Matilda was chopping vegetables in the kitchen when Festus came in. "Festus, what are you doing up! You shouldn't be out of bed."
The deputy said firmly, "I ain't strong enough to survive no more of yore sister's cookin'. If'n it's all the same to you I'll fend for myself."
Matilda giggled. "Oh, Festus, I'm sorry about that. They just wanted to help."
Festus sat at the table. "That's all right, Miss Tilly." He assumed a stern expression. "Mebbe now you'll tell me what you wuz doin' out yonder in the snow?" She chopped faster. "Miss Tilly, I'm a swore in deputy marshal. If'n yore in some kinda trouble you'd ort to let me help you."
Matilda laid the knife down. "What makes you think I'm in trouble?"
Festus sighed. "I've knowed folks to do a lot of strange things but I have never saw nobody that goes wanderin' the prairie in the winter for the fun of it."
"You were out there."
"I had a blame good reason! What's yourn?"
Matilda put the chopped vegetables in a pot on the stove and poked the fire. "You might say we were running away from home...except the place we were living wasn't a home We were adopted..." She looked at Festus and her eyes filled with tears. "If I was to tell you...would you make us go back?"
The deputy was startled. "Why would you be thinkin' I'd make you go back?"
"You just said you're a deputy marshal. Don't that mean you have to follow the law?"
Festus said shrewdly, "What yore sayin' is the law ain't on yore side. Is that it, is it?" Matilda nodded and the deputy thought a moment. "Miss Tilly, I cain't say what the law might do, but at least I could take you and them young'uns to Dodge and let the marshal decide." Matilda's eyes grew big with fright and Festus went on reassuringly. "Matthew and me been good friends for a whole lotta years and I know he'll do what's best for you. Whyn't you tell me what yore trouble is?"
Matilda took a deep breath-and the kitchen door leading to the back yard crashed open. Danby stomped in, slamming the door and glowering. "I tell you, girl, this has got to stop!"
Matilda's eyes widened. "Whatever is wrong with you, Mr Danby?"
Danby threw off his coat and hat and held his hands over the fire. "You asked me to cut a Christmas tree and I did. You said the children should have a turkey for Christmas so I shot one. I've done everything you wanted from the moment you drove in, but now those kids have gone too far!"
Festus spoke up. "Settle down, Mr Danby. Just what have them young'uns been up to?"
Danby rounded on the deputy with an outraged expression. "They're making popcorn!"
Festus looked bewildered. "Popcorn?"
Danby waved his arms. "Popcorn! In the barn! With the seed corn for spring!"
Matilda pulled on her coat. "I'm sorry, Mr Danby. I'll go right out and stop them."
"Well, they can have the bag they opened," said Danby gruffly, " but that's all! I'm still hoping you kids will be gone before I'm out of everything." Matilda left and he rolled his eyes. "Festus, have you ever seen anything like this?"
The deputy was grinning. "No, Mr Danby, I cain't say as I have. So you went to work and cut a tree, did you? Shot a turkey and all?"
Danby looked sheepish. "Festus, there's something about that mule-headed girl..."
Festus got up and looked out the window. Matilda had herded the children out of the barn and started them on a snowman. She saw him and waved, smiling, and he smiled back. "Yessir, Mr Danby, I reckon they is."
