Kitty was at the end of the bar talking to Sam when Matt came in with Doc and Festus. The bartender nodded towards their friends and Kitty looked around, then turned back with a big smile and pressed his hand. "Bring a bottle and some glasses, Sam, and don't forget yourself."

Sam smiled back. "Right away, Miss Kitty."

Kitty took a moment to collect herself, then joined the men at their favorite table. Festus jumped up to pull out a chair and Kitty sat down, saying, "Well, Matt, I see you found them." Sam brought the bottle and glasses and pulled up a chair while Kitty poured drinks all round. "Doc, where were you and Festus anyway?"

Doc looked disgruntled. "There was a misunderstanding." He didn't seem inclined to say anything more and Matt just shook his head, grinning, when Kitty looked to him.

Festus spoke up. "I'll tell you 'bout it, Miss Kitty."

Doc grumbled, "I'm sure you will."

The deputy ignored him. "We wuz tuck prisoner by bounty hunters."

Kitty was incredulous. "What?"

"Yes'm. They had a wanted poster on Doc..."

"It wasn't on me. It was on a man who bore a slight resemblance to me."

"Well, you look enough like a outlaw they wuz sure they had the right feller." Festus assumed a long-suffering expression. "It's them beady little eyes of his, Miss Kitty. Tell you the truth, I figger it wuz only a matter of time 'fore somethin' like this happened."

Kitty's mouth twitched as she fought to hold back her laughter. "Doc, I take it you were able to convince them of the error of their ways?"

Doc snorted. "I was." He glared at Festus. "No thanks to you."

The deputy's gentle hazel eyes twinkled. "I done the best I could, but yore such a desp'rate lookin' character..." Doc got up and headed for the doors, Festus right behind him, "...I ain't s'prised they didn' want'a listen to me."

"I don't want to listen to you either!"

"Well, you should. You should be gratefuller a respect'ble man of my position is willin' to be seen with you."

"The only position you're going to be in is flat on your back if you don't leave me alone!"

They had gone and Sam left too as Matt sighed and turned to Kitty. "Happy birthday."

The laughter she had been holding back burst forth and she leaned over and hugged him. "Matt, I don't ever want a birthday like this again, but those two are still the best present I've ever gotten!"