GUNSMOKE
"Premonitions"
Kitty wrapped the shawl tighter around her shoulders as she tried to suppress a shiver. Fall had been slow to insinuate itself, but she noted that the air was becoming crisper at sunset, and the smell of burning wood stoves was beginning to fill the air. She picked up her pace as she crossed the street, the last remnant of sunlight sinking quickly below the horizon. As she put her foot on the boardwalk to step up in front of the Longbranch, an overwhelming sense of irrational fear enveloped her, stopping her cold. The deep voice from behind startled her tremendously.
"Kitty? Is somethin' wrong?"
She shook off the odd feeling, stepped up onto the boardwalk and turned to face the marshal.
"No, Matt, no...nothing's wrong."
He frowned as he stepped up next to her, putting a protective arm around her shoulders.
"You sure? You seemed a bit spooked a second ago."
She smiled weakly at him. "Everything's fine, really." She changed the subject. "Can I buy you a beer?"
He grinned at her. "Sure..."
The big man followed her through the batwing doors, unaware of his companion's continuing sense that something was very wrong.
Doc lit a lantern, and a soft glow illumined his office. He rubbed his hands together to warm them, and realized it had grown quite cold in his room. He opened the belly of the wood stove, and tossed in a few pieces of kindling. He ignited it and a few minutes later the heat began to envelope him. He sat at his desk and opened a medical book, preparing to catch up on some long-neglected reading, but an awful sentiment pushed itself into his psyche. Doc shivered as the foreboding feeling crept over him. Instinctively, he looked around his room, and everything was as it should be. He pulled his glasses off his face, and walked over to the window, separating the curtains to peer outside; but everything on the street looked normal. Doc shook his head at himself and sat back down at his desk.
But the impression persisted. He stood, slid his hands in the pockets of his pants and began pacing, unable to shake the sensation that something awful was about to happen, despite any evidence to the contrary. And Doc Adams shivered again, knowing it had nothing to do with the onset of fall.