Matt walked into the Longbranch and looked the place over. Half the town seemed to be there and he moved slowly through the crowd, craning his neck in search of Kitty. He spotted her at their favorite back table with Sam and joined them, smiling brightly. "Merry Christmas, Kitty."
Kitty smiled back. "Merry Christmas, Matt." She took his hand and they gazed into each other's eyes. Sam got up and Kitty turned to the bartender. "Sam, is there any hot apple cider left?"
"Coming right up, Miss Kitty." Sam went over to the stove and came back with a mug for the marshal.
Matt sniffed the contents. "Apple cider?"
"Go ahead and try it, marshal. It's an old family recipe," said Sam.
The marshal took a sip and his eyebrows went up. "Sam, what family is this recipe from...yours or the Haggens?"
Sam laughed. "It's a traditional recipe, marshal. I just put a little whiskey in it because it's such a cold night."
Matt took another swallow. "Not any more it isn't." Sam moved away in response to a hail from the bar and Matt looked around the room again. "I don't see Doc."
Kitty shook her head. "He hasn't been in all day. I finally went up to his office and he promised he'd be here..." She looked over at the doors. "Why, there he is now." Kitty started to get up and Matt put a hand on her arm.
"Wait, Kitty."
"Oh, but, Matt..."
The marshal shook his head. "He'll be over."
Doc was looking around the room with an expectant expression. After a moment, though, his face fell and he made his way to his friends and sat down heavily.
"Merry Christmas, Doc," said Matt.
"Merry Christmas, Matt," Doc said absently. "Merry Christmas, Kitty. Looks like a good turnout."
Kitty smiled. "I think just about everybody for ten miles around has been through here today." Doc nodded and she asked, "How about a drink?"
"Oh, no, Kitty. I just came in to say hello...I've got some work waiting up in the office..."
The old man started to get up and Kitty put a hand on his arm. "Doc, you have time for one drink." There were four glasses on the table and Kitty poured Doc a drink, then topped up Matt's and her own. The old man was staring at the empty glass and Kitty said gently, "Here's to the holiday." Matt tossed off his drink and Kitty took a sip. They heard caroling in the street and the room grew quiet as the melody swelled. Then the voices started to fade as the singers passed the Longbranch-except for a single deep rich baritone that stopped right outside.
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
Doc froze, then slowly turned as the song ended and a familiar jingle of spurs was heard. Festus was standing just inside the doors and Kitty took Matt's hand, holding it tightly as the old man got to his feet. The deputy saw them and headed straight for the back table, shaking hands and exchanging greetings across the room. He finally arrived and Kitty threw her arms around him. "Festus, I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it!"
The deputy hugged her back. "Didn't I give my word I'd be back by tonight?" Kitty released him and he shook hands with Matt. "Y'all warn't worried, wuz you?"
Doc snorted, his eyes wet. "I knew you'd come strolling in if Kitty was handing out free drinks." They all sat down and Kitty filled the fourth glass and handed it to Festus.
"Festus, where were you all this time?" asked Matt. "You never did say why you went off to Texas like that."
The deputy sighed and took a swallow of whiskey. "Well, Matthew, I tuck a job brangin' up a bull so's I could get some money for presents." He shook his head. "Just oncet I wanted to give ever'body somethin' real nice for Christmas...only it didn't work out that way. I don't got no presents a'tall...don't even got no money left. Fact is, I'm lucky to be alive...I got lost out yonder on the prairie in the snow and just 'bout froze to death." Doc leaned forward, his face concerned, and Festus smiled reassuringly. "I'm all right. I got picked up by some kids and they tuck me to old Danby's..."
Matt cut in. "Benjamin Danby? You were at Benjamin Danby's with some children?" Festus nodded and the marshal looked puzzled. "Where are the children now?"
"Oh, they's still out there. I kinda think they might be there for a while, Matthew...old Danby wants to talk to you when you get a chance and you might want to get in touch with the state orphanage 'bout them Finsters..."
"Finsters?" asked Kitty.
"Hack and Lucreshee Finster. They wuz the ones adopted these seven kids..."
"Seven!" exclaimed Doc.
"Seven kids," said Festus patiently. "Them Finsters wuz two of the meanest yahoos I have ever saw...they tracked those kids down and wuz fixin' on takin' 'em back but after I explained 'bout how they'd have to pay for old Danby's seed corn they spoilt makin' popcorn..."
Matt rubbed his head. "Popcorn?"
"Popcorn, Matthew, and the fine they'd have to pay..."
The marshal held up a hand. "Festus, I think we're going to have to go back to the beginning before I can get all this sorted out. Now, if you could start with when you left for Texas..."
"Oh, no, you don't, Matt!" said Kitty. "Festus, are the children all right?"
"Yes, ma'am." The deputy grinned. "They got a turkey and a tree and everythin'."
Kitty looked surprised. "They do?" Festus nodded and Kitty said firmly, "Then they can wait until tomorrow. We'll all drive out together...I'd like to see a bunch of kids at Benjamin Danby's place."
She looked sternly at Matt and he grinned and changed the subject. "What do you think of Kitty's Christmas tree, Festus?"
The deputy started patting his pockets. "Miss Kitty, that there tree is just 'bout the looksomest I have ever saw and it reminds me..." He fished out a small package and handed it to Kitty. "I did save this...the feller at the store said it wuz s'posed to go over the door."
Kitty unwrapped the package and blushed. It was a sprig of glossy green leaves and bright red berries and she leaned over and kissed the deputy on his bristly cheek. "Thank you, Festus. Come on, Matt...you're the only one tall enough to hang this."
Matt got to his feet, exasperated. "Thanks a lot, Festus."
They walked away and the puzzled deputy asked Doc, "What in tarnation wuz all that 'bout?"
Doc rolled his eyes. "Don't you know what mistletoe is for?"
"Well, 'course I do! It's just another little somethin' for hangin' up come Christmas time."
The old man shook his head and pointed at the door. "That's what mistletoe is for."
Festus looked around and his eyes widened. Matt had hung the mistletoe and now as he and Kitty stood under it he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off her feet and kissed her lingeringly on the lips while the crowd laughed and clapped and cheered. Festus gulped and turned back to Doc. "If'n that's what that little thing does I'm fixin' to sneak out the back door."
Doc laughed, then looked keenly at his friend. "So what happened to the fancy presents you went all the way to Texas for?"
"Well, Doc, them kids didn't have nothin' but the clothes on their backs..."
The old man's eyes twinkled. "So you gave all our presents to them."
Festus nodded sheepishly. "Mebbe next year..."
Doc said gruffly, "Maybe next year you should just stay home and not worry everybody." His steely blue eyes met the gentle hazel ones of the deputy and Festus swallowed hard and finished his drink. Doc poured him another, then raised his glass. "Merry Christmas, Festus."
Festus clinked his glass against Doc's. "Merry Christmas, Doc."