William Hale leaned against his horse and watched his twin brother fuss with his saddle, "You know Wallace, all your fussing is gonna get you into trouble," William laughed.

Wallace looked over his shoulder, "It's 'going' to get," he corrected William.

"Sure, whatever. Will you just get on your horse so we can get underway?" William said as he placed his foot into the stirrup.

"I'm just rechecking my trappings, that's all," Wallace smiled.

"Well if you hurry, we just might make it to Dodge before sundown," William said as he nudged his horse forward.

"Dodge? Is that where those older folks Ma and Pa knew moved to about twenty years ago?" Wallace asked.

"Ma and Pa knew a lot of older folks. Can you be more specific?" William asked his identical twin brother.

"You know the ones. He ran a hardware store or something, back east." Wallace stated.

"Oh. You mean the Jonas'," William grunted. "He never liked me. Always seemed to have some distrustful thing against me," William recalled.

"Well you did egg his windows a few times and got caught more than once," Wallace laughed.

"Knowing you, you likely told him I did it," William's eyes slid over to his brother. "You know I wouldn't do that! You're my brother. Now if you want to lay blame, start with Charlie Robinson. I wouldn't trust that guy as far as I could bounce an anvil in a swamp," Wallace shook his head thinking about some of the cold-hearted tricks Charlie had pulled.

"Yeah, he was something else. Mind you, he and I got along okay," William said as they rode along the trail toward Dodge City.

"Do you suppose the Jonas' are still alive?" Wallace asked.

"I wouldn't doubt it. Mr. Jonas seemed always tight with his money, and I doubt that he's ever part with it in after life!" William laughed. "He seemed like he was too crusty to die."

"Maybe some people are just better with money than you. Crusty or otherwise,"Wallace quipped for which he was awarded a clip across the shoulder of his brother. The two young men laughed even harder. "Let's go into Dodge and look them up. I'd like to hear some stories of Ma and Pa again," Wallace said.

"Well you fill your gut with stories of the past. I'll be in the present with booze and hopefully a pretty girl on my knee," William smiled.

Wallace shook his head, "maybe it's a good thing Ma and Pa are no longer with us," he smiled. "You would have put them in the ground for sure," he said.

"My dearest brother, it is only natural that I like . . . love the feminine species and good alcohol. You could stand some yourself," William pointed out.

"I'm not just going to give myself to every pretty girl that comes along. I have some morals, you know," Wallace replied. "Too many if you ask me," William said under his breath. The two men finally reached the road that would lead them to Dodge City.

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Festus Haggen strutted down Front Street. He had passed the Long Branch and the general store, leaving Kitty and a few patrons as well as Wilbur Jonas watching and wondering. The deputy was humming loud enough that all could hear. Slowly everyone on the boardwalk exchanged glances and shrugged. Some began to talk and wondered what was happening in Dodge that they hadn't heard about.

Kitty Russell shook her head and continued across the alley where she found Doc and Wilbur Jonas discussing the hill man's actions, "Did you see that, Kitty?" Doc asked and pointed to the jail house where Festus finally ended up.

"How could I miss it? Everyone on Front Street saw it!" Kitty looked at the two men. "What on earth do you suppose that was about?" she asked.

Doc thought about it hard. He clicked his fingers together as he had a thought, "I bet he was asked to call the dance on Saturday night! He surely looked like he had his rooster tail all fluffed out, didn't he?"

"He most certainly did," Jonas said in a slightly understated way. He and Ellen weren't really into the barn dances or the night-life that Dodge offered. Jonas made a face and then excused himself and went back into his store. Kitty and Doc watched the store owner for a moment, "One day I'd like him to loosen right up," Kitty smiled.

Doc looked at Kitty like she had kittens crawling out her ears. "I've heard stories about people like Jonas that have loosened up. I don't think Dodge could handle him," Doc winked causing Kitty to laugh. "That's a terrible thing to say," Kitty playfully swatted the doctor across the upper arm. He mocked a flinch and had a sly smiled under his moustache.

"Let's go and find out what Festus is up to," Kitty looped her arm around the doctor's arm. "Are we really that sure we want to know?" Doc asked. Kitty continued to laugh. "And Miss Russell, you said I was incorrigible?" Doc looked at the saloon owner. "I've had a very good teacher," she winked and Doc hand no chose but to leave it at that.

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"Matthew," Festus moved closely to the marshal's desk. He could see that the lawman was busy with paperwork. "What is it Festus?" Matt asked without even looking up. Matt was scrambling to get papers together for Judge Brooker over a murder case in Spearville that he had investigated the week before.

"Wall, Matthew," Festus moved around the office as he formulated his question. Matt finally got annoyed, "Festus, what is it you want to ask me?"

Festus smiled and raced to the marshal's desk and leaned on it, Matt frowned slightly as he watched the hill man, "Matthew, you know of the barn dance this Saturday?"

"Yes."

"And you know that Mr. Wilson is having his band play?"

"Yes," Matt answered, this time his tone was a little more annoyed.

"Wall," Festus paused just as Kitty and Doc entered the office. Matt rolled his eyes wondering if he'd ever get the paperwork done. Festus looked quickly from the doctor and saloon owner to the marshal, "He asked me to call the dance, and I need to tell him that I won't be deputing that night. Can I?" Festus asked.

Kitty and Doc watched on.

Matt stood up from behind his desk, "Yes, Festus. You can call the dance on Saturday, but in the meantime, would you please let me do this paperwork and get out there and look after things?" Matt pointed to the door. Even Doc and Kitty didn't see those barbs coming, "ouch," Kitty said and pull Doc out of the office as they watch Festus scurry past them.

"Hum," Doc paused. "Matt seems to be bothered about something," Doc said as he turned back to the door, "Not now, Doc. You'll likely lose your head," Kitty warned. "How about a drink?" she offered instead.