"Well, Festus," Matt said watching Sheriff Bassett walk away with his wife at his side. "I'm sure your ready to go home but I got to see about who's in charge and get a judge out here about Sheriff Bassett getting shot and you almost getting yourself hung."
"Ready," Festus said climbing up onto Ruth. "Why ol Ruth here couldn't move fast enough ta get me home but I got ta see bout ol Hank's horses first, Matthew."
"Well, alright," Matt said with a nod. "I guess we could head back to Dodge and return when the judge gets here."
"I bet you could use a little help," Newly said with a wan smile as Festus nodded.
"Much obliged," he said turning Ruth toward the stable.
After Festus tethered the horses together, the three lawmen rode out of Pierceville and started back for Dodge.
While Newly and Matt made small talk and comments about the local scenery and wildlife, Festus did his best to stay focused on the task at hand but the events that had taken place over the last few days were still very fresh in his mind.
So lost in his own thoughts, he didn't hear Matt talking to him.
"Festus," Matt said a second time as the hill man looked up. "I said, do you think this is a good place to set up camp tonight?"
Festus looked around, the river was to the right, so they had a adequate water supply for the horses, and the ground was level and full of vegetation.
"Looks fine ta me, Matthew," he said with a slight nod.
"You alright," Newly asked meeting his eyes. "You've been awfully quiet."
"Just tired, I suppose," Festus replied quickly. "Didn't get much sleep the last couple of days."
"Well," Newly said with a broad smile. "I bet you'll sleep good tonight!"
"Yeah," Matt said climbing down off his horse. "You know what that means, don't ya Newly!"
"Yes, sir," Newly replied jokingly. "We won't get none cause of his snoring."
Festus knew the two men were only poking fun at him to lighten the atmosphere but he didn't feel like he was in a playful mood.
"I'll see to the horses," Festus said evenly grateful for a few moments of solitude but it scared him to think how close he had come to losing his life.
If Matt and Newly hadn't shown up when they did, he was quite certain Shad would have convinced the others to stop Sheriff Bassett and hang him for the robbery and murder.
Newly watched him walk away before looking at Matt who sighed deeply before speaking. "You think he's alright?"
"I think so," Newly said with a nod as Festus tied the horses to a few trees. "He's as strong and stubborn as they come."
(Pierceville)
"C'mon Bates," Shad whined though the bars of his cell. "You know I wasn't gonna kill the Sheriff! Ya got ta help me get outta here!"
"Ain't gonna do you no good," Bates said balancing a tray of food while taking the keys to the cells off the wall. "That Marshal done sent for the judge, he'll be here before ya know it. I can't help it if Bassett and that whisker faced friend of the Marshal's decided to press charges."
"Yeah, but you was there," Shad said more forcefully. "You saw what happened. He was gonna just let that feller go after he done killed Gruber! Why ain't he gonna face charges for it! And who's gonna be the Sheriff! Not you, that judge'll appoint someone else, you watch!"
"Self defense," Bates replied. "That's what that Marshal said. And I deserve that badge since Gruber's gone!"
"That Marshal's just trying to protect his friend," Shad said angrily. "Who this town gonna believe, him or us!"
"Well," Bates replied thoughtfully. "Us, I suppose."
"That's right," Shad said meeting Bates eyes. "You let me outa here and we'll show this town who's really in charge!"
"Can't do that," Bates said opening the cell. "Here's your supper."
Shad took a step back as Bates placed the tray on the bunk.
"I'm not gonna hang, Bates!" Shad said pushing the deputy to the floor as he pulled the man's gun from its holster and bringing it down hard on the deputy's head.
"How you feeling, Dan," Amy asked after her husband awoke from a nap and came downstairs.
"Better, now that I decided to give up that badge," he said looking around. "I've been thinking about something, Amy."
"What's that, Dan," Amy said absently as her attention was drawn to outside the house. "Someone's coming."
