Doc opened his office door and drew in a fresh breath of summer air. The rain the night before had taken all the humidity away and the day promised to be quiet - so far. There was no big crowd last night due to the rain, and with the cattle being moved here and there, the trail bosses kept their men fairly close to hand until the job was finished.
Doc didn't even have any calls to make so he leisurely ambled down his stairs and looked up and down the street. Again hardly anyone insight, "Darnest thing ever!" he brushed his right hand over his moustache before he spotted Matt sitting out in front of the jail house. His destination was set and the town physician stepped down off the boardwalk and crossed the street heading toward Matt. Doc tried to hide the smiled that crept up under his moustache as he grew closer to Matt who sat with his feet propped up on the hitching post.
Matt watched the doctor and smiled, he knew exactly what Doc was going to say to him - it happens time and time again, "Hey, Doc."
Doc stepped up to the boardwalk in front of the jail and ticked his head, "So this is the hard life of the United States Marshal, is it?" he brushed his moustache again to hide his smile.
Matt chuckled, "Well this part of it beats being shot at."
Doc pulled the other chair over and sat, "I suppose you're right."
Matt's eyes cast over to the doctor who seemed fidgety, "You all right?"
Doc looked sharply at Matt, "Of course I am, why?" he was annoyed in his charming way.
Matt smiled, "I don't know. You look like you've lost something, that's all."
"Humph," Doc grunted, "Just seems too quiet to be right, that's all."
Matt sighed, "Yeah it is a bit too quiet," he said as he dropped his feet to the boardwalk and then gently swatted Doc, "Come on, lets go see Kitty, for a cup of coffee." Matt slowly stood up and arched his back and Doc was quick to follow, "Thought you'd never get to that!" he smiled and walked past Matt leaving the marshal behind. Matt shook his head in amusement and followed behind.
Doc pushed through the swing doors and Matt caught them on the back swing; he just smiled and proceeded through the door.
"Oh, Hiya Doc! Matt! Here for a coffee?" Kitty smiled from the end of the long dark wooden bar. "Pretty quiet around here, don't you think?" she said looking around the room as she poured two cups of coffee.
Doc nestled next to her and looked around, "Likely because Festus is out of town!" he laughed to himself and Kitty playfully swatted him, "That's not nice."
Doc fussed, "I know, I know, but you have to admit, it's kinda nice."
Kitty made a face and looked to Matt who merely shrugged, "Festus said he'd be back in a few days after dropping that prisoner off in Hays."
Doc scowled, "Likely fishing right now."
"Oh, Doc. You know Festus. What he says is what he does and by my calculations he should be home by Friday," Kitty scolded playfully, "And that is a full week away."
Matt slid his hat back on his head and smirked, "Guess you better do whatever it is you'd do without Festus bothering you pretty soon, Doc. You don't have a lot of time. You know how time flies..." Matt's eyes twinkled as he looked over to Kitty who was practically ready to burst into laughter and it only got worse with the look on Doc's face and his mere, "pshaw," as he looked at his two dear friends then hunkered down and sipped on his coffee. Matt and Kitty smiled and joined him - both fighting back their laughs at Doc's expense.
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Festus stood in the jail house and waited for the judge to hand him the papers to say that he had delivered the prisoner. He poked at the desk and looked around the office and noted it was a far size bigger than the one in Dodge. The deputy then walked slowly to the window and looked out, "Be a mighty fine day fer jist layin' under a tree with the fishin' pole. And I bet my spurs that's exactly what ol' Doc is doing right now. Fishin' without his bestus friend..." he talked to himself wished he too was fishing.
"Deputy Haggen?" Judge Anderson called.
Festus turned from the window, "Sir?"
"These are the papers. Make certain that Marshal Dillon receives them," Anderson was a shortish fellow and slightly heavy with a salt and pepper-coloured beard. His glassed sat perched on his nose. In fact one would really have never taken him for a judge at all.
"I'll do that fer sure, Judge Anderson," Festus smiled, "Matthew will be some happy to know that fella has finally got locked up..."
"'Been' locked up..." Anderson corrected.
Festus made a face, "Er, yeah. Wall, I have ta get back t Dodge, now..." he again looked at the judge as if the man was a second Doc, only with a heavier frame and a beard - no one else ever hardly corrected his speech. Festus turned and then stopped and looked at the judge, "You sure yer last name ain't Adams?"
The judge looked at Festus strangely, "It isn't and it isn't..." again he tried to set Festus straight, however, after seeing the look on the hill man's face he gave up, "Good bye Deputy Haggen."
Festus twisted his mouth and grunted, "Later Judge Anderson," he said as he jingled his way to Ruth who stood patiently waiting for him in front of the jail house in Hayes. "Come on Ruth, let's get home before they have me doing them rithmatics er whatever it's called when er adding up thangs," Festus said as he climbed up onto his saddle, "Next thang ya know they have me spellin' them big words Doc uses just because he can..." he gently nudged his spurs into the mule's flanks and they were off.