The Book of Common

My Ride part two

Folks sun wasn't quite up yet, just a hint of light shown across the hardpack, that's when I seen that pure white horse. White like none I've seen before.
Ranger, sittin high in the saddle. Texas way tell by that funny bend across the front of his hat, his shield holdin it up. Lan sakes get a kick out that.

Of course probably thought, I looked strange, a mix of Virginia and Ohio uniform, I hads on grey and blue shirt an pants tan hat with a feather eagle at that. Showing I was from Ohio. Folks I gots a strange feelin lookin at him, best I could describe is one of. Well, let's say wonder, think that is the best word, I know of. Yet I had the feelin we had met at least, maybe seen him before.

He smiled as he rode in closer, Common he said as he waved his hand. Billy Bob Travis at your service Sir. Heard him say easy Bone as he pulled the reins slightly. Climbed off his horse, I am thinkin took the time ta name a horse. Hell, never named one, think because never had same critter for more than two months. Till recently, switched thum out at the next station, unlessin it was a good animal.

What I mean by recently five year ago, my it been that long. Yep it has Common ya old fool. I say Common Howard, at your service Sir, morning ta ya. Would offer some coffee don't have none, how's a Corn licker sound? Never ta early fer that now is it? He tugged that duster a his some, crossed his arms, say that a be fine.

Folks that bottle was sittin on the ground. Well I bent with an awful crack an pops of the joints. Think I even grunted and groaned a might. Then I just plopped down, well dang near fell, ta be honest an all. That Travis, didn't rush ta help nor say a word. He took a seat right next ta me.

Gettin old I say, then we meets eyes. Yep knows this feller, least ways feel I do. I say have ta be heathens an drink from the bottle, as I hands over the bottle. He say might strange way ta spell liquor, L I C KE R as he spelled it out. See Folks told ya it spelled thats a ways. I say, yep never understood it, guess the owner couldn't spell. Rather medicinal in the taste, but it a do.

Goodness that Travis, his nose curled up, lips an mouth went ta shape like no other I have seen. Told ya I say bit on the harsh side. Good fer what hurts ya! Travis well took another drink, handed it back. He say why that burns from the mouth ta ya whole insides! I say puts that piss an vinegar back in ya. We both laugh hard an then, well I breaks that so called ice.

Billy, what brins ya this away, this forsaken Wasteland, ya cross the dunes, I bet ya did? He nodded, say worse than any desert I crossed, this hard ground beats all I've seen. Like a solid sheet a rock with stones thrown about. I took a good pull of Corn Licker, say yep none the likes I've seen. So why ya here I say, handing him the bottle.

Common he say, I am lookin fer a fella. Been little hard on me ta find him. Might hard thought I needed help fer a spell. Folks my ears perked up, my mind went ta chase. 

That's when I saw it, he kinda glimmered some, same with his horse. Like he faded then came back. Don't thinks I showed I noticed it, bein an Ranger an all. Ya learn ta act natural, when ya just seen somethin, out the ordinary. Folks I have seen this Billy Bob before, out the corner my eye. Straight on, always after people die. Seen him with two hounds also. How many times, lan sakes more than nough ta know, this be Death or as Pa called him, The Wizard!

He took another pull on that bottle, say Common I came lookin fer you. It's close ta time, just wanted ta meet ya. Know the person, ya are not the dead one. That at times can be confused and sometimes a bit hard ta send home. Folks I knew it was close, this close, That my escort ta Home is sittin next ta me!

Lan sakes! I aches can't hardly move, I ain'ts ready have few thins I must do first. He hands back the bottle, Billy I say between drinks, few terms I haves, then I'll go peaceful like. Folks that corn licker, or maybe I is dead now. Don't thinks I am dead. Least ways doesn't feel thats a ways.  The pain is gone, my thinkin the corn drippins are workin. Billy reached fer the bottle.

Asked what, terms that be? Ya have some time left I am early, how much not certain. Just know ya are ta pass on soon. Some reason I don't know when. That Common ain't normal most the time.

I laughs, look at Billy an say just cause my name is Common don't mean I is Common at all. My terms are ta see the dunes, find that young red headed Shield, I know she is near. Get her ta where she is goin. Plus I say ta write this down in my book of memories. That Billy Bob, is my terms. As I took the bottle, say one last drink. Need some fer later.

Well he kinda did that glimmer thin again, this time I touched him while he was doin it. My hand went straight through him! Lan sakes what a fright! Billy say sorry sometimes slip in an out of corporeal state. I say what's that mean? He smiled best way ta say it is, sometimes I lose the solid form. Folks I was about ready ta pull the cork on that corn drippins again.

Then Billy Bob, say terms Common it don't work that a ways. We can start, once it's over it's over. Folks got some of the terms, least I am writin this down ain't I. I say guess we best head south an east towards the dunes an Black Mountain. Billy Bob nodded and mounted Bone, hell I gots on my horse no pain at all. Clicked my tongue, and we headed south an east.

Might long winded best break here, finish out next time.