Matt sighed as he opened the door to his office and stepped inside.
Having over heard the conversation taking place in the next room and the telegram he just sent off to Governor Cooper, the Marshal knew he was in for one hell of a fight.
"Hush it up in there!" he yelled angrily while taking a seat at his desk.
With Newly up at Doc's and Festus at home still recovering from the beating they had given him, Matt was relegated to the jail at least for the night until he could get the three men to see the Judge sometime tomorrow.
Kitty of course had understood when Matt told her he wouldn't be home tonight but he knew she hated any part of his job that took him away from her and their son but it was his job and there was nothing he could do but offer up an apology.
Vera sat next to her husband as Doc pulled out his pocket watch and took his pulse for the third time that hour.
"It's defiantly getting stronger," he said with a swipe of his mustache.
"That's good, isn't it?" Vera asked meeting the physician's eyes.
"Yes," Doc said with a nod. "It's very good!"
Stepping out of the room and into his office with Robert, Doc breathed a sigh of relief.
"If you don't need me," Robert said evenly. "I'd like to get on home and check on my Pa."
"That's a good idea," Doc said with a nod. "I've got Newly covered here."
"Thanks, Doc," Robert said grabbing his bag as he headed out the door. "I'll check in with you in the morning!"
"You do that and tell Festus, that I said, he better not be up!"
"I will," Robert replied with a mischievous grin.
Robert quietly let himself into the darkened house and clinched his jaw when he seen his father seated at the kitchen table munching on leftovers.
"Pa," he said as Festus froze. "What are you doing?"
"What's it a look like, I'm a doing?"
"It looks like your out of bed," Robert admonished.
"I was hungry," Festus said looking up. "How's things in town?"
"Alright," Robert said taking a seat beside him. "Newly's going to be fine and Mark Holland as well."
"Can't say, I'm too happy ta hear about that Holland boy," Festus said angrily.
"I know," Robert replied with a slight grin. "How's your head?"
"It ain't throbin no more and I can remember ma name," Festus replied with a wiry grin.
"But, does it hurt?" Robert asked taking off the bandage to get a better look at the wound.
"Only aches," Festus said slowly as Robert smiled.
"Well, like Doc always says, it's a good thing you got such a hard head you stubborn old mule," Robert said stifling a yawn.
"Johnny's in yer old room now but there's two beds in there if in ya want to go ta bed here," Festus said with a nod.
Robert stood up and stretched. "That sounds like a good idea," he said. "You go to bed and then I will."
"I'm going, I'm going," Festus said with a smirk while Robert watched him go to the bedroom he shared with Abelia.
The next day, Governor Cooper arrived on the train and quickly made his way over to the jail.
"Governor," Matt said amicably when the man walked in.
"Marshal," Cooper said snidely. "I can't believe that I've found myself back here in your town again!"
"Yes, sir," Matt said standing up. "And, I'm just as disappointed as you are!"
Cooper snorted as he took his hat off and made his way over to the cells. Then he stood silently there for a moment as he watched his son, Mark and Hal.
"Pa," Joe said upon noticing him. "You got to get us outa here!"
"I don't 'got' to do nothing, Joseph," Cooper said crossing his arms. "I told you boys, after you turned a certain age, you were responsible for your own actions. So this time, I'm letting the law handle this!"
"Pa!" Joseph said angrily. "You can't!"
Cooper turned around before anyone else could protest his decision.
"When do they meet the Judge, Marshal?"
"This afternoon, Governor," Matt replied evenly. "And I don't think he'll look at this second time to kindly!"
"That's fine by me," Cooper said putting in his hat before walking toward the door. "I'll see you there!"
"I really don't think it's necessary that you come with me, Pa," Robert said as they arrived at the Judge's office. "Matt and I are all the witnesses he needs."
"That don't make no never mind," Festus said harshly. "I'm the one that was there! Them boys need ta learn a lesson."
"You're right about that," Robert said as Doc hurried toward them.
"What's he doing here?" he said looking from Festus to Robert.
"Well, I tried..."
"Oh hush," Festus said brushing past the older man. "Ol quackity quack, thinks he knows it all."
"Now, don't you go starting no argument." Doc said sternly. "Thinking that I'll forget you're here cause I won't!"
"I'm going inside," Robert said cutting though the argument and the two men at the same time. "Are you both coming or are you planning on standing out here making a spectacle of yourselves!"
"I'm a comin," Festus said following Robert inside with Doc bringing up the rear.
"Now, I understand that most of this was perpetrated by Mark Holland and Joseph Cooper," Brooker said after hearing the testimony from Matt and Festus. "I'm not saying that Harold Holland Jr. is totally blameless but the burden of responsibility lies heavily on those two."
Mark fumed as the judge pointed to Joe and himself. "Just cause my brother's a little slow don't mean he don't know right from wrong!"
"Your honor," Robert said standing from his spot behind Festus. "May I speak on their behalf."
"You wish to speak on behalf of all three?" Brooker asked slightly dumbfounded.
"Yes, sir," Robert replied with a nod. "I guess besides Joe's father that I've known them longer than anyone here and their not criminals at least not the kind we know, they've just made some bad decisions and well, Hal don't deserve to be locked up with them. I guess, I'm asking for you to go easy on them for his benefit more so than the others."
Brooker nodded before he looked at the three young men. "I will take that into consideration as I prepare my judgement."
"You sure that was such a good idea, son?" Festus asked after Judge Brooker dismissed them.
"There's too many mentally ill people in prison as it is Pa," Robert replied harshly. "What's one more slow boy being locked up going to accomplish and the only one he's got to take care of him is his brother."
"He's right," Doc said quietly as Robert angrily walked off.
