"You promise you'll write me every day?" Sally asked as Robert nodded.
"I told you, I would honey," he said smiling broadly while standing in front of Dodge's train depot.
"I don't want to say goodbye yet," Sally mumbled emotionally.
"I know," Robert replied taking her hands in his. "But it's only a few years, then I'll come back and we'll get married!"
Sally smiled and nodded as Robert turned to Doc.
"Now, remember what I told you," the physician said swiping at his mustache.
"I know, don't try to take on to much," Robert replied sheepishly. "But I'm not planning on spending four years in school! I'll do it in two!"
"You can try," Doc said shaking his head. "Are you sure, you're a Haggen?"
"Oh, hush ya ol scudder," Festus said brushing past his friend. "Course he is!"
"And proud of it," Robert said with a slight grin. "Most of the time anyway!"
Festus smiled proudly as he put his arm around Abelia. "Just make sure ya keep outa trouble in that big city."
"I will," he said as the train pulled into the station.
"I'm gonna miss you," Sally said once Robert took her into his arms.
"My Pa and Miss Abelia's here for you," Robert said evenly. "And you still got yer Pa."
Sally nodded as she looked around for her father but was disappointed that he had not come to town.
Since Robert recovered, he had declined to press charges against him and the Judge agreed to drop the charges only on the condition that he had to stay out of trouble and away from Robert.
"He'll come around," Robert said bringing Sally's head up to brush her lips with his.
"You better get going," Festus said looking at the waiting conductor. "That train ain't gonna wait all day!"
"I'm going," Robert said climbing aboard.
Turning around for one last glance at the town and the people he had come to call his family, he smiled and waved as the train lurched forward.
"C'mon youngin's," Festus said taking Kathryn's hand while Abelia took Galen's. "Let's go get us some supper."
Doc held his arm out as Sally took it with a smile. "It's been a long time since I had dinner with a pretty girl!"
Sally giggled as she accepted Doc's arm but stopped when she seen her father standing on the boardwalk just in front of them.
"Bee," Festus said leading his daughter toward his wife. "You and Doc take the youngin in and get us a table."
Doc nodded and followed Abelia into Delmonico's as Festus watched Sally approach her father.
"I ain't here ta cause no trouble," Lon said meeting Festus eyes. "I just want to see my daughter."
"It's alright, Pa," Sally said stopping in front of him. "We just said, goodbye to Robert."
"I know," Lon replied gently. "I saw the train leave."
"I'm glad you came," Sally said quietly. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you to," Lon said looking at Festus. "I was hoping you'd come home with me."
"I don't know if I should," Sally said slowly. "But you could come have supper with us, couldn't he Festus?"
"Wal, course he can," Festus said with a smile. "After all, we all gonna be family sum day!"
"I don't know," Lon said hesitantly as Sally took his hand.
"C'mon, Pa," she said pulling him toward Delmonico's. "Put the past where it belongs."
Lon sighed as Festus nodded. "Alright," he said following his daughter.
*Ending this here but will continue it at some point! Just still really busy with RL and the holidays coming!*
