"What are you doing," Doc said watching Festus whittling on a piece of wood.
"Johnny tole me he wanted a fluttie," Festus said putting a hole into the hollowed out tube of wood with his knife.
"You mean a flute," Doc replied swiping at his mustache. "And you be carful with that or you'll be putting a hole in your hand."
"Aww foot," Festus said as he cleaned out the perfectly round hole that he made. "Wal I used ta make these here things fer my cousins all the time when they was kids."
"Evening," Matt said stepping into the Long Branch.
"Matthew," Festus said playing with the flute.
"Matt," Doc said. "Pull up a chair."
"Think I will," Matt replied taking a seat. "Festus, what you got there."
"It's a fluttie," Festus said showing the musical instrument to his boss.
"You mean a flute," Doc said sighing.
"What difference it makes what ya call it," Festus said scrunching up his eye.
"Does it play," Matt asked looking over the finished flute.
"It'll play," Festus said trying it out.
"Well, what ya know," Doc spoke up tugging on his earlobe. "I didn't think he could do it."
"Shows ya what you know ya ol scudder," Festus said as Kitty and Abelia walked in from the store room.
"I hate to leave you with all that work Kitty," Abelia said absently rubbing her ever growing stomach.
"Now your not," Kitty said helping her friend into a seat. "We got plenty of stock to go though while your out having the baby."
"Besides," Doc said smiling. "Your getting to big to stay on your feet."
"Don't remind me," Abelia said taking a deep breath. "Seems like I just doubled in size since last month. I don't remember being this big with Johnny or Marianne."
"Wal you got ta remember, that there is a Haggen baby," Festus said proudly. "Why my ma was said ta be so big, she purt near couldn't fit though the door of her room."
"Tis true," a voice said from the double doors of the Long Branch as Festus looked up.
"Aunt Thede," he said as three more scruffy looking men followed her. "Henry, Homer and Heathcliff!"
"Howdy Festus," Henry said as the cousins waved and the hillman stood up.
"What in tarnation are ya all doing here?" Festus asked giving Thede a hug.
"Word traveled out our way that ya had finally went and got ya self a wife," Thede said looking at Festus.
"Shore did," Festus said swinging his aunt around. "Aunt Thede, this here's ma wife Abelia."
"And in the family way to," Thede said hugging the woman. "She's every bit a Haggen woman."
"Don't know if that's a compliment or not," Doc said under his breath.
"And I'm glad I came when I did," Thede said looking back at Festus. "With that there baby a comin ya all want ta make sure your good and proper married."
"Wal what you takin bout," Festus said taking Abelia's hand. "We married in a church and everything with a preacher even."
"That's not how us Haggens do it," Thede said curtly. "Ya supposed ta put yer hands on the good book and swear before the lord that ya love each other."
"We did that," Festus said angrily. "I ain't a listening ta anymore of yer ways Thede."
"And here I thought you was a Haggen," she said shaking her head. "But then you've changed. I heard bout what happened with yer uncle Jack. You didn't tell me last time I was here and then Henry, Homer and Heathcliff came seeking your help and you didn't want ta have nothing to do with them. Have ya given up being a Haggen?"
"Foot," Festus said softly. "Of course I haven't."
"Good," Thede said kissing his cheek. "Then we'll talk tomorrow, yer cousin's and I will be making camp down by the creek."
"How long ya stayin," Festus asked as his Aunt and cousins started for the door.
"Long enough ta see that baby born," Thede said looking at Festus cousin's. "Let's go boys!"
Festus ran a hand across his forehead as he turned back around.
"What was that about," Abelia asked as Festus shrugged.
"That there is only a piece of the Haggen clan my dear," Doc said with a wiry grin. "That's what you married into."
"Doc," Kitty said admonishing the physician. "Festus isn't like them any more."
"Like them," Abelia asked looking at Festus. "What are they like?"
"That my dear would take a week to explain," Doc said laughing as Festus scoffed.
"Ha ha, ya old scudder," Festus said evenly. "Let's just say I wasn't always on Matthew's side of the law. Wal I remember a time when I drew a gun on em but then I knew I had ta make a choice and this here's what I chose."
"Well," Abelia said putting out a hand for Festus to help her up out of the chair. "I'm glad you are the way you are and I don't care if your family comes to see the baby."
"Be careful what you say," Doc replied. "Before you know it this town will be swarming like bees with Haggens."