Matt was at his desk filling out a report when he heard a familiar jingle of spurs outside the door. He dropped the papers and jumped to his feet as the door opened and Festus came in. The marshal beamed and hurried across the room to seize his friend's hand. "Festus!"

"Matthew!" The deputy was grinning from ear to ear and his whole arm went up and down as Matt pumped his hand. "You got any coffee?"

Matt went over to the stove and brought the coffeepot and two cups to the table. "I've got a fresh pot. Of course it isn't Haggen style, but maybe you can drink it anyway."

Festus poured the coffee and took a swallow. "It's not as stout as I'd like but I'd say yore learnin'."

The marshal leaned forward. "Festus, where have you been? Don't you know we've been worried about you?"

The deputy sighed and turned his cup around. "I'm right sorry to fret y'all, Matthew, but Jesse..."

"Newly told us about your friend."

Festus frowned and shook his head. "I didn' know what to do 'bout it. I wanted to do what wuz right and lawsome, but Jesse goin' back to prison...I don't know what I'da done if he hadn't died." He tried to smile. "I just mighta disgraced myself and tuck him to Mexico like Mr Carpenter wanted."

Matt looked concerned. "Festus, that's about as tough a spot as a man can be in. I wish I'd been there to help you."

"Newly told you all 'bout it?" Matt nodded. "Can you think of anythin' you woulda done diff'rent?" The marshal hesitated and Festus said quietly, "That's what I figgered. Sometimes there ain't no way to get somethin' done 'thout hurtin' somebody and I reckon this wuz one of them times."

"So where were you? You've been gone over a month."

Festus was startled. "Has it been that long?" He sighed. "I wuz wanderin', Matthew. Just wanderin' out yonder on the prairie 'til...well, mebbe I'll tell you sometime. Let's just say somethin' happened to make me see what a good thing it wuz me bein' yore deputy."

Matt got up and took a turn around the room. "Are you going back to being my deputy?"

"Oh, 'course I am!" The marshal looked relieved and Festus grinned. "Just gimme my badge and I'll be back on the job quicker'n you can say the rat run over the roof of the house with a piece of raw liver in his mouth."

"Well, Festus, I don't have your badge."

The deputy looked surprised. "You don't? Newly didn't give it to you then?"

Matt rocked back on his heels. "Oh, he gave it to me all right. I just didn't keep it. Doc's got it."

"Doc? What would he want with my badge?"

"You'll have to ask him." The deputy started for the door and Matt said, "Festus, don't tell Doc I said so but it was pretty hard on him, you being gone. He missed you a lot...maybe more than all the rest of us put together." Their eyes met, and after a moment the deputy left, closing the door gently behind him.