Matt Dillon US Marshal had been summoned to Kansas City to help the marshal there due to a raid on the bank there which had left nine dead and several injured including the marshal. Matt stood in the family room of Marshal Ned Walters's house as they talked.
"Matt thanks for coming," Ned said.
"Don't mention it you've got a young family to think of."
"Come sit down Uncle Matt have some dinner," Mary said.
Matt and Ned walked into the dining room and took their seats at the table. Ned's three year old twin boys were already sitting at the table.
"Festus you kick your brother one more time and you'll go to bed without your meal," Ned said.
Festus suddenly noticed Matt he smiled prodding his brother who looked up.
"Hello are you here to help Daddy?" Festus asked.
Matt smiled as he sat down he knew Kitty would just love to meet these two boys as would his deputy Festus Haggen who little Festus was named after he suspected the other boy was named for Ned or for Will Ronniger. Mary set a plate of stew and biscuits down in front of Matt, Ned and the boys then fetched her own plate and sat with them. The boys stared open mouthed at Matt they'd never seen anyone as tall as him and they seemed to think that only Ned should wear the badge.
"Yes boys. Your Daddy will stay here to recover and I'll go after the men who robbed the bank."
"Will Festus stop staring at Uncle Matt and eat your dinner," Mary said.
The two boys looked a little puzzled but started to eat. Matt smiled and told the boys that he'd known their mother ever since she was born. The boys were agog to hear that and started to ply Matt with questions.
"Boys let Uncle Matt eat his dinner."
The two boys obediently fell silent Matt smiled. After the meal Matt and Ned returned to the family room.
"What do we know about the men?"
"Not a whole lot only one of them appeared on a reward circular the leader Holcroft. I think you know him?"
Matt thought about it yes that was the name of the man who'd raped and beaten a young girl in Dodge. Kitty had taken her on as one of her girls and Ma Smalley had given her a room. So from rapist to murderous bank robber.
"I should've known that he'd turn to murder and bank robbery."
"Now Matt we all make mistakes even the best of us."
Matt watched the younger marshal Kansas City was the young man's first job as marshal he'd been deputy marshal in Topeka until chosen for Kansas City. He smiled Ned reminded him of when he was that young.
"The last letter I had from Ma she said you been ill Uncle Matt?"
"According to Doc I was at Death's door I caught Meningitis from the youngest two boys of the Hays sheriff. I was lucky I survived his sons died."
"Didn't he have four boys?"
"Yeah his two eldest are still living."
"How will you go about finding Holcroft and his gang?" Ned asked.
"I'm going to leave your deputies to help you until you're well enough to take on your duties again. I'll send for Festus to come from Dodge he's the best tracker I know. He should be here by the end of the week."
"It'll be nice to see Uncle Festus again," Mary said.
Matt smiled at that and at the way the two boys reacted. They'd heard their mother talk about Matt and Festus so much that they felt the same way she did about them. The boys came to sit in Matt's lap until Mary called them telling them to get ready for bed.
"They're fine boys Ned," Matt said.
Ned smiled and nodded he sure thought he was a lucky man it had been chance that had brought him from Topeka to Dodge when he was a deputy and he'd met the Ronnigers' and Mary. He'd married Mary and never looked back.
"We'll start making plans while we wait for Festus to get here. He'll be happy to see Mary and the boys."
"From what Mary says he'll be just as pleased to see them."
Matt smiled at the thoughts that conjured up at heart Festus was just a big kid. At least Doc would have a rest from bickering with Festus for a bit and Kitty would get a little rest from it too.