- START -

Nighttime had always been a peaceful, even depressing, time for Eve. With her husband and son both in God's good graces, she mustered about what she could for the old homestead, out in the outskirts of town. Farming hadn't been easy, but after a season's practice, she had gotten a hang of some of the smaller crops. Due to the lessening of mouths, the widow didn't need to grow much, or raise much money, as it would have been. Lighting one of the few oil lamps left in her possession, she sat down, with a novel in hand. Reading with her was still a chore, but the the practice, and the enjoyment she got, Eve was constantly getting better. She never read before her dear husband's death, but now she did, more to fill up time, now more for the little enjoyment she felt for her life after that tragic day.

Opening up the Holy Bible once again, pouring over the words she had only heard during her life, a sound turned her attention from God's Word. The widow pursed her lips, setting the thick book down. Going to the wood-burning stove, she picked up her husband's rifle, an old Enfield he kept from the War between the States. Cocking the hammer back, Eve looked out a shuttered window, and saw a horse out in the dark. Strange, it looked like a man was on top of the horse, asleep. Eve, despiting her normal logic, followed her womanly wisdom, and opened her door to investigate.

As she stepped outside, Eve could see better in the full moon light. A man was slumped over on a small horse, while the horse pawed one of the posts. When Eve looked at the horse looking at her, it ninnied, and tossed it's head towards the rider. Eve could almost swear the horse was talking to her. Eve could feel her maternal instinct turning on, as she lead the horse into her house. Grateful that the horse was both smart and small, Eve walked the horse to the only bed in the house. After a grunt or two, the widow freed both of the man's feet, and slowly dropped him onto the bed. A quick look at his flushed face and inflamed chin told the mother all she needed to know. The horse backed up as the woman all but ran outside, and came back a few minutes later with a small bucket of water. She pulled a cloth from it and laid it on the man's forehead.

Turning back to the horse, Eve smiled at the beast, and lead him out to the small barn that served for her home, and unbridled him. She set some oats into a stall and led the animal into it, where it gratefully munched on the sweetoats, and neighed in appriciation. Locking the barn door, the widow returned to her new human guest. She looked over him, disheartened by his condition. Her eyes locked on the iron he carried, but only for a second. Undoing his gunbelt, and laying it over the footboard, Eve started undoing the shirt the cowboy wore.

Her eyes widened at the wound at his left shoulder, and looked again at his chin. Bullet wounds. She had seen them before, but the man had been shot a bit ago, more than a few days. He was traveling wounded. Tough bastard, but whoever had sewed the wounds was not a trained person. Eve pulled the cloth from his head, and felt underneath, the fever was set in. Eve pursed her lips for the second time that evening, this time in knowledge. She got up and rumaged through a chest of hers, and pulled out a fairly old black leather bag, with a red staff with two twined snakes painted on it. Opening up the tote, she started sorting through the tools inside, pulling out the ones she needed.

Tonight looked to be a long night. For the both of them.

- END -

12/20/2003

Author's Note: Explainations: Widow's Weeds - Traditonal dress for a woman who had lost a husband was to wear a black dress. Usually for a fortnight, or ten days to two weeks. Enfield - An old muzzle-loading rifle, British in manufacture. Springfield's copied the design, and both American Government were sold on the American design. War betwwen the States - One of the many names for the Civil War. Another was the War against Northern Aggression. Eve's husband fought for the Confederacy. ...red staff with two twined snakes... - The ancient sign of physicians, the staff of Hermes, speed and health, and the snakes encompass regeneration and time.

Posted on 12/21/2003
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