"Newly," Matt said stopping in front of the jail. "Will you put the horse's and Ruth away."

"Sure Marshal," Newly said as Matt started across the street toward Doc's office.

"Reckon how mad she'll be Matthew?" Festus said as they climbed the stairs.

"If she's anything like Kitty," Matt said quietly. "You'll want to learn how to duck."

"Think I'd rather go face that Dalton feller," Festus said slowly as Matt opened the door to Doc's office.

"Festus," Abeila said throwing herself into his arm's upon seeing him enter the door. "You're alive!" she said kissing him.

"Golly Bill Bee," Festus said holding her tightly as the woman shivered in his arms. "I thought ya woulda been mad at me."

"Oh I am," she said crying softly. "I could kill you myself right now."

Festus smiled before he spoke. "Well if in this is how ya are when yer mad I'm sure I could make ya mad more often."

Matt laughed as Kitty smacked his arm. "You think something's funny cowboy," she whispered as Matt cleared his throat. "I didn't think so."

"You just don't go running off looking for trouble Festus," Abelia said angrily. "What were you thinking."

"I was thinking bout you and the youngin's," Festus said gently. "If that there Dalton gang was ta ride in here there woulda been a whole lota shootin going on, don't ya see."

"Yes," Abelia said quietly. "Your probably right."

"Well," Doc said hastily. "Tell us what happened?"

"Matthew here done ran em off," Festus replied. "I don't think they'll be botherin us again."

Abelia smiled at Matt before she sighed. "So we can go home?" she asked looking at Festus as the hillman nodded.

"Let's go get them youngin's and go home," Festus said putting an arm around Abelia.

Thank you Marshal," Abelia said with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow Kitty."

"Alright," Kitty said as Festus and Abelia left.

"Well," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "All's well that ends well."

"I hope so," Matt said grimly as he tipped his hat. "Kitty, I'll see you later."

"You better," she said smiling as the lawman headed to his office.

"I'm turning in Kitty," Doc said watching Matt cross the street.

"Alright Doc," Kitty replied. "Good night."

Doc shut the door, turned down the lamp and headed to his room.

Abelia laid quietly in bed a few hours later and smiled when she felt the baby with in her rolling and kicking.

"Festus," Abelia said quietly rolling onto her side. "You sleeping."

"Uh huh," Festus said opening one eye. "Why?"

"Which do you want?" she said giggling.

"Which do I want of what?" he asked yawning.

"The baby," Abelia said. "You want a boy or a girl?"

"Hadn't really thought bout it," Festus replied. "A Haggen don't question what it tis. Wal we just take what we get."

Abelia laughed. "Alright," she said snuggling up to his side. "Then I'll be happy with what ever we get."

"Wal it's not like ya can say I wanted this one or that one anyway," he said as Abelia giggled.

"You're right about that," she said yawning. "I was just curious that's all."

Matt walked alone down the boardwalks, checking front doors and making sure everything was secure as he did most nights before bed and while nothing seemed amiss, he couldn't shake a nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

"Morning Kitty," Matt said stepping into the Long Branch the next day.

"Morning," Kitty said hardly glancing up.

"I wouldn't have been much company last night," Matt said barely above a whisper. "Had a lot on my mind."

"You could have told me," Kitty said meeting his eyes. "I waited."

"It won't happen again," Matt said sheepishly.

"I hope not," Kitty said grinning.

Matt glanced at the time, his forehead furrowed. "I guess Festus slept in," he said as Kitty glanced up.

"I didn't realize it was so late," she said thoughtfully. "I guess they both did."

"Ya," Matt said tipping his hat. "I'll see you later."

"Alright," Kitty replied at the lawman headed out the door.

"Matt," Doc said stepping up onto the boardwalk.

"Doc, you headed some where?" he asked.

"Just to get some coffee, why?" Doc said inquisitively.

"Come with me," Matt said.

"Where we going," Doc asked following the Marshal.

"I got a bad feeling and I just hope I'm wrong," Matt said heading toward the school house.

Rounding the corner, Matt stopped when he seen the front door to Festus and Abelia's house standing wide open.

"Hold on," he said putting a hand out, he stopped Doc from going any further as he drew his revolver.

Stepping into the house, Matt plainly saw from the over turned furniture that there had been a struggle.

Moving into the bedroom, Matt yelled for Doc.

"What is it," Doc said making his way though the over turned furniture.

Doc grabbed Matt's arm at the site of dried blood on the bedding and the floor, but Festus and Abelia were not in the room.

"The children," Doc said looking at Matt.

Matt went to the door of the children's room and opened it. "Doc!"

"My god," Doc said sliding past Matt after seeing both Jonathan and Marianne in their beds.

Bending down, he checked Marianne first before looking at Johnny. His trained medical senses kicked into high gear as he detected a faint odor in the room.

"Chloroform,"Doc said looking up at Matt. "They've been knocked out but otherwise their fine."

Matt nodded grimly as he noticed a note on the table between the children's beds.

"Look at this," he said passing it to Doc.

"It's a ransom note," Doc said handing Matt the note. "What are you going to do?"

"Pay it," Matt said folding the note.