Festus stopped the buggy in front of the bank and stepped out along with Isabella.
"Thank you Deputy," she said heading into the bank as Festus waited out front for her.
"I got it!" she said leaving the bank a short time later and Festus smiled at the exuberant girl.
"That's real good Ms. Isabella," the hillman said.
"I can't believe it," she said giddy. "I owe it all to you, thank you, thank you!"
Festus laughed as the girl threw her arms around his neck and gave him a hug.
"Isabella!"
Isabella froze at the sound of her name being called.
Turning around, she gasped and tightened her grip on Festus arm.
"How dare you," Richard said stepping forward he grabbed Isabella by the arm and pulled her away from Festus.
"Richard please," Isabella pleaded. "You're hurting me!"
"Here now," Festus said stepping in the middle. "Who are ya?"
"Who are you sir!" Richard replied angrily. "This girl is my sister and I won't have her cavorting with the likes of you!"
"Now wait just a gosh dern minute," Festus said forcing Richards hand away from Isabella. "She wasn't cavortin with no one."
"Festus! What is going on here!" bellowed Matt who had heard the confrontation when he made rounds.
"Matthew," Festus said a tinge of red crossing his cheeks. "This here uppity feller's tryin ta say me and Isabella here is cavortin."
"Marshal," Isabella said cutting though the argument. "My brother means well, but I don't need his help."
"Nah you don't!" Festus said looking at the man.
Richard fumed as he looked at the large lawman. "You're the law in this town sir," he said standing straight.
"Yes," Matt said with a sigh.
"Then are you going to tell me that it's legal in this town for a man to be seen alone with an underage and unmarried girl?" Richard stated crossing his arms.
Matt sighed again in frustration as Isabella confronted her brother. "You have no right to speak for me," she said angrily before turning back to Festus and the Marshal. "Thank you Deputy for your help."
"Taint nothin ma'am," Festus replied as Isabella stormed off toward the hotel.
"I'm warning you mister," Richard said leveling a finger in Festus direction. "Stay away from my sister!"
"Is that a threat," Festus asked as Matt put a firm hand in front of him.
"I think it's time you went on about your business," Matt said as Richard turned and walked away.
"Who that feller think he is," Festus stated as Richard walked away.
"Festus," Matt said leading the deputy down the boardwalk. "I think it would be best if you stayed out of it, it seems to me this is a family issue between Ms. Bosworth and her brother."
"Will do Matthew," Festus replied meekly.
"Besides," Matt said stepping into his office. "We've got bigger problems. I have to leave for a few days to give some testimony in Hayes and I need you to keep an eye on things here. Can I count on you to do that?"
"Golly Bill Matthew," Festus said hastily. "Ya know ya can. I ain't never let ya down before and I'm not a plannin on doing it now neither."
"Well alright," Matt said patting the deputy on the back. "I didn't think so. I'll be back just as soon as I can. If you need any help you know to get Newly."
Festus nodded as Matt took a rifle from the wall and his saddle bags. "I'll see you soon."
As Festus, Doc and Kitty sat down to dinner later that night at Delmonico's, Isabella and Richard walked in and took a table in the back of the restaurant.
"I tell ya," Festus said fuming. "There just ain't somethin right bout the way he treats her."
"I know how you feel Festus," Kitty stated sympathetically. "But it is Isabella's life, she needs to make her own decisions. No one including you or Richard can do that for her."
"I know Ms. Kitty," Festus said as Isabella suddenly stood up and made her way to their table.
"Festus, Doctor Adams, Ms. Kitty," she said as the three acknowledged her presence. "I just wanted to say thank you for all your help but I've decided to return to Atlanta with Richard on the stage tomorrow."
"Well I'm real sorry to hear that young lady," Doc replied. "I think what you were trying to do here would have been good for Dodge."
"I agree," Kitty said as Festus scoffed.
"Well if in you decide to stay you know yer welcome to," the hillman said as Isabella smiled.
"Thank you but my place is in Atlanta," she said sadly. "I... I understand that now."
Later that night Festus had just finished making rounds and was just about to bed down for the night in the jail when Isabella busted though the front door of Matt's office.
"Festus," she said sobbing. "I need your help!"
"Tarnation Isabella," he said sitting the girl down. "What is it? Is it yer brother?"
"Yes," Isabella said sniffling. "I do not want to return to Atlanta, he's making me do it!"
"Well," Festus said looking the girl in the eyes. "All ya got to tell him is no!"
"It's not that easy," Isabella said looking up at a knock on the door.
"Isabella!" Richard said pounding on the door as Festus approached it.
"I'll handle this," Festus said opening the door he stepped out onto the boardwalk as Richard took several steps back.
"I'm calling you out sir," he said as Festus took a minute to observed him.
In the darkness of Dodges street it was hard to tell but it didn't look like the kid was armed.
"Callin me out," Festus said with a smile. "And how ya gonna do that!"
A slight flash of light and the whizz of a bullet surprised the deputy who instinctively drew his revolver and fired in return.