Chapter 9

"I hope I didn't offend you too much this afternoon." Matt spun his hat in his hand, "I haven't made you feel very welcomed. I guess, I just get defensive when unwanted pieces of my past find me. I had no cause to view you as a threat or treat you as one. That's not me."

"It's your stubborn ways and that hard head of yours." Tsura smiled. "To tell you the truth, I didn't come expecting a happy reunion or a warm welcome. That's not why I'm here. I'm here to warn you." She stood and dusted a shelf, "You came alone this time." She observed. "You come to talk?"

"Yeah. You got a minute? " Matt asked, "I need some answers."

Organizing some books, "I'm almost finished. Have a seat." Tsura motioned toward the familiar table. "You want some coffee?"

"I think I need something stronger than coffee." A weary Matt smiled. "But yes, I'll take a cup."

Tsura pointed at a bag above Matt, "That's where I keep my good stuff. You're welcomed to it.

Matt turned to look. He shook his head and yawned, "No. Coffee will keep me awake. I don't need to cloud my mind."

She carried a tray, "Here ya go." She sat across from Matt.

"Thank you." He took a sip and looked around the wagon. "Looks the same on the inside." He turned to face Tsura, "I can tell ya one thing... you sure have changed."

"Yeah. The body does that... it ages and loses its lust." Tsura brought the cup up to drank. "You said you got some questions. Searching are we, Little Matthew?"

Matt chuckled. "More like remembering..." He hesitated, "I remember all of it. I remember you riding through town. I remember this table... that dog... your black cloak. I had forgotten everything about that whole week. I remember I left that night angry. I just swore up and down, I was going to prove you wrong. You can see where that got me." Matt lightly laughed at the thought.

"I told ya that stubbornness would come in handy." Tsura smiled. "Helped cheat death a time or two, hadn't it?"

Matt smiled, "You were right. Everything you said has come to pass." Matt glanced down at his badge. "I guess that's why I've never worried about dying... You never never mentioned death at a young age. You talked about decades... So I figured if I'm not going to die any time soon, I didn't have anything to fear. I'm still here, so you had to be right about that also." Matt shrugged his shoulders and took another sip of coffee.

"You've become the hero I was talkin 'bout." Tsura winked and asked, "How's the new family working out?"

Matt laughed. "It's a sight when we're together. They make me smile." On a more serious note, "I'm proud to call my family members, my friends. They give me strength and encouragement... They give me a reason to live."

She smiled warmly, "That just does wonders for this ol' heart. It brings life to my old bones." Her smile faded, "Speaking of bones, that's why I'm here. I don't have much time and you need to know what's ahead."

"Are you leaving?" Matt questioned.

"I'm dyin." Tsura admitted. They both dropped their heads. Matt felt the sadness. Tsura picked up the bag and shook the bones. She dumped them on the table. Matt moved in closer. Tsura studied where they landed. "See those?"

Matt nodded his head. "Is it something bad?" He looked up at Tsura.

She met his gaze, "Yes." She pointed at a pile of broken bones, "They're gonna try and break you down. Take what's not theirs and kill anyone who gets in the way. They've done it before and have succeeded in the past. There's not much time. This evil is close and they will come."

Matt sat back in the chair, "I'll make sure that ends here." Matt crossed his arms in confidence, "I can handle them."

"And you will." Tsura paused, "Just remember, when you decide to be heroic, it will affect things. You will come closer to death in the hours ahead than anytime before or here on after. You won't die from the hands of men but by the hands of God. Love will be your Angel of Death. Your love for what's over your heart and in your heart, will one day be absent from your life. In the end, a bullet piercing your heart won't sting like that of heartache. Your final fear will be confirmed. You will succumb to the loneliness and only then, will life be taken from your body."

The thought of dying from a broken heart was unfathomable, "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." Matt stood, "I think I should be going! Tsura. It's getting late. I have a friend I'm meeting after my nightly rounds. It doesn't usually end well when I make them wait."

They walked outside. "Enjoy your night and be mindful. Remember your friend... she's worth it... they all are." Tsura promised.

Matt paused to think of Kitty and smiled, "I no longer feel empty, that's for sure. That void was filled years ago." Matt cinched his girth and climbed on Buck. "Well, until next time Miss Tsura."

"There ain't gonna be a next time young Matthew." She smiled up at him. "I'll be gone by sunrise."

Matt tipped his hat and smiled, "I'll come see you off then." He spurred Buck and headed back to Dodge.

Another deep cough brought blood to her hands, "I won't be here to welcome you. It's time for these old bones to be laid to rest." She watched him disappear once more. She smiled at the memory of a young man, now grown.


The next morning Matt and Festus rode out to say goodbye. "Wagon's still there, Matthew." Festus pointed.

They rode up. It was quiet. No barking dog emerged. The fire was still smoking from the night before.

"Reckon they're here?" Festus watch Matt walk around the campsite.

"I know she's not leaving her wagon. This is her home." Matt walked up the stairs and opened the door. "Tsura? Wink?" Matt called quietly as he walked further in. He removed his hat out of respect. There she lay in her black cloak with white hair framing her face. Wink was curled up beside her. Life had taken it's toll... Death had taken them home.

"Cha find 'em Matthew?" Festus walked in and stood by Matt. He saw the still bodies, "They ain't dead, are they?"

Matt nodded his head in confirmation. "Come on Festus." Matt sighed. "Let's get a flat rig out here and get these two to Percy."

"Sure thing, Matthew." They headed toward the door. Matt stopped and turned to Tsura and Wink. He admired her determination, he respected her wisdom. She had finished what she needed to... she had warned him about the danger ahead. As she promised, their paths had crossed briefly and death had traveled with her.

Matt placed his hat on his head. Pausing, he said a silent "Thank you." and walked out.


A couple miles out... a group of outlaws were closing the gab between them and Dodge City. They were planning to take over the town and be out by dawn. Mace Gore led the pack and had no intentions of leaving empty handed.


The End! :)