Sand of the Hour Glass

Someone bumps into him, almost knocking him over. He's forced to look away in order to catch himself. "Asshole!" He shouts.

He straightens himself and looks back to the window, remembering what he saw. But there, in the window, stands a woman in a conference room giving a speech, to a bunch of stuff suits. He looks around, still trying to find himself.

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The town is quiet, every door is closed right now except for one. The church, as you get closer you can hear the people inside singing their hymn's, And then the preacher starts to talk.

"Today I thought I'd come to you today to talk about Hope." Father Stevens begins. "Hope is a very precious thing. It's almost as precious as the love of God, Without either none of us would survive. Before the world turned to dust in the winds, there were tests done with babies. Some of them we left alone with very minimal human contact, Some had more than they could really use."

"The "scientists" of this time, were cruel, they found that a child left alone most of the time, with very little human contact. Would not live for more than a few months. However, the ones that were given all the human contact they could need thrived." Father Stevens continues. "Now this, this was not the kind of things that should be done. Ever again. But what it shows us, is that without human contact, without hope, we would die very quickly and easily."

The congregation shouts "Amen! Praise Jesus!"

Father Stevens continues to preach raising the people's hope for the week ahead. Knowing that there is very little hope in the world around then. They sing more, some of the congregation come up and testify. The whole church is alive with the spirit and the hope of a better tomorrow. Jeremiah stands outside down the road, knowing that no matter how hard they pray nor matter how much the preacher brings them hope, this world is not long for the present. Many towns have died out, Most of the worlds population is dead, or settled in bigger cities that have been able to thrive under lawlessness. If you were lucky enough, you'd become part of the right gang.

Jeremiah pulls out his little leather pouch and rolls him a smoke, strikes the match against the heel of his boat. Taking a few puffs, that familiar nasty taste hits his tongue, then becomes a welcomed feeling. The warm smoke, filling his lungs, and then that smooth rush of lightheadedness comes. He smiles looking up as the people spill out of their pinewood church, dressed in what one could really only consider their Sunday best.

Coraline comes up to him smiling, "Good morning Mr. McGowan. How are you this fine Sunday morning?"

"Well, I am just a bit better now Miss. Bethal." He says not really looking at her, but off in the distance. "The Pearcherman give you the strength for another week?"

"You can't hold it against him, he means well, but you and I both know there is something wrong with this town." She looks off into the distance he is, and says.

She reaches up and takes the rolls cig from his rough fingers, her fingers toughing his. She takes a few drags of it and give it back to him. "Something on the horizon, isn't it?"

He nods taking a long drag, tossing it and crushing it under his boot. "Something bad, big. But not sure what it may be." He holds out his hand for her to step up to the boardwalk.

"I've been speaking with some of the council members, Some of them are very interested in meeting you. It's not often a gunslinger reaches our town, the last one came thru way before I was ever here. Would you be willing to speak with them?" She asks.

"What is it they want to speak with me about?" Jeremiah asks.

"Right now I think some of them are just very curious to meet you period. Marshall and Sunshine however, they are the town's founding family. I believe they may try to offer you a position here in our town. It's been awhile since we've had a lawman." She look at him, and notices he grinds his teeth hearing this kind of news. "You will just thinking about it won't you?'

"I will, just don't let them get their hopes up, alright. Last time I accepted something like this, it didn't end well. And that is all I say on the subject." He says, not looking at her. They enter the tavern together for the big Sunday meal.

The towns folk enjoy being able to eat together all the time. Seems to make things easier, they know everyone gets feed this way, and no one goes without. Even Ginny, the towns oldest living resident of 118 years. Some of the younger woman and girls help take care of her, feeding her and helping her around the town. Then the farmers, can't really call them that, since there really isn't much that can grow in the desert, sitting together laughing and sharing stories of years long past. Then they spread out into their own little family trees. The children running around laughing and carrying on.

Coraline and Jeremiah walk in together and some of the people stop to look, but quickly go back to their meals. They walk over and pick up plates, forks, and cups, then proceed to fall in line with the others, the food is served buffet style with some options served by the chef and other cooks. Jeremiah leads her through the tables of people and children looking up at him with curiosity in their eyes. Some of the kids smile brightly, he scares a few into tears, others look on quietly possibly trying to figure out what he is really doing here. They take a table that just had a family leave. Jeremiah stacks up whats left of the dishes helping the young boy, Jeb, working hard to bus the tables as fast as they empty.

They sit across from each other and begin to enjoy their meal, the places starts to empty faster, Jeb scurries from table to table and he notices this grim look on his face. Some of the people actually try to walk through him as tho he wasn't even there. Further still some of the older folks push him, or hit him, one man even spat at him.

"Whats wrong with him?" Jeremiah asks nodding in Jeb's direction.

She looks up to see what he is talking about, "Oh who? Jeb? Honestly I can't say, he just kind of showed up here from the desert one day. No one knows where he came from or why. He doesn't speak to anyone, really doesn't like to be touched. But he is a hard worker and Mandy is happy to have him. She scared away the bullies in town one day, she took one look into his eyes and she didn't even have to say anything. He just came with her and started working." She explains. "He is a good person, I think the desert did something to him or something was done to him and then left in the desert."

"Hm." He mutters, and goes back to eating. The two finish their meals and head back to the motel where Jeremiah has arranged to stay for awhile, Since Coraline also owns that as well.

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A roster crows as the sun breaks into the dark night sky, the clouds ripple as the air slowly begins to heat. The rays of sunlight flicker and fall against the barn of the Durham ranch. Men have been up for hours already, feeding the horses, letting the cattle graze in the field and doing the rest of the every day chores for a busy ranch like this one. Jeb struggles to keep up with his father Royal and Ben, his uncle. Together they run the ranch, the two men continue to talk about the many projects that need to be finished before the winter season comes.

"We need to get that new well dug before the ground freezes." Royal says, "We also got 40 miles of fence that needs mending, and not to mention the 30 head of cattle that have gone missing, they couldn't have just disappeared, there has to be a trail. I want you to put Weeping Willow on this, he's out best tracker give him anything he needs." He tells his brother some more details as they walk the the huge garage where the farm tractors are maintained. The noise is so loud it drowns out the conversation of his father and uncle.

Jeb is always curious about whats going on, so he wanders from tractor to tractor, looking at whats going on. The men say hello and talk to Jeb what they are working on. There's Fred whose rebuilding a transmission, then there's Tom who knows everything about mechanical stuff. He's trying to improve the farms tractors and harvesters to run better, faster, more efficient.

They walk into the "Alright, so who do you want to put on the fence mending?" Ben asks.

"Who hasn't been carrying their weight around here lately?" Royal asks. "Anyone who you feel hasn't been putting in, they get the fence job, makwe sure they got camping equipment," he thinks for a moment, "How long you think that will take them?""well it all depends on who we put on it, what are you thinking?" Ben replies.

"Well, Round them up and then we will see where we go from there." Royal nods. Anything else we need to discuss?"

"Some of the men have been asking about getting some time off, maybe go into the city for some fun. The 'Autumn Harvest' ids coming up lotta the guys are looking forward to their pay and being able to go. Something to think about."

"Yes, very true, it is that time again isn't it." Royal mutters, he isn't particularly thrilled about having to take time off from the farm. For hime its a way of life, from sun up til sun down he is always thinking and doing the work of the farm. "I will think about it more than likely I'll hear it from the Mrs.'s tonight."

"Aye probably, other than that, I don't think there is anything major going on. I've got some minor tasks that need to be done" Ben tells him.

--------------------------------------------------------------- Knock knock!!

Knock knock knock!!

Edward rolls off the couch and on to the floor, dazed for a moment, Paddy jumps on him for good measure.

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Yea! Hold on!" He shouts, hefting himself back up and tossing the blanket back onto the couch. He goes to open the door realizes he doesn't have any pants on, grabbing the closest thing he can, a bath towel lazily left out, and wraps it around himself. Click, click, snap, thump thump, clank clank, he begins to unlock his door. He opens it the chain stops it, he looks out and sees the short blonde haired girl, she smiles and her cute buck teeth show, and her braces shine.

"He.... " Before she can even finish the word, the door shuts. "llo?" She says.

She knocks again, "Well now I know your in there, so please don't let me stand out here forever?" She asks.

"Wha... " his lungs feel like they are about to collapse, "Wha.. What d d..dddoo you w ww want?" Edward stammers out as best he can. For him this is quiet possibly one of his worst nightmares.

"Well, I noticed you don't go out a lot. I live just across from you." She begins to say.

"Hmmm.... W.. w.. why arrrrrreee you...uuu... dooooing knocking on mmm... my d..d...d..ooor?" His mind is racing he can't stop, everything in him wants to run and scream, Why is this person knocking!! Please just let them leave!!

"Are you alright in there?" She asks. She can hear him speaking to himself, or at least she thinks he is. "How about this, I sit down here on the floor next to your door for awhile. And we just talk. Would that be alright Edward?"

She said my name! How did she know my name! Paranoia starts to makes it presence known through the madness of his racing mind. "H..h..how do y..y..you know my name?" He asks afraid of what the answers may be. Is this real? Edward starts to question whether he has taking his meds today or not. He slaps his head, muttering to himself.

She chuckles to herself. "You told me the other day remember? I bumped you, I dropped some stuff out of my bag and you caught it all. How did you do that by the way?" she asks.

"D.. d.. don't know." He stammers again. "W... w.. why arrree y..y..you sitting at m.. m.. my door?" He asks her.

"Between me you and the door. I don't know. You seemed like a really nice guy and so I baked you some cookies. To say thank you and to meet you." She says.

"Y...y... you w...w...want to come in?!" He ask in surprise.

"Only if you want me to Edward. If not, I will just leave these cookies here, and whoever wants them can have them." she says with a smile.

"N... N... No you no coming in.." His voice begins to fill with anger. "No never let anyone in, Never let anyone in." He begins to repeat over and over.

"It's okay Edward, I understand, I have my fears too." She says, she stands but leaves the cookies by the door. "I'll leave these here, and you can get them when you want. Okay?"

"Y... y... yess please go now, go now... no more talk." Edward says.

She smiles, and walks back into her apartment and shuts the door. She turns around and watches from her peep hole, the door opens a crack, then closes, opens a crack again and closes. She smiles and just watches, this poor man going through this ritual. She can't think of what it must be like to live in his world, but there is a feeling in her, that she is supposed to be here to help him, or be in his world. Finally after what seems like forever the door opens and she sees him, holding his cat tightly to him, watching him whisper to her, she tries to hard not to say "awww" but she can't help it.

Edward looks up, directly into her peep hole. She pulls back and gasps, He keeps looking. Did he hear me she thinks, She leans in to look again. She jumps but catches the scream in her throat as she realizes she is looking directly into his eye trying to see in. She holds back the laughter, watching this man, this man who seems to fear the world around him, look into her peep hole as tho he really sees something, then turn around grab the plate of cookies and slam the door behind him. She opens and listens as he starts the process of locking his door again.

He finishes locking the door and leans against it, his heart feels as tho its about to jump into his eye balls. She is out to get me I know it, he thinks to himself. He sniffs the plate of cookies, takes them over to the kitchen table and pulls the wrap off them. He puts Paddy down on the table too, she goes over to investigate the plate of cookies. She sniffs and sniffs, gives them a lick or two, and then like most cats, just losses interest in them. She lays down on the table and starts to lick a paw and rub her ear. Edward kneels down inspecting the plate and talking to Paddy.

"She is trying to poison me isn't she, Paddy?" He asks. The cat looks up and then goes right back to grooming. "Why would she, How could she know, I even liked cookies? She's hacked my brain hasn't she, Paddy?"

"Meoow" Paddy says.

"No no that can't be it, why would she try to do that. There would be no gain for her. What is she after, my books?" Edward ponders, walking over to the refrigerator, reaching for the gallon of milk and finding the small brown vile of LCD still in the door. "Oooh. I forgot I left this in here." He picks up the vile, unscrews the dropper, tilting his head back and squeezes two drops one in each eye. "We are gonna have some fun tonight," He says to Paddy. "Yes we are!" He sets the milk down and pours a glass, pouring it to the top and begins to eat them without fear. Paddy jumps down and goes off to her own lil world.

Edward sits there eating the cookies, still talking with himself, pacing back and forth, trying to figure out what the girl next store is after.