Morning came soon enough for Festus with a drawn out yawn. The song birds twittered and hopped from tree to tree chasing one another or catching bugs for breakfast. The little camp fire was nothing more than a few smoldering coals, yet the smoke still clung to the damp dewy air.
The deputy stood and stretched his back and then scooped down to pick up his hat. As he walked to the buddy to reassess the wheel, his jingling spurs woke Clay. The youngster rubbed his eyelids with his knuckles to clear them. His bright blue eyes popped open and the scrambled from his bedroll to join Festus, "It is fixed?"
Festus turned and looked at the young lad, "As good as I could do with no tools," he pushed and pulled on the wheel, "It'll get us to where we needs ta be," he winked. Clay moved next to the wheel and pushed and pulled on it, "Yup. It looks good," he smiled up at the hill man. Festus swallowed hard - he realized that the youngster was growing on him and visa versa, "Er, Clay, hadn't ya be going over and helpin' yer Ma get ready?" Clay nodded and smiled before he dashed off. Festus ran his index finger around his collar with a gulp as he watched the boy with his mother. The deputy thought best to get busy with the rig and set the travios up to the back of the buggy. Ruth waited patiently for his owner to hook him to the rig.
Emma finished with the bedrolls and put the remaining coals out with the cold coffee then joined Festus as he tightened the harness and adjusted the straps on Ruth, "Well, we're ready to go to Hayes now."
Emma nodded and shooed Clay up into the back of the buggy as she allowed Fetus to help her up to the seat before he joined her, "I bet yer husband is gonna be some happy ta see you!" Festus tried to change the direction of Clay's earlier comments and he flicked the reins to get Ruth moving.
"I suppose he will be," Emma said cooly with her arms folded across her chest, "Not sure what I might say though."
"Oh?" Festus' eyebrows lifted in question.
"Well, he's been gone for a few months and never wrote nor contacted us. Almost like he doesn't care anymore," Emma said.
"Yeah, and he never let me do stuff you do..." Clay chimed in with a huff of his own.
"Now both of you hold yer horses!" Festus looked over his shoulder to Clay and then over to Emma, "Yer Pa, and yer husband, Mrs Emma, carved a farm out of nothing and it seems that there jist needs ta be a little hard work into making a go of it. I purely only stopped by to get ol' Ruth back and wanted to move on when I saw the pickle you was in! I only helped to be neighbourly, that's all!"
Emma pursed her lips, "I know what you mean Festus..."
Clay frowned, "I don't and I don't want Pa ta come back," the boy growled.
Festus felt flush, "Wall, Clay, he's yer Pa. Jist because he done a silly thing don't make him a bad man," Festus tried to reason.
"I know that," Clay said, "but he won't teach me stuff like you do. I know it!" Emma said nothing.
"Have you ever asked him?" Festus asked with concern in his voice.
"Don't have no need to. He doesn't know nothing," Clay answered with embarrassment.
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The trio spoke not another word for several hours until they rounded a curve in the road and Festus indicated that Hayes City was just beyond. Clay turned and hung over the back of the seat and Emma adjusted herself - neither of the Jacksons had been to a big city before. Clay tugged his mother's shawl, "We're really here!?"
Emma smiled and nodded and as they rounded the curve the outskirts of the city could be seen, "I never imagined it to be like this." Emma said. Clay just watch with his mouth hanging open.
Festus manoeuvred the buggy up the main street and pulled up in front of the General Store. "Wow," was all Clay could say as he looked around at the hustle and bustle of the main street.
Festus pushed hard on the brake lever and stepped down off the buggy. He then helped Emma down, "Now the jail is right over yonder. That's where you'll find yer husband," he pointed.
"Thank you Festus. Where can we find yo later?" Emma asked as she took Clay by the shoulder.
"I'll be here and there. Mostly trying to find a place fer this," he pointed to the dead mountain cat.
Emma smiled, "Good luck," then she took Clay and they walked over to the jail. Festus tucked his thumbs into his vest pockets and watched.
"Hey whiskers, whatcha got under the tarp?" a man asked from the boardwalk in front of the General Store.
Festus turned on his heels, "A mangy ol mountain cat that tried eatin' us last night."
The man on the boardwalk seemed more interested, "Can I see it?"
"Sure." Festus cut the rope and pulled back the tarp. The man stood shocked and then yelled out, "It's him! The "stalker" is dead! Right here, It's him!!"
Quickly a crowd gathered and surrounded Festus and the dead animal. Everyone wore a look of relief on their faces. One man stepped forward, "Mister, you have no idea how happy this make us."
Festus looked around, "Wall I can see yer faces..." he smiled weakly.
"This here cat has been trouble for weeks. It's been killing cattle and sheep everywhere in this area," the man said.
"Oh?" Festus replied.
"We've had a reward posted for it and by the looks of it, you get it!" the man smiled widely.
"A reward?" Festus' left eye scrunched up.
"Yup, we posted it for one hundred and fifty dollars and it's all yours!" the crowd cheered and Festus smiled, "One hundred and fifty dollars!? Well foot!"