A week later, Doc strolled down Front Street with Abelia and the twins in a new pram.
"This is so much better than carrying those two around all day in that basket," she said as Doc nodded.
"I'm sure it is," Doc said looking up in time to see Matt riding toward them on his horse with Newly driving a wagon just behind him.
Abelia's face brighten as Doc swiped his mustache angrily.
"What in thunder are you doing here?" he said looking from Matt to Newly as Abelia reached into the wagon to give Festus a giant hug and a kiss before the hillman looked at Doc.
"Now, don't ya go blamin Matt and Newly fer us coming home," he said pointing at the physician. "It weren't up ta them. I was a gonna go with out em."
"Oh you were, were you," Doc said scowling. "Even you, as stubborn as you are, wouldn't have been able to sit on a horse for two days with not one but two bullet wounds."
"Maybe not," Festus replied looking at Abelia's smiling eyes. "But I was a shore gonna try."
"Well, c'mon you two," Doc said looking at Matt and Newly. "Since you brung him this far you might as well get him up to my office."
Newly climbed down off the wagon as Matt got down off his horse. "Glad to see you haven't changed any since we've been gone Doc," Matt said with a grin as Kitty stepped out of the Long Branch.
"Doc," Kitty said watching Matt and Newly helping the hillman up the stairs. "Did you know they were coming today?"
"No I didn't," Doc said as Abelia pushed the carriage over to them.
"I'm going to take Galen and Kathryn to Ma's," she said all smiles. "I'll be right back."
Doc nodded as he took Kitty's arm. "Well let's go see what kind of condition Festus is in after those two bounced him around in the back of a wagon for two days."
"Well," Doc said putting his glasses back in their case. "I have to say Newly, you did a real fine job with these wounds."
"Thanks Doc," Newly said bashfully. "But the Marshal was a big help."
"Matt," Doc said looking at Newly and then the large lawman. "What'd he do?"
"I had him administer the ether," Newly said with a wan smile as Doc shook his head.
"You know," Doc said looking down at Festus in the bed. "Your lucky to be alive."
"Thank a lot Doc," Matt said with a grin. "I'm going to get a beer now, if you think I can handle that!"
"I'll tell you what," Doc said following Matt out the door. "I'll come with you, just to make sure."
Newly laughed as he and Kitty followed Matt and Doc outside finally leaving Abelia and Festus alone.
"I'm so relieved your alright," Abelia said finally breaking the silence between them. "I was so scared Festus, that crazy woman said one of you was going to die and well, when Matt came back alone, I thought I would never see you again!"
"Wal," Festus replied quietly. "I had ma doubts, but I never gave up."
"I didn't give up on you either," she said putting her head down, tears started to fall as Festus pulled her to him as best he could,
"It's alright Bee," he said gently. "I'm home now."
"That's not it," she said slightly sobbing. "I wanted to tell you something special for Christmas but you weren't here and then I lost it."
"Lost what? Festus said not understanding what it was, she was trying to tell him. "Bee, what are ya tryin ta say."
"I wanted to tell you that I was pregnant," Abelia said softly. "It was your Christmas present, but..."
"Bee," Festus said as the woman sat down on the bed beside him. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here when ya needed me."
Abelia nodded as they held each other in silence both lost in their own thoughts until the hillman looked at her. "Yer alright ain't ya," he said. "What'd Doc say?"
"I'm alright," she said slowly. "Doc said we could try again in a few months."
Festus smiled as he held the woman tight. "If in I don't know anything I know one thing fer sure, Haggens ain't shy when it comes ta havin youngin's."
Abelia smiled mischievously as she kissed him. "Neither am I," she said.