Everyone was relaxing in the Saloon one evening, waiting for Matt Dillon to come back from a trip. Most of the occupants were men who were busy smoking and drinking. Merry Florene and her visiting cousin were there too. Newly was having a drink at the bar when Merry Florene came over to flirt with him.

Festus was on his way to the Saloon, when he suddenly heard hysterical laughter coming from inside. Confused, he hurried inside and made a face when he saw what was going on.

Merry Florene was digging her fingers into Newly's ribs and stomach. She was tickling him into hysterics. Doc was standing by and watching with an amused look on his face.

Festus ran over to Merry Florene and pushed her away from Newly. Doc was startled by this. "Let go of her! What do you think you're doing?"

"I come in and I see Merry Florene attackin' Newly here, so I had to save him! Can't ya see thet?" said Festus.

"She was just tickling him, you idiot!" Doc said, furiously.

"I knew it!" Festus snarled back. "But if ye ask me, she was takin' it a might too far! I mean just look at poor ole Newly here…his face all red and blushin' like a ripe tomato!"

"I ain't done nothin' to hurt Mr. Newly!" Merry Florene insisted. "But if so, then…I reckon I'll just have to put him out of his misery!"

And with that, she grabbed the back of Newly's head and locked his lips with hers.

All the other men in the Saloon burst out laughing. Festus glared at them all. "This ain't funny!"

Meanwhile, Matt Dillon had just returned from his trip. He dismounted his horse and walked into the Saloon for a drink. As he made his way up to the bar, he noticed a young man with auburn hair, who had been staring at him from the moment he came in.

Matt ordered a drink at the bar and sat down to make himself comfortable. Festus greeted him and began jabbering about the events of the evening.

After a few minutes, the auburn-haired man got up and strolled over to Matt Dillon.

"Marshal Dillon?"

"That's right," Matt answered with a nod.

"I'm Joey…Merry Florene's cousin," he said, holding out a hand for Matt Dillon to shake.

"Nice to meet you," Matt said as he shook the man's hand. He looked like he was about the same age as Merry Florene, maybe a little older.

"Can I sit here? With you?" Joey asked, hopefully. He was staring right into Matt's eyes.

Matt shrugged. "Go ahead. There's no law against it."

Joey smiled and sat down next to the Marshal. "Miss Russell told me about you."

Matt smirked and took a sip of his drink.

Newly was still being chased around by Merry Florene. She wrestled him to the floor and tickled his sides.

"No! NO! Merry Florene! Don't tickle me! HAHAHAHAHA! STOP IT!" Newly shrieked and laughed and kicked.

"Tickle tickle tickle!" Merry Florene sang. She was having too much fun.

"AAAHHH! NOT THERE!" Newly screamed when Merry Florene got her fingers into his armpits. "SOMEBODY HELP! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Joey glared at his female cousin. "I have to apologize for that girl," he said to Matt. "Sometimes I just feel so embarrassed for her."

"Well, someday you may meet a girl, fall in love with her, and who knows…she may be a lot like your cousin," Matt told him, smiling at the two lovebirds on the floor.

"No, I don't reckon so," Joey said, shaking his head. "I don't really like women that much."

Matt paused for a moment. Then he turned and gave Joey a wary look.

Festus was looking down in disgust at Merry Florene and Newly.

"Matthew, how long are ya gonna let that go on? If ya don't do somethin' right quick, that poor boy could laugh up his whole supper all over the floor thare!" Festus exclaimed.

Matt chuckled to himself and slowly got up from his chair. Then he winced and groaned a little when he put pressure on his left foot.

"Is anything wrong?" Joey asked, concerned.

"Oh, I just twisted my ankle a few days ago and it's still giving me some trouble. Nothing serious though," said Matt.

"Do you want me to rub it for you?" Joey asked.

"No, thank you." Matt gave him a funny look. Then he turned his back on Joey and went to separate the wild Merry Florene from Newly.

"Merry Florene?" Matt tapped her shoulder. "I think he's had enough."

"Oh, but I was just having fun!" she complained as Matt pulled her off Newly.

Newly lay on the floor, gasping and still giggling from the tickle torture.

"Mr. Newly, will you please buy me another drink?" she asked, with her arms crossed.

"I'll get it for you," Matt said, taking her hand and leading her over to the bar. Newly needed some time away from Merry Florene.

"Marshal, is there anything I can buy for ya?" Joey asked, eagerly. "Some more drinks maybe?"

"The Marshal don't want anything from you, Joey!"

"You hush up, Merry Florene!"

"Now, now…," Matt tried to calm down the two cousins. "We're all going to sit down and take it easy for a while, okay?"

"The Marshal is right!" Joey sneered at his cousin. "This ain't no time for playin' around!"

"Who's playin' around?" Merry Florene shouted.

"That's all you know how to do, girl!"

"It is NOT!"

"Enough!" Matt said, firmly. "No more bithering or else."

"Yes, Marshal," Joey said quietly. He started to calm when Matt looked back into his eyes.

Then the threesome sat down at the bar together. Matt Dillon sat between Joey and Merry Florene in order to keep them apart.

After a while, Festus wandered over to Merry Florene and whispered something in her ear.

"What did he say?" Matt asked her, when Festus walked away.

Merry Florene giggled. "Mr. Festus wants lessons from me!" she whispered.

"Lessons for what?"

Merry Florene grinned and began to blush. "He wants lessons on…how to tickle people!"

Matt and Joey looked at each other and burst out laughing.