Chapter 2
Festus took the road to the Benson farm as quickly as he could, praying all was right with Becky Kelly and that Doc would get there in time to help in case anything was wrong. A prickling at the back of his neck caused him to peer about uneasily through the gloomy night searching for anything out of the ordinary, but failing.
A half hour of hard riding and the lights from the Benson farm broke through the darkness of the rainy night, cutting a swath through the fog and sheets of rain. Festus guided his mule to the front door and swung off easily, calling for Doc before he reached the front porch.
The door swung open and Jeb Benson stood outlined in the warm glow from the kitchen. "Festus! What in tarnation are you doin' out here in this kind of weather?"
"Jeb! I'm lookin' fer Doc. He's needed back in town."
"Well, come on in outta that rain. He's just finishing up with Tommy's arm. Fool boy jumped outta the hay loft again. He swears he did it twenty times before and didn't hurt hisself but this time he busted his arm. Again. I'll go get Doc for ya. Warm up there by the fire for a minute."
Jeb disappeared into the room across the kitchen from him and Doc appeared shortly after.
"What in thunder's wrong?" Doc asked as he came out of the bedroom, pulling his glasses from his face and putting them into his case.
"It's Becky Kelly, Doc. Jim come into the Long Branch 'bout an hour ago yellin' that he needed ya at his place now. Becky's 'bout ta give birth to that firstborn of thar's and Jim's worried somethin's wrong. Miss Kitty went out to see if she could help till ya got out thar."
"How long did Jim say Becky was in labor?"
Festus shrugged. "Don't rightly know. He said the pains started up after supper and then got worse pretty fast. They's sure somethin's wrong."
"Festus! Jeb told me you were here! What brings you out on a night like this?" said Ellie Benson as she emerged from her son's room.
"Becky Kelly's giving birth, Ellie. I have to go on out there," Doc said as he readied his bag and grabbed his coat, walking to the door as he did so. "Tommy'll be fine. Just keep him out of that hayloft for a while. And convince him he can't fly no matter what he may think!"
Festus ticked his head and smiled. "What's so funny?" Doc asked, glaring at Festus.
"Oh nothin', Doc. Jist rememberin' somethin'."
"Well, knowing you, I don't wanna know what it was you were thinkin'," he said as he waved goodbye to the Benson's, walked quickly through the door and climbed into his rig with Festus on his heels.
"Festus, why don't you stay here and warm up a bit before you head on back to Dodge?" Ellie called as Festus headed out the door. "I've got a nice stew and some fresh coffee brewin'! Warm ya up a bit before you head back."
"That's a good idea, Festus," Doc said as he picked up the reins. "You should warm up a bit and get dry before heading back to Dodge. I sure don't want you to get pneumonia or something."
"Wall, that sure is mighty thoughty of ya, Doc."
"I'm only saying that 'cause then you'd be underfoot all the time, complaining as usual," he said with a wink in Ellie's direction.
"Blamed old scutter," Festus muttered darkly. "I'm goin' with ya all the way to the Kelly's whether ya like it or nor. I got me a bad feelin' I cain't figger out right now and I ain't taken no chances, so sit down and get movin'."
Turning back to Ellie Benson standing in the doorway, her arms wrapped about herself to ward off the chill night, he tipped his hat. "Obliged, Miz Benson but I best go with Doc here and make sure he don't have no trouble," he said as he mounted Ruth.
Doc smiled to himself, waved to the Benson's once more and headed for the Kelly's, Festus following close behind with his collar turned up against the blowing rain. From time to time, the deputy stopped and stared about him, the uneasy feeling growing with each mile.
An hour and a half later, Doc pulled into the Kelly's farmyard with Festus behind him, water pouring off his slicker and hat. Grabbing his bag, he climbed from the buggy and headed for the Kelly's front door. Festus dismounted from Ruth, tied the reins to the post and turned to stare out at the dark prairie, the hairs on the back of his neck rising as the disquiet within him swelled. Flashes of lightning lit the gloomy night momentarily but nothing untoward made itself know to the deputy.
Doc looked back in exasperation. "Well? Are you coming?"
Shaking his head, Festus climbed the stairs, pausing once more to look over his shoulder into the darkness.
Before the pair could reach the door, it was flung open by a very distraught Jim Kelly and Doc was pulled into the warm house.
"It's about time ya got here, Doc! She's…she's hurtin' somethin' fierce. Ya gotta help her!"
"Jim, you need to calm down. Yellin' isn't gonna help her. Or me. Now sit down there and be quiet. Festus keep him quiet and out of trouble. Maybe you could find something for Festus to dry off with, Jim or something warm to drink," he said before disappearing into the bedroom where all could hear Becky's cries.
Jim peered after Adams, fear on his face and then looked to Festus who had taken off his slicker and come to stand by him. "She'll be fine, Jim. Doc'll help her with that youngun. You'll see. Why in no time you'll have a nice baby boy or girl."
Jim looked at Festus' smiling face and smiled slightly back at him. "I sure do hope you're right, Festus. I sure do hope."
