The Wagon Man

Hector awoke. Early morning light sprinkled rays of shadow on his face reminding him of running through the wheat field his father had grown in his youth. He turned to see his wife, Matilda, sleeping beside him.

He saw she was gone.

This caused a small rise of anxiety for Hector as he knew Matilda had problems with remembering and that she could be halfway to the city by now in a sleepy stupor asking strangers where her son was.

Hector rose quickly, which for a young man would look awfully slow, and grabbed his cane before making his way to the living room.

She wasn’t there either.

Panic grew at the back of Hectors head.

‘Mattie!’ Hector yelled his voice weak from the many years of screaming and inhaling of saw dust he did as a constructor.

Hector heard a muffled ‘Yes?’ from outside.

He made his way to the front door and saw Matilda sitting on the porch with a coffee and a book.

He looked at her and inhaled deeply. Her old face looked strong and beautiful in the newly risen sun. She smiled and Hector saw the same smile that he had seen for the last 60 years.

‘Something wrong dear?’ Matilda asked curiously sipping her coffee.

‘No. Just wondering where you were is all.’

She smiled and looked out at the road that passed in front of their home. Hector glanced and saw a man standing in a wagon drawn by a small horse moving slowly down the gravel path that he called a road.

‘Whatcha reading?’ Hector asked finding it odd that Matilda was reading. Her eyes had gone bad about a decade ago.

‘Oh..’ she smiled, ‘Just looking at the pages.’ She laughed and flipped the book to look at the cover.

‘It says,’ putting her glasses on, ‘Finding Love on Stewart Island.’

Hector laughed and looked back to the man on his wagon. He was wearing a weathered leather coat with a hood so his face wasn’t clear. Was probably Davie from down the road. When everybody has cars he is always trotting down the road in some random mode of transportation.

‘Stewart Island huh?’ Hector asked.

‘Yes. I wonder if I could find love on Stewart Island.’

‘A girl as gorgeous as you? You could find love on the moon.’

Matilda laughed and blushed as she continued to stare at the pages.

‘Okay, well I’m getting some coffee.’

‘Ok honey.’

Hector walked inside and was glad that Matilda seemed normal today. Most days would start the same, it was bad in the morning. She’d nap early around 8 and then be somewhat fine until after dinner and then it really got bad. She likes to get angry and sometimes call him her dad. Hector has grown to push that away. She doesn’t mean it. Or maybe she does.. Either way he was okay with it.

Hector made his coffee and grabbed a cookie from the pantry and walked back to the living room to see today’s news.

The tv clicked on and some man was trying to sell car insurance with an emu.

‘Hector!’

Hector stood up hearing quite a bit of tension in Matilda’s voice. He rose as fast as possible and grabbed his shotgun from the front door way.

He swung open the door and saw the man in the wagon stopped outside their gate.

He was faced towards the old couple but his hood was over his head so Hector couldn’t tell if it was a friend or some stranger.

‘He stopped and was staring over here. He’s kind of creepy.’

‘Yeah... Hey! Is that Davie!?’ Hector yelled at the strange man who hadn’t left his wagon yet.

Hector started slowly making his way towards the gate. As he stepped off the porch the man turned, jumped onto his wagon, and whipped the small white horse. He continued trotting down the road past our gate.

‘Hey! You come back by here again, it won’t be good for you!’ Hector yelled as Matilda stood by.

‘Honey, relax. He probably thought he recognized us and left. You know how many people are at the Fourth of July events in the city. Could’ve been someone we briefly met or maybe just a coincidence.’ Matilda said rubbing Hector’s shoulder.

‘Ok. Yeah. You’re right. But, he doesn’t need to be staring over here and not introducing himself.’

‘Yes. That was kind of rude but let’s go and get inside. It’s very chilly out.’

They both made their way inside and Hector had a wonderful day with his wife Matilda.

They even decided to walk around the yard like they used to. Seeing the small pond Hector had dug in the backyard so many years ago.

They played chess in the evening and watched Matilda’s soaps. Matilda had gone to bed earlier than usual but Hector was planning something special. It was their 60th anniversary that upcoming Tuesday and Hector wanted to buy her a necklace. He had learned how to go on google and search for things you wanted and so he did and purchased a 2000 dollar necklace with gold and diamonds all over.

It would be here on Wednesday. Pay 30 dollars and it would be here tomorrow. A day before the anniversary.

Perfect.

Hector grabbed his tobacco pipe and proceeded to do his daily wind down. He sat outside on the porch and smoked his tobacco watching the sun go down. Just like he did every day.

He puffed slowly closing his eyes and listening to the chirping of birds and buzzing of locusts indicating the day had concluded.

Then a strange sound awoke him.

The sound of a wagon bouncing along the gravel road. Hector glanced and could barely make out what looked like the same man on his wagon with his white horse. Going the opposite way he was earlier.

‘Not again.’ Hector muttered rising quickly to grab his shotgun. He made it back and sat down before the wagon got too close. He sat and smoked his pipe in the dusk. The wagon came closer. And closer. And slower.

The man stopped at the gate.

He turned. His face still covered by his hood.

Hector lightly rubbed the trigger to his gun.

The man moved his legs first; still oddly wrapped in his open coat.

He hopped off the wagon and stood by the fence staring directly at Hector.

‘So. Is there a problem?’ Hector said firmly. Loud enough for the man to hear.

‘I don’t like causing problems, but I can guarantee I’m good at solving them.’ Hector said trying to sound as intimidating as possible.

The man moved and Hector stood up.

But he only moved his arm. Covered from finger to shoulder in brown leather. He pulled a small notebook out of his pocket and proceeded to write in it. Glancing up at Hector and his house as he scribbled.

He flipped his notebook close and hopped back on the wagon.

‘Hey!’ Hector yelled.

The man whipped the horse harder than earlier and the horse took off with the wagon bouncing behind.

Hector didn’t sleep good that night.

Hector woke up to Matilda getting dressed for the day. She smiled at him and walked downstairs. Hector turned as she left and glanced outside looking for a wagon or a white horse. He didn’t see anything.

He slowly made his way downstairs and started his day with a coffee and the news.

Matilda was a little worse that day.

She had gotten frustrated about her sugar. Not how much or how little but where it was on the counter. She swore that it was above the fridge. And got angry at Hector. But Hector talked her down and she relaxed and took her nap.

Around lunch Hector decided to get the mail. He was waiting for his expensive package to arrive. He walked outside and saw an old creaky looking wagon sitting in front of his gate. The man outfitted in all leather was reaching into the mailbox.

After seeing the leather man grab his package, Hector turned, grabbed his gun and stepped back outside. He fired two shots but the wagon disappeared behind the rows of trees that lined the road further down.

Hector told a worried Matilda that he would be back and decided to drive to Davie’s house down the road about a mile. He couldn’t tell her why because of her present, but he said it was about the wagon so in his mind that was close enough to the truth. She didn’t even remember it came.

Hector had pushed all his thoughts in the back of his head. A thing he had gotten good at over the years.

He wasn’t going to think on the present and how much it had cost. He wasn’t going to think on how odd this whole thing was and why he could never see the man’s face or how strange he looked or..

He pulled into Davie’s driveway and saw Davie out front working on some old go-kart. The wagon was nowhere in sight.

Davie waved and Hector slowly walked towards him gun in hand.

‘Are you the one riding around in a wagon?’ Hector asked, when he finally made his way to Davie.

Davie laughed, ‘Youn askin’ a silly question there Hecter.’

‘Davie I’m serious. Some guy has been riding around in a wagon stealing packages out of people’s mail boxes.’

‘Well, i’sorry but I ain’t even own a wagon. Never had the interest.’

‘Did you happen to see a wagon come by?’ Hector asked curiously.

‘Nasir.’

‘That was a pretty quick answer Davie. I’m dead serious. Matilda can’t be...’

‘Listen sir. If ida seen a damn wagon ida already sat here’n told ya I seen a wagon. I ain’t no thief and I ain’t much liked the way youn address me mister Hecter.’

‘Ok.’ Hector sighed and rubbed his brow.

‘I’m sorry Davie.’

‘Yeh is alright Hecter. Yousa good guy. I know you’on’t mean any harm.’

Hector hopped back in his truck and made his way home.

He walked inside and Matilda was fixing popcorn on the skillet.

‘Hey Mattie.’ Hector said kissing Matilda on the forehead.

‘Hi honey. You wanna watch my soap with me after dinner?’

Hector felt tired. More tired than he had in a long time.

‘I don’t know Mattie. I think I’m just gonna go to sleep. I’ve had a long day.’

‘Long day?’ Matilda laughed, ‘You been home all day silly.’

Hector smiled. Matilda’s long term memory was okay. Sometimes nonexistent but most days she would come to. Her short term was bad. Appointments were the first to go when she started showing symptoms. Couldn’t keep track of when she was supposed to do what. She’d make lunch and dinner like always but couldn’t remember what she made for lunch and dinner the day before.

Hector didn’t correct her. He just apologized and made his way upstairs. But not before reminding her that the doors need to be locked and to be safe. He also reminded her where the gun was.

Hector woke up early and smelled bacon cooking downstairs.

He smiled as the early morning light reminded him of running through the city as a kid. The lights from the buildings flickering as him and his brother ran home from hockey practice.

He woke up and hurried downstairs and was shocked to see Matilda in her apron cooking breakfast. She also had on her favorite pink dress she would always wear to church.

‘Good morning darling!’ Matilda shouted as she danced to the 1950s pop music swinging throughout the house. She looked ten years younger than she did yesterday.

But still as beautiful as ever.

Hector answered back with a good morning and a kiss, then sat down at the table for once instead of on the couch.

A hot tall glass of coffee sat on the table next to a newspaper and a small brown package.

Hectors eyes shot open. The memories of yesterday finally finding their way into Hector’s waking conscious.

He relaxed himself not wanting to ruin Matilda’s perfect mood.

‘Hey Mattie?’

‘Yes dear?’ Matilda answered.

‘Where’d you find this?’

She turned and paused her slow dancing glancing at the package.

‘Oh yes. A boy came by earlier and said he was sent that by mistake. Wanted to return it or something.’

Hector’s eyes widened. Maybe.. the wagon man was.. no.. but if...

‘Honey?’ Matilda called waking Hector from his confusion.

‘Yes?’

‘He was a nice kid. Just forget it let’s have fun today.’

Today. That’s right. Today was 60 years.

Matilda had brought out a cake mix box and Hector grabbed the package and hurried upstairs telling Matilda he had to use the restroom.

He closed the bathroom door behind him and opened the box as fast as his old worn and callused hands could.

There it was. The necklace. The diamonds glittered in the light illuminated by the bathroom’s dim glow. The gold shone brightly as well.

He sat on the toilet breathing a long slow sigh of relief and clenching the necklace to his chest.

‘Thank you Lord.’ He whispered under his breath as he wiped a tear from his eye.

He stood up, adjusted his shirt, and headed downstairs to give Matilda the necklace.

She had started mixing the batter already and Hector poked her shoulder as she turned around a little startled.

Hector held out the necklace as if it was a beautiful fish he had caught and looked Matilda in the eyes as he said, ‘Happy 60th Mattie.’

She teared up and hugged him tightly. He inhaled and smelled the sweet summer blossom perfume that she had wore for the past 10 years. Chills danced down his spine and he felt all the worry and stress from the day before fade away like the ground on a cloudy flight to somewhere far away.

‘I was almost starting to think you forgot.’ Matilda said kissing him on the forehead.

‘Me? I’d never forget. Plus it’s only 8 in the morning Mattie. I had all day to give it to you.’

‘I know silly.’

She kissed him and let him put her necklace on as she continued mixing the batter and dancing to the music.

They spent that day happier and younger than they had been in a long time. The sun went down slower than usual and when it did, they laid in each other’s arms listening to slow songs from their wedding.

‘I love you.’ Matilda said as they laid down on the couch listening to the locusts hum.

‘I love you too.’ He replied closing his eyes for the day.

Hector woke up on the large sofa laying with Matilda early the next morning. It was still dark out and it was surprisingly cold for the heater being on 78.

Hector rose and had the need for his pipe so he grabbed it and stepped outside to smoke. He turned the porch light on and listened to the country sounds tickling his ears. He was happier than he had been in a very long time. He was at peace.

He turned and heard the door open. Matilda had woken up as well. She walked out and stood silently beside him for a while. She walked out to the edge of the porch and Hector looked out at the gate.

He hadn't noticed before.

The man was here. The man in the wagon. His white horse shone very very dim from the glow on the porch. Hector stood up but Matilda turned towards him.

They locked eyes and she smiled. He knew what this meant. But facing that head on, there in the cold morning air, was impossible.

Tears brimmed on Hector’s eye lid sending hot chills down the back of his neck.

‘No Mattie...’

She smiled again. She spun around as if she was still hearing the music that made Hector forget all about the man in the wagon. She put a hand to her lips and told him gently to shhh.

‘No baby.. I can’t be.. no please Mattie...’

The chills on his neck grew to goosebumps. His hands started trembling, then his legs, and ultimately his whole body began shaking uncontrollably. The tears flowed freely down Hectors old skin now.

She walked towards him and hugged him. The smell of summer blossoms now made him feel horrible. He felt a longing unlike anything he had ever felt before. A longing of time. Of passion. Of youth. He held her for as long as he could before she gently pushed him away. She walked further down the porch her pink dress flowing with a supernatural glow.

Hector glanced away and saw the wagon man standing at the bottom of the porch, hood still drawn over his head. Hector was no longer afraid of him. He knew what the man was.

The wagon man outstretched his leather hand to Matilda. She held it gently as she made her way down the steps.

‘Goodbye.’ Matilda said in a voice that sounded much too young for her aged face.

She turned from Hector who had collapsed to his knees. Head in his hands which were wet with tears.

She and the man walked slowly to the wagon. Matilda’s glow grew brighter until she looked like an angel with bright white wings slowly floating her way up to the top of the wagon. She sat beside the man who was now standing on the wagon and then she turned to wave at Hector.

Hector tried breathing in but it was so hard trying to get oxygen between his gasps and sobs. The wagon man whipped his horse lightly and they began moving down the gravel road.

Hector stood up and ran towards the wagon. Snot dripping from his nose.

‘No! No! Please sir! Take me with you! Please!’

Hector’s cane lay on the porch and without it his balance wasn’t the best. As he stepped off the porch, Hector tripped and slammed against the concrete. His hip burned like hot metal as he tried pushing himself up but not succeeding.

The leathered man flew from the wagon and landed in front of Hector.

Then, the man took his hood off.

‘Hector.’ A gentle but firm voice said from the shapeless form that made up his face.

‘How long did you wait for Matilda to come to you?’

‘24 years.’ Hector replied his voice muffled from his head being buried in his shirt. He couldn’t focus because of the pain radiating from his hip.

‘In knowing what came from her, how long are you willing to wait to see her again?’

Hector paused.

‘Forever.’ He replied to the strange figure standing over him. Shaking and crying and gasping for air Hector tried grabbing the ankle of the man. He stepped backwards away from Hector and turned.

The man put his hood back on and appeared back in his wagon next to Matilda who turned from the wagon to help her husband who she saw was in intense pain. The man gently grabbed her hand and shook his head.

The wagon rolled its way down the gravel path. Hector laid screaming and sobbing at the wind as the glow of her dress that was so bright grew dimmer with every turn of the wagon’s wheels.