Erie Retreat

[Doc Holliday]

It had been some time since he had been to his retreat. After bringing refugees to Erie from Veracruz, he left his ship in the capital city and shuttled himself to his cabin. Cabin? It was more like home now as it was the only planetary residence he had.
He was exhausted. It always felt good to him to be able to walk in, hang up his guns and robes, slip into some sweats and fall into a chair for a moment with a glass of Scotch. Hell he hadn't even started a fire in the fireplace and he was already comfortable. When he awoke a couple of hours later, his drink was still there and everything was the same. It was still daylight although dusk wasn't far away. With a little energy from his nap, he went to the stable to visit his two best friends, his horses, George and Gracie.

They always brought a smile to his face as he ran a brush down each of them. As he did so, he spoke to them. It was evident that his friend, Gilbert, had been making regular trips to keep an eye on the place in his absence as the horses were well fed and kept. "Tomorrow," he told them both, "tomorrow we shall ride." With that, he returned to the cabin. With dusk approaching, he got the fire going and his oil lamps lit. Yes, the old rustic style of living suited him well as the rigors of everyday life seemed to disappear while he was there. A light dinner and a good book would help him relax. Before that, as the sun was setting, he walked out with a glass of Scotch toward the dock on the lake but first, he found the grave marker of his grandson. It was the first time he had seen it since he ordered his own daughter to bury him three years prior. He knelt before it, placed a hand on it and sighed. Tears ran down his face as the memories of that day came rushing back. Finally, he put himself back together and with a soft smile, he just said, "Deus te benedicat, Shane." Getting back to his feet, he watched the sunset from his dock as it fell into the lake before returning back into his house.

The sound of crickets, animals going through the woods, frogs in the water and the distant sound of the coyotes kept him company. He would even sit outside in his porch chair to listen. Yes, this was what he needed.....some time away.

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[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises