took one glove off, stooped down, and dipped his hand in the frigid water. The early-morning mist hovered over the water as the glow of the dawn just started spilling into the gorge. His favorite part of the day was the awakening of morning. It meant new possibilities, a fresh start. Gabriel got in the Jeep and headed south.

After parking the Jeep off the road, he hiked for thirty minutes or so, carrying an old leather messenger bag and a small digging spade. He took the right fork on the trail and came through the last patch of trees to his familiar haunt, the Cathedral of the Sun. His pulse livened as he saw the large monolith and heard the roar of The River in the distance below. A little winded, he looked to the tops of the trees and felt the sun now peeking over the ridge. He heard the polyrhythmic melodies of a few songbirds in the trees and the occasional squirrel or chipmunk that darted about at the sound of his boots. He made his way to the base of the Cathedral to see his father’s gravestone. Just a few yards to his right, his eyes lay hold of another important etched gravestone.

Ezra Buchanan
Faithful Friend to All
Forever in The River
1894–1975

Gabriel spoke aloud as he lowered his leather satchel from his shoulder and set it on the ground next to the small shovel.

“I brought something for each of you. I know you already know this, but there is another Clarke on the way. I’m going to be a dad. Can you believe it?” Gabriel smiled and talked like they were right in front of him. “It’s a bit surreal, ya know? Taking care of a little one, I can’t even imagine. I’m already torn up just thinking about it.”

Gabriel opened the weathered bag and pulled out a small pouch. “Dad, remember when I came to visit you on your birthday? I found one of our marbles . . . well, Rio found it.” He opened the pouch and pulled out the large aggie to take one more look, almost as if he was showing it to them. “I still can’t believe it stayed there all those years.” He dropped it back in the pouch. He took the digging spade, and directly centered between the two headstones, he dug a hole about eighteen inches deep. He set the pouch down in gently. “I wanted to leave this here with you. I have all the rest of them. I just want you to know I’ll never forget what you did for Jacob and Billy, and how your story lives on in me, and . . . your soon-to-be grandchild. I’ll do my best to never let you down.” Gabriel wiped his moist eyes. He turned his attention to Ezra’s place of rest. “Ezra, I miss you. You connected me to The River like no other. I’m forever in your debt, old friend.” He reached into the bag and pulled out a playing card . . . a King of Hearts. “Whenever I play, I think of you taking all our money. You really were the king of hearts, Ezra. You always gave yourself away. You showed us how to have grace and dignity in the middle of great sorrow and adversity. Rather than giving way to your tears and becoming bitter . . . you planted them . . . you planted them in The River. You let The River turn them into joy. Joy from sorrow, that’s how I remember you. I love you, wise friend.” Gabriel set the card down into the hole. As he began to scoop the soft clay back into the hole, he wept.

The sun was in full view now, reflecting brilliantly in the dewy earth and the reddish canyon walls. Gabriel leaned back against the Cathedral rock and cushioned his head with the empty messenger bag. He watched as the occasional cloud floated by, hiding the sun’s rays. His jubilation at the triumph of his son or daughter coming into the world stood valiantly in his heart as the waves of grief rolled in, breaking on his tired mind. He knew it would never fully leave. He was starting to understand that the joy was even more beautiful when standing on the shoulders of suffering. Scenes from his life began to flood in.

Breakfast at the Cartwright farm . . .

Riding the tractor with Tabitha . . .

Climbing the tree at the pond . . .

Buying marbles from the magic river marble man . . .

His wedding day . . .

Crying with Billy at Millie’s grave . . .

Mrs. Collingsworth . . .

Rio saving his life from that snake . . .

Playing marbles with his father . . .

As he stared at the blue sky, it appeared to ripple, then some clouds started to rush together forming what appeared to be foaming white water. The scene cut to him guiding a raft that bucked ferociously in The River. In the front were two men. The white water sprayed Gabriel’s face as he struggled to rudder the raft with his paddle. The two men turned around. It was his father on the left, just as he remembered him, in his early twenties! On the right, Ezra, who appeared younger than the last time he saw him! John and Ezra smiled and laughed as they paddled vigorously.

“Isn’t this fantastic, Gabriel? What a day!” His father sounded overjoyed.

“I didn’t remember it being like this! Yee-haw!” Ezra shouted.

Gabriel shook the water from his face. “Can you tell me what’s going on here?”

“What do you mean, son? We are running The River!” John’s husky voice echoed in the canyon as the waters calmed down.

A hawk screeched high overhead.

“We are getting ready to run some of the biggest waters you’ve ever seen. Yes, sir. You are going to love this.” Ezra pulled his paddle in for a rest.

“What are you talking about? Where are we?” Gabriel looked all around the vast canyon. The walls were so high he could not see the top. The River so long he couldn’t see the end in either direction. The water was crystal blue and the cliffs a deep gray. The trees were the richest shades of green, and the rocks on the banks sparkled like gems.

“There are a few things I want you to know, Gabriel. No matter how hard it gets, you’re never alone.” His father scooted closer to him on the raft.

“Great things are in store for you, Gabriel; it’s been planned for you since the beginning,” Ezra said with wonder in his eyes as he pointed at Gabriel.

“There’s always more going on than meets the eye. Listen to the waters. They will bring you people, people you can help,” Ezra said.

“Remember, your covenant with Tabitha points to something far greater than you. It transcends your preferences. It should bring honor to her and to the ways of The River. Laying your life down for others, that’s the way of The River. Oh, and by the way, it’s a boy,” his father said.

“I think Ezra would be a good name!” The old man laughed.

“Oh no, John is a much stronger name, old-timer!”

Gabriel tried to take in all they were saying.

“Always remember, Gabriel, with The River, it’s always new. There’s always a new beginning. It’s never too late, for anyone. We all make mistakes. Once you’re in The River, the old has gone and the new has come. Have courage and lead. You were meant to lead. So live! Live with hope! I’m proud of you, son. Always remember, we Clarkes, we were made for The River! Now let’s make history!”

The old man reached over and started to tighten Gabriel’s life vest.

“I think you’re ready for the Big Water now. Make history, son.” Ezra smiled as he and John spun around to face downstream.

Gabriel felt the water rise and the raft speed up. He looked ahead to notice the water spilling over a gorge and out of view. As the raft entered the thunderous mist, John and Ezra turned around one last time.

“See you on the other side!” they shouted in unison.

The sound of the impending waterfall was deafening. John and Ezra disappeared in the mist. The raft lunged forward . . .

A new voice entered. “Gabriel. Gabriel. You okay?”

“Hold on! Hold on!” Gabriel, startled and completely out of breath, looked up to see Jacob and Billy.

“Gabriel. It’s just us. Looks like you had the same idea we did,” his father-in-law said calmly as he let go of Gabriel’s shoulder.

It took Gabriel just a second to get his bearings.

“I must have fallen asleep,” he said as he sat up in the dirt.

The two men sat down beside him, one on either side. After a few moments of silence, Jacob spoke up. “This is a sacred place.”

Then Billy. “I come here a lot . . . you know . . . to thank your dad.”

They sat in the quiet, staring ahead.

Gabriel rubbed his face, still feeling odd. “You guys aren’t going to believe the dream I just had.”

“Try me,” Jacob responded.

Gabriel grabbed a pen and journal out of his satchel and began to write as fast as he could.

“Once I get it straight in my head, I’ll share it.”

“Do you think God speaks to us in dreams?” Billy asked.

“It’s hard to know what is God and what isn’t sometimes, that’s for sure. I would like to know His mind on things.” Gabriel took his finger and began to write something in the dirt.

N e w B e g i n n i n g s

Gabriel continued, “I have to believe, though, if we’re hungry to hear Him, He’ll let us know. Somehow . . . some way, He’ll speak. Maybe through people, through dreams, through circumstances, through His mystery, and we’ll know. Hey, Fielding brothers, I want you to know something.”

“What’s that?” Jacob asked with a questioning look.

“It’s okay. We’re okay.”

Nothing more needed to be said in that moment. Gabriel got up first and offered each of his hands to the other two. The three guides stood over the gravestones of their heroes thinking about all they were thankful for. Second chances, new relationships, and a new child, all in the current of The River. Gabriel picked up his leather satchel and threw it over his shoulder.

“Gentlemen, it’s up to us now. What will you do with your new beginning? As for me . . . I’d like to make history.”