"Wow!" Johnny exclaimed. "Look at the size of that fish, Pa!"

Festus held up the close to ten pound river trout and smiled. "Now look, you youngin's got ta remember how big this here fish is," he said scrunching up one eye. "Cause ol Doc is not gonna believe me when I tell him about it."

"Boy is he gonna be jealous," Robert said with a laugh as Festus strung the fish on a line and dropped it back into the water to keep it fresh. "You boys pull in yer lines. I think we got enough fer supper and breakfast tomorrow."

(Long Branch)

Matt took Kitty's arms and gently pushed her into a chair in her office. "Listen to me," Matt said as his wife suddenly turned pale and shivered despite the stuffiness of the tiny room. "He's not coming here! A platoon from Ft. Dodge will be here in the morning."

"You don't know that," Kitty said so quietly that Matt and Doc both had to bend down to hear her. "I can't...I can't face him again."

"You won't have to," Matt said firmly. "You will never have to see him again."

"Bonner?" Abelia whispered looking at Doc. "Isn't he..."

"He's a monster," Kitty said looking up with fire in her eyes. "He's inhuman."

"Matt," Doc said gently. "Why don't you take Kitty home."

"Yeah," Matt said taking Kitty's arms. "That's a good idea."

Abelia watched them leave before Doc took a deep breath. "He's the one who took Kitty and..."

"I remember," Abelia said shaking her head. "Kitty told me what happened after I was held by Sims."

Festus sighed contently as Robert fed the fire in front of them while Johnny snored softly on his bedroll to the right of the hill man.

"I'm sure going to miss this," Robert said sitting back. "After being alone for so long and now having a family to leaving it again..."

"Ya can't think of it like that, son," Festus said gently. "It's not gonna be fer ever. When ya get outa school, Dodge'll still be there."

"I know," Robert said with a smile. "It just won't be the same without all of you."

Festus nodded. "I know," he said putting a hand on the boys shoulder. "Let's get some sleep, time ta be headin back home in the morning."

"Yeah," Robert replied stretching out to Festus left while the hill man spread out his bedroll in the middle of the boys.

Lying down, Festus took a deep breath and sighed. Closing his eyes, he was just about asleep when someone grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to his feet.

Startled awake, the hill man looked into the eyes of a middle aged Indian man.

"What in tarnation," Festus sputtered putting up a fight but stopped when he looked toward Johnny and Robert, both of whom were now wide awake and also on their feet. "You look like Pawnee? What ya want with us, we're just here huntin and fishing round these parts is all."

The Indian whirled Festus around toward the fire, never letting go of the hill man's arms. Squeezing them tightly as a figure emerged from the tree line.

"Well, look who we have here. The deputy from Dodge!"

Festus eyes widened in surprise when the man stopped just in front of him.

"How'd you get outa prison, Bonner?" Festus said angrily glaring at him.

"That's no concern of yours!" Jude said grabbing the hill man by the shirt. "I want to know if that Marshal is still in Dodge?"

"Why you running with Pawnee," Festus asked knowing the normally quiet Indian tribe would never agree to go after Dillion.

"I'll ask the questions," Bonner said looking at Johnny and Robert. "These your boys?"

Festus remained silent as Bonner stepped over to Johnny.

"Maybe you'll be quick to answer my questions if I mark up your boy's face!" Bonner yelled pulling his buffalo knife from it's sheath and putting the blade against Johnny's cheek.

"Stop!" Festus said struggling to free himself. "Don't hurt the boy. It's me ya want!"

Bonner moved back to stand directly in front of Festus again. "Is the Marshal still in Dodge!"

"Yes," Festus answered reluctantly. "Dillion is still in Dodge!"

"Thank you," Bonner said looking toward Johnny. "Your cooperation will be rewarded. The youngest may go!"

"Johnny," Festus said nodding his head. "Ya take Ruth and go on home now, son."

"I can't leave ya, Pa," the thirteen year old said quickly.

"It's alright," Festus said reassuringly. "You do like I tell you!"

Johnny nodded as he started toward Ruth.

"Wait!" Bonner yelled looking at Festus and then at Robert. "You go as well! And give Dillion a message for me."

Robert clinched his jaw as he gave Bonner an angry look. "What do you want me to tell him!"

"Tell him to meet me at the Indian burial ground," Bonner yelled stepping toward Festus. "Alone if he wants to find his deputy still alive!"

"Alright," Robert said with a nod toward Festus.

"I'm not done yet," Bonner said grabbing Festus left hand.

The Indian held the hill man around the chest as Bonner took his knife and placed against Festus pinky finger.

Festus felt the cold blade against his skin and before he could even take a breath, Bonner sliced off the digit smoothly in one swipe of his knife.

"Tell him," Bonner said handing the finger to Robert. "If he don't come, I'll send the deputy back piece by piece!"

Robert opened his hand in a daze as Bonner placed the finger in the palm of his hand.

"Pa!" Johnny yelled running to Festus side as the hill man fell to his knees clutching his hand.