Festus walked out on to the board walk and watched the doctor pull his rig out into the street. The hill man shook his head knowing full well that his older friend worked hard for a living. He watched Doc climb into the buggy and with a flick of the reigns old Popcorn jerked the buggy forward.

The hill man then continued up the street only to stop and watch as a new couple to Dodge argued about something. What he wasn't sure, but they weren't overly serious either. In fact he found them quite amusing. Then continued on up the street where his eyes caught Clay Williams. He watched the young boy like a hawk.

Meanwhile, the couple that Festus just passed stood on the boardwalk in front of the general store. "Jim...I don't know how we're going to make it to your father's place up north if we don't have food. And just look at this wagon!"

"Well," he hesitated slightly, "we don't have much money left, and what we do have, we'll need for the rail passes." he lifted his hat and scratched his forehead then plopped the hat back down onto his head. "I could try to find a job, I'm sure, but I don't know if anyone here is willing to hire someone for only a few weeks." Jim looked around and wiped the back of his neck with the hanky he pulled from his back pocket. He was a farmer at heart and didn't mind hard work in the least, but the trek to his new home was becoming more than he'd thought.

"We have to do something. I don't think I could spend another year out on this prairie." Marie O'Connor sighed.

"Me neither." Jim agreed.

"I'll try and get us some food." Marie smiled.

"And just how do you intend on doing that? Steal it?" Jim said slightly sarcastically.

Marie huffed. "Well...if I have too!"

Jim chuckled. "You couldn't steal anything. You'll get caught!"

Marie tightened her lips. "We'll see about that..." She said before she turned away from her husband who just laughed behind her. More then ever she wanted to prove that she could do it...steal something -anything.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Festus followed young Clay Williams down Front Street, knowing full well that the youngster was up to no good. The hill man tried to catch him several times during the weeks before and it seemed that the child was more aloof than the part-time deputy gave him credit for.

Young Clay entered the general store and Festus was only a few feet behind. Marie on the other hand, had her carpet bag wide open and ready to drop the squash into the sack when Festus bumped into her causing her to jump and almost throw the squash out on to the street. "Oh! Pardon Ma'am! I'm terribly sorry!" Festus said as he scrambled to catch the run away gourd.

Jim burst out laughing as Marie rolled her eyes and covered her face with her hands. She then peeked out and looked over to her husband with more determination then ever in her eyes.

Clay Williams on the other hand perfectly execute his mission to steal the sack of flour his mother sent him for. Wilbur Jonas, the store keep, was out on the street hollering after the young thief and waving a broom.

Festus returned to the boardwalk and handed the squash to Marie while watching the youngster run away. "I sware I'll get that little pip one day..." Marie looked at the squash in her hands and smiled. In the heat of the action, no one noticed Marie and the squash. Quietly she backed away and handed it to her husband before smiling broadly at him. Jim sighed then smiled. Perhaps they did have a chance, after all.