Doc slowly drove his little black buggy along the road to the cemetery. He tried to look at the prairie land Sam had loved, but the numbness of his heart made the beauty surrounding him seem harsh and shadowy. The melody of the birds and the soft breeze was discordant and even the brightness of the sun was cold that day. Blind with tears, he drove past the cemetery, then stopped the horse and climbed down to walk slowly back.
Doc sighed and wiped his eyes. Everybody in town was sorry for him these days. He could see it in the faces of the friends he had made over the years. It was evident even in people who didn't know him particularly well, or didn't like him for some reason. Most of all, it showed in Matt and Kitty and Festus.
Matt and Kitty. Doc dearly loved them both but he found no comfort in them now. For a long time the old man had secretly hoped to one day give Kitty away at her wedding to Matt, though he knew the chances of that happening had never been good. He respected their decision to love without commitment but it was hard, very hard, to tolerate their relationship now Sam was gone. Doc had so wanted to give his whole life over to her he lost sight of the fact Matt and Kitty were content as they were. He felt a bitter pain whenever he saw either of them-they still had the chance to marry and have a life together while he had lost that chance forever.
As for Festus, he had never found a woman he wanted to spend his life with. The deputy seemed a man destined to be alone, and his solitude was painful to Doc as the old man reflected on the dreary reality that he too was destined to live out his life alone. Lost in sorrow, Doc automatically followed the path to Sam's grave, and he was almost upon it before he saw Festus kneeling next to it.
The deputy had a huge bunch of wildflowers and he was rubbing the headstone with his kerchief. He looked up dully as Doc approached, then got to his feet. "I wuz just brangin' her some flowers, Doc."
The old man felt the sting of tears. "She loved wildflowers the best of all. She said that hothouse flowers never knew what it meant to really live...out under the sky..."
Festus turned and laid the flowers against the stone, then straightened and put his kerchief on. His mournful hazel eyes were downcast as he said softly, "I'll just be goin' then...s'pose you'd ruther be alone..."
Doc caught his friend's arm. "I'd rather you stayed."