red hill - jamie mcguire

Chapter Twenty-Four
Miranda
WE GATHERED UNDER THE TREE at sunset, next to the place my father and Leah were buried. This time,
around a new mound of dirt. Ashley had made the cross herself, tying it together at the intersection of
wood with twine, working wild flowers into the binding. She worked on it for hours, carving
decoration and Stanley Leonard Cooper II into the wood. The only time she spoke to anyone was to
tell them she would not allow a funeral until his cross was finished.
We never had time to bury Jill, and Scarlet had buried my dad before we got here, so it was our
first funeral. I just couldn’t believe it was for Cooper. He was the strongest and the kindest of us, it
didn’t seem right that he was gone.
Skeeter, Nathan, and Bryce were filthy from digging, and then carrying Cooper’s body in from the
field. I’d been inside consoling my nearly inconsolable sister. Once she finished the cross and the
boys began digging Cooper’s grave, it all hit her at once, and she’d been hysterical for the better part
of the day.
Now that I’d coaxed her outside, she was silent. We all were. Finally, Nathan cleared his throat.
“Stanley Cooper was the best of us. We should strive every day to be as hard working, kind, and
loving as he was. He was a good friend, and brother . . .”
“And husband,” Ashley whispered. Her face crumpled, and her body shook with quiet sobs.
“And husband,” Nathan repeated, his voice breaking. “He was a hero. He saved a life. And we
should all strive to live the way he did so we can see him again in heaven.
“Cooper told me once about his little sister Savannah, how close they were, how much he loved
her, and he also told me he worried daily if she and his mother were alive. If they’re not, he’s with
them again. Maybe we can take comfort in that.”
Bryce smiled. “I remember the first time I met Coop. It was in class, and he was staring at Ashley.
Of course, I was dating the sister, so as soon as he heard that, he was automatically my best friend.
Except, he didn’t fake it just to be my friend, ya know He was a good best friend. The best.” He
cleared his throat. “I’m going to miss him. The world isn’t as good without him in it, but heaven is
better off.”
Scarlet smiled. “That was nice.”
“Don’t speak,” Ashley said. “Don’t talk here, Scarlet.”
Nathan took a step toward Ashley, but she pulled away. “This isn’t her fault, Ashley. She had to,
you know that.”
“It’s okay,” Scarlet said, motioning to Nathan. “She gets to be angry.”
“Don’t be nice to me,” Ashley said, her emotional state quickly going downhill. “Don’t fucking be