Taking Kathleen Home
I don't own these characters. I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
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"Well, Festus." Matt slapped his friend on the shoulder. "We're sure gonna miss you around here." He, Kitty, Thad and Doc were sitting at a table in the Long Branch with Festus, buying him a farewell drink before he left the next morning.
"We sure are." Thad agreed.
"What's this 'We'?" Doc glared at them. "I'm not going to miss him. He's like a sore thumb and no one misses a sore thumb."
"Well, I'll miss him." Kitty said sadly, ignoring Doc's remark. "Are you sure you have to go?"
Festus nodded as he picked up his beer and took a drink. "Yeah, Miz Kitty, I shore do. I'd not go a-tall if'n I didn't. I ain't got no hankerin' to go down there. But I ain't got no choice, don't ya see?"
Kitty didn't answer, nor did Matt or Doc. None, despite Doc's protests, wanted to see him go. Though he'd only been in town for about three years, he had made himself a home there and they cared about him, as he had proven he cared about them.
But yesterday he'd received a telegram that he had Matt read to him. The telegram was short and simple and impossible to ignore. His cousin, Gad Haggen, had died. The telegram didn't say how or why but insisted that Festus come. Festus saw no choice but do as asked. He didn't know what he would find when he got there, but he had to go.
Though he'd promised to go and take are of things and come back quickly, none of them had any real hopes of that. After Gad, Festus was next in line to oversee the family affairs which meant his moving back home. Matt offered to go with him, telling him that if there was trouble, he might need the help of a lawman. But Festus refused. It was his family, and he was the one they wanted, so he was going.
"Wael." He picked up his beer and drained it and then rose from his seat."Guess it's time fer going to bed. Mornin' comes awful early. I'll see ya all directly." He nodded at his friends, and quickly turned and left.
The four sat and watched him leave with saddened expressions and silent prayers for his safety knowing there was nothing more they could do. Matt, noticing the expression on Kitty's face, reached over and patted her hand. "He'll be fine." He reassured her. "Festus has taken off by himself many times and always made it back safely."
Doc, who'd said very little, swallowed the last of his drink and got to his feet, tugging on his hat. "He'd better do it this time too." He mumbled as he walked out of the saloon.
Kitty watched Doc as he left, knowing how much Doc, despite his protests, cared about their friend. "He's not coming back, is he, Matt?" She looked at him with a hope that he'd deny it, but instead, Matt just shrugged.
"I don't really know, Kitty. If what Festus thinks is true, probably not."
"But, Matt, he belongs here now. This is his home." Kitty protested.
Matt shook his head with a tsk. "Well, maybe, but then again, we're not related to him. And you know Festus, he may not always agree with his family, but he'll do what they need him to do. And if that means staying down there, he probably will."
Kitty shook her head. "I sure hope something happens to bring him back here."
The next morning, Festus got up early and sat back against his pillow, dreading the day's ride. It wasn't that he didn't want to help his family, in what ever way he could, but back in Dodge he'd found a new family. And his new family, seemed to suit him more than his blood kin. But they WERE his blood kin and his sitting there, wasn't going to get him home. So reluctantly, Festus rose and got ready to face the day.
The first half of Festus' day went about as normal as any ride he'd ever taken. The mid-spring morning was chilly but it soon gave way to mild temps and a light breeze, making traveling easier for him and Ruth both. About noon, finding a spot near a creek, Festus set up a hasty camp to have some lunch and give Ruth a break.
Deciding against cooking, he settled for loosening the cinch on Ruth and letting him graze, while he ate some biscuits, Ma Smalley had sent with him, and had a drink from the creek.
He had no sooner eaten the last of his meager dinner when he heard rustling in the woods to his left. At first he ignored them as some animal moving about but soon he realized it was more. Swiftly getting to his feet, he pulled his gun and moved over close to Ruth.
For several long moments, he heard nothing more. Then suddenly, the rustling of leaves and branches became louder and more fierce and just as Festus was preparing himself to fire, a girl came stumbling out of the woods and ran straight into his arms.
"Oh, thank God." She moaned as she collapsed atop him. "I… I…" Beautiful blue eyes looked up at him for just a moment before they rolled back in her head and she passed out.
TBC