Festus followed Doc to the swing doors of the Long Branch where Doc quickly stepped out onto the boardwalk, "I've told you a hundred times today, I can't go fishing!"

"But Doc!" Festus took the doctor by the arm and he quickly pulled it free of the deputy's grip. "Don't "but Doc" me!" Doc snarled and wiped his coat sleeve, "and don't grab me! You know I hate that!"

Festus mocked his movements which caused the doctor to glare at the hill man. "Wall ifin ya jist stopped bellowing at me, I'd tell you that I saw a fish down at the creek that was as big as my arm!"

Doc pursed his lips in thought and then looked at Festus, "If you don't stop hounding me about going fishing, it might just be your arm, and leg and whole body in the creek!"

Festus narrowed his hazel eyes at the doctor, "You get more ornery every day..."

Doc brushed his hand across his moustache and looked Festus up and down from hat to toe, "Is it any wonder?" he snorted with a laugh and turned toward the staircase that led up to his office.

Festus flung his hand in the air as if swatting at something, "Jist you wait! No day you're going to be so old and miserable, you'll beg me to take you fishing, but I'm gonna be too..." Festus stopped talking as he watched the rickety wagon pull up and stop in front of the General Store. He watched Doc turn and a smile spread across the doctor's tanned face, "Well, for Heaven's sake! Aunt Hootie!" he pulled his black felt hat off his greying curls and offered his hand to Hootie Haggen.

"Well, thank you, Doc!" She slowly climbed down off the buck board.

Festus just stood watching with his mouth open, and then he realized that Doc had a really soft spot in his heart for Hootie. "Hee! It would be some funny if Doc and Hootie was to hook up!" he said as he started back to the Long Branch to tell Miss Kitty of Hootie's arrival. Several steps into this trek, Festus stopped dead in his tracks. He turned as white as a sheet. "Foot! If ol' Doc did marry up to Aunt Hootie...that would make him my uncle!" Festus shuttered at the thought and stumbled into the saloon.

Kitty and Sam, among others watched the spectacle of the deputy tumbling and tripping over his feet across the floor before he lay scrawling, flat out. Kitty quickly stepped out from behind the bar to rush over to where Festus lay flat out and stood over the deputy, "Festus? What on earth are you doing? Are you trying to break your neck or something?"

Festus slowly got to his feet, "If it were that easy!"

"Huh?" Kitty replied.

"It's Aunt Hootie. She's in town...and then there's Doc..." He said sheepishly while looking to the doorway.

Kitty smiled and giggled, "Oh, I get it. I think." she looked Festus in the eyes and the deputy went beet red. "You think that after the last time Hootie visited, she and Doc became good friends. And now you think Doc and Aunt Hootie might someday tie the knot, don't you?"

Festus swallowed hard and nodded, "Somethin' like that..." which caused Kitty to almost laugh. She fought hard to try and control her out burst spare the hill man's feelings, "Festus, I know Doc and Hootie like each other - a lot. But I can't see Doc, nor Hootie getting married anytime soon. They are just friends and that's all."

Festus nodded, "I know Miss Kitty, but Doc gist all fuzzy warm looking when Aunt Hootie is around!"

"Well, maybe that's not such a bad thing either!" Kitty winked and walked back to the bar.

Doc and Aunt Hootie on the other hand were having a nice chat outside the General Store when they happened to see Matt strolling up the boardwalk toward them, "Well, hello Hootie!" Matt tipped his hat and smiled at Hootie. His eyes then caught the look on Doc's face - one he'd rarely seen, "Doc, you okay?"

"Huh?" Doc sputtered.

"You look a little flushed. Are you feeling all right?" Matt stepped closer.

Doc straightened and cleared his throat, "Well, of course I am..."

Matt's eyebrows rose up, "Yes, I am sure you are..." he winked at Hootie and left the two to continue chatting.

"What in thunder was that about?" Doc huffed.

Hootie laughed, "Oh dear Doctor Adams. Your face is as sunny as the morning sun!" she smiled.

Doc gulped, "I think I need a drink..."

Hootie laughed again, "I think so! And just to be sure you get one, I'm going to join you." Doc nodded weakly in agreement as they walked to the Long Branch Saloon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Henry was given the old swayback horse that used to pull the lon car. Burnham and Paddy thought it was the least they could do to rid themselves of Henry Haggen. Not to mention that the lions were showing more interest in the old horse than usual.

Henry sat slumped over the horse's back and looked back over his shoulder as the circus grounds grew further and further away. "I guess that's that," he said to Nosey who sat in front of him and picked through the horse's mane looked for gnats and other bugs.

Henry made a face and looked up the road, "I don't know how far away Dodge is, but we'll find it, we sure will!" he smiled. "Who needs that circus anyway?" Nosey looked back to Henry and chattered as if he cared less too. Henry laughed, "They'll be so happy to see us again, Nosey. I know it!" he smiled even broader. And with that, Henry nudged the old swayback mare and she moved only a tiny bit faster.

It was more than a days ride back to Dodge, but Henry was bound to get there. And he was equally confident in his strange way that all Dodge citizens would greet him with open arms and not think about the past - the one with the fire works and the fire at the Long Branch. Henry giggled with excitement.