Chapter 4
An elderly woman climbed down from the wagon. Matt reached out to help her to the ground. She swatted at his hand, "I can do it!"
"Just trying to help." Matt admitted.
"I didn't ask ya fir it, did I?" She hatefully returned. "Been gettin around by myself for some time. Don't need no help."
"No ma'am. Guess you didn't." Matt scratched his head under his hat.
"Now," She slowly made her way to the fire and took a seat on a old log, "I did, however, ask if there be somethin' I could help you with sonny." Her old eyes looked Matt over.
"Yes ma'am." Matt followed. "Well..."
She didn't try to hide her impatient ways as she reached for something beside her, "Well?" She threw her head and acknowledged the log opposite of hers laying across from the fire, "Have a seat cowboy," Looking past Matt, "and tell your nosey friend to stay away from my wagon. "
"Nosey?" Festus chimed in, "I wasn't doin' no such thing... I was just..."
"Puttin' your nose where it ain't much welcomed..." She clucked scoldingly. "That usually don't end well where curiosity is concerned."
"Beg your pardon miss," Festus came around to stand where Matt was sitting, "I was just..."
"Festus, sit down." Matt commanded as he pulled Festus to the sit beside him.
"I was just wonderin, Matthew." Festus turned to Matt, "... I wasn't hurtin no body. I just thought..."
Cutting him off, "You boys from Dodge?" The witchy woman asked as she looked in the flames. "I passed through there earlier..." Looked in Matt's direction, "I remember you," Turning her gaze to Festus, "but not you... You hadn't returned from your trip yet."
Matt never took his eyes off the ghost like creature as her eyes bore through the fire. Removing his hat, Matt dusted it off, "Yes ma'am. We're from Dodge. Name's Matt Dillion..."
She finished, "United States Marshal..." She grinned wickedly, "Knowed all about you fir sometime." She tossed her head toward Festus once more, "I also know a plentiful on your deputy friend here."
"Well, I seem to be at a disadvantage..." Matt challenged, "You know my name and job title, but I don't know one thing about you."
"Like to keep it that way..." A hiss escaped her mouth, "Name's Tsura."
"You from around here," Matt continued to dig, "or you just passing through?"
Tsura regarded Matt, "I have no roots. I don't stay in one place too long. Unlike your sidekick there, you already knew the answer before you asked that there question." She hacked on the smoke created by the dying flames, "I ain't here to cause you grief Marshal," she stood, "as long as you don't cause me none."
Matt stood, "Just so we understand Miss Tsura. Dodge's future is unknown. Its residents live day to day. My town is happy." Festus began to stand. Matt placed his hat on his head and continued, "We don't need some self-proclaimed, clairvoyant gypsy planting unrealistic hopes and unknown changes in their minds. The present time is already difficult enough... they don't need to add future worries to their plates."
A scratchy laugh started but ended in another deep cough, "I reckon I can respect your wishes as long as possible." Tsura cleared her throat, "Remember, Marshal, their lives are in your hands... their futures are in mine."
Matt's warning gaze lingered another moment, "Have a good night." Matt turned to Festus, "Come on. It's getting late. I need to start my evening rounds."
"Alright Matthew," Festus faced forward as Matt followed behind, "It was sure nice meeting you... Have a good night ma'am." Festus tipped his hat.
"It was a pleasure meetin' you, Festus." A smile slithered over the weathered face. "Oh, and Marshal..." Matt turned back in her direction as she continued, "You'll remember... Ain't got no reason to be doubtin' that... We both know these ol bones don't lie."
Matt stood still for another moment. He tipped his hat and turned toward the horses. Tsura headed to her wagon's back door... She watched Matt and Festus as she began climbing the wagon's stairs. She smiled knowingly as the dark shadows swallowed them. She turned back to the door, "Come on, Wink... We need our rest. We have a big day tomorrow." The one-eyed mutt crawled out. He shook off the lose dirt and barked as if he were talking. Tsura chuckled, "Just 'cause you got an opinion, don't mean you can voice it." Wink dropped his head. "I'll think about it. First things first." She smiled. Wink's wagged his tail as he climbed the stairs. Tsura followed closely behind... locking the door.
The ride back was quiet. Only hoof beats and sounds nature lent, kept them company. It was dark. Matt replayed the conversation with Tsura in his mind. Bones? That dog... Wink? It seemed so familiar... He couldn't put his finger on it. Matt's head hurt trying to put the pieces together. He's never been a big fan of the eccentrics like preachers, rain men, and fortune tellers. They were the kind of people who played with people's emotions. Frustration building, he decided to put it on the back burner. Matt shook his head as if he was shaking the thoughts out of his head.
"Matthew?" Festus quietly asked, breaking the silence.
"What is it Festus?" Matt still sounding distracted.
"What was that old bird cluckin' about? Can she see what's in the future?" Festus trying to understand. "I don't see how that old crow can know my future, Matthew. I ain't even got the slightest clue what the next hour brings... let alone the next day."
"It gets complicated, Festus." Matt let out a sigh, "Every gypsy is different... but they're all cut from the same cloth. They ask questions that manipulate your emotions, then pay close attention to your reaction."
"She didn't see us ride up, so how'd she know I was with ya?" Festus tried making sense of the night.
"We don't know that... She probably heard the horses and peak out to see who was there." Matt waited for the next question.
Thinking of another example, "Alright. She knew your name and that you was a marshal."
"Really?" Matt chuckled, "That's too easy. Just think how many drifters, cowboys, and gunslingers you see come from miles away just to visit Dodge... How many of those come knowing I'm the Marshal of Dodge?" Matt shook his head, "I've lost count. Nah... She could have found that out easily if she wanted to." Knowing the next question, Matt went ahead and answered it, "And your name and job title fall under that category as well."
"I guess you're right, Matthew..." Festus paused for a moment, "There was one thing..."
Riding down Front Street, Matt grunted as he climbed out of his saddle, "What's that Festus?"
Festus thought before asking, "How'd she know I was on a trip?" Festus turned to look at Matt, "Only me, you, Doc, and Kitty knew I was leaving for the day..." He climbed of Ruth.
Matt's heart jumped. He didn't have an answer... but memories began flooding back.
"That's what I was thinkin, Wink." Tsura reached down to pat the aging dog's head.
She climbed out of bed and moved to her table. She turned the oil lamp up and reached into a cubby hole next to her. Pulling out an old burlap bag, she shook it. "You're right Winker. These old bones have been in the dark too long." She shook the bag again, listening to the clinking of the bones. "Let's see what story they want to tell," She emptied the bag on the table in front of her. Bones of all different shapes and sizes fell and scattered. She waited for the bones to land where they need to, "Well ol' boy," the dog still laying on the bed, wagged his tail, "This is some story. It's a long, but strong one, with many testing moments... but it's the best kind of story, Wink. It's a secret love affair. It's a beautiful tragedy." The dog barked in agreement. Tsura smiled and looked back to the bones. The smile was short lived. "Must death follow life so closely?" Dropping her head, "Their world is about to change... again." Looking out the window that faced Dodge, she sadly shook her head as she collected the bones. Turning the light down, she returned to her spot next to Wink. She was still alive, but knew she didn't have much time. Her aging body was a constant reminder... these old bones wouldn't be around much longer.
TBC