Pt.37

Matthew and Martin ran ahead, looking at each other. "Martin? Who ya think he's lookin' for. I mean, who ya think his friend is?"

"He didn't say but he looks like he's been out here a long time." Wide eyed Matthew nodded. "Yeah, I know."

As they reached the ranch, they ran through the crowd, stopping in their tracks when the spotted Kitty. "Ut oh." Matthew looked up. "Momma..."

She don't look none too happy. Standing, with her hands on her hips, shaking her head back and forth and jaws tight. "MATTHEW RUSSELL DILLON!" Martin tried sneaking away. "OH NO, YOUNG MAN! You're not getting away that easy. Stay right there."

The two soaking wet, muddy boys stood with heads hanging.

"I'm waiting, Boys."

Now stuttering, Mo… momma, we... we were just… just catching frogs. Ya know, down… down in the stream."

""FROGS? In the stream, in your good clothes. What were you thinking? I have a mind to tan your hide, young man. Both of you."

Matt approached, snickering under his breath at the sight of them still holding the frogs. "Boys." He was now bracing Kitty's shoulders. "Maybe you two should go clean yourselves up."

"We're sorry, Momma. But ya can't catch frogs if ya don't get in the water."

"UGH!"

Matt tightened his grip. "Kitty, take it easy. Honey, they're boys." Slowly he ushered the boys out of her sight. As they walked away, "Don't go through the house. Go around back to the mud room."

"Oh, Matt."

Suddenly Matthew turned, "Daddy?"

"Yes, son?"

"When we were down by the stream, there was a man. He said he's looking for a friend."

"Who son?"

"Dunno. We ran ahead."

"Ok, go on clean up."

As Matt turned back to Kitty, "Matt I don't know what I'm going to do with those two."

Laughing, "Honey, they're boys."

"That's all you're gonna say?" Slapping his arm. "Oh, you." She started to walk away, but suddenly, in the distance, she saw a figure walking towards the entrance. "Matt? Look."

At first Matt watched, then he walked closer. The two men stared at one another as if to be sizing each other up. The bearded man squinted, then, "Matthew? Matthew, is that you?"

"Festus? Festus Haggen!"

"Matthew, you ol' scudder, you." He grabbed hold of Matt. "I been a lookin' everywhere fer ya. I know'd ya be in Arizony someplace but I weren't shore zactly where fer sure. Matthew, you shore a sight fer these here eye balls."

"It's good to see you too, Festus. And I know someone else that will be really happy to see you too. Come on." Matt said, walking him towards the house.

Kitty stood, now furrowing her brow. As he came closer, she focused on him. Then, "FESTUS!" She ran and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Festus."

"Whoa! Whoa! Miz Kitty? Well, I'll be a ring tail badger. Miz Kitty, what'cha doing here?"

"Oh, Festus, am I glad to see you. Where'd you come from? You look tired. How about something to eat?"

"No…"

"I won't take no for an answer. Now, you come with me. No argument."

"Festus, you might as well listen. She's still the same Kitty."

"I hear ya, Matthew."

Kitty took him in the kitchen, made him a plate and poured him a tall beer. "Festus, I want to hear everything. Oh, how I've missed you. Festus, you sit, make yourself at home. Eat. I need to check on some things." Kitty went to check on her guests. Many people were beginning to leave.

Abel and Maggie were now ready to take off. "Abel, Maggie, I want you to meet someone. Festus Haggen, this is Sheriff Abel Rose and Maggie his new bride. Abel and Maggie were married here today. Abel, Maggie, Festus is a very dear old friend of ours. He was Matt's deputy back in Dodge."

"Well, Mister Haggen, tis a pleasure to meet ya, it is." Maggie said.

Abel agreed. "Matt, Kitty, we are about ready to go."

"Kitty girl, I want to thank ya for everything you've done here today. It twas so lovely, it was. Me and my darlin' Abel, we'll never forget what'cha did for the both of us on this special day. Bless your heart."

"Oh, Maggie, it's the least I could do for everything you've done for me." Hugging her. "Now you two go on, get out of here. It's your night." Winking at them. After they left, "Now, Festus, I want to hear what you've been up to, where've you been."

"Aw foot, Miz Kitty. After ya'll left Dodge, I stayed around fer a piece then I... Well, ya see, me and Abelia, well we..."

"You what? Festus Haggen, are you telling me you became a family man?"

"Well, ya don't have to make it seem so bad. Abelia needed a man around fer her youngins. Jonathan and Maryann."

"Ok, I can see that." Kitty agreed.

"Thems real nice youngins, Miz Kitty. Jonathan growed to be a strong man and went to git him a job with a rancher, cowboying. Maryann married up with one of Bess and Will Ronniger's boys and they havin' they ownselves a passel of kids."

Kitty smiled, listening. "Well, that sounds wonderful. So, you and Abelia are happy?"

His face saddened. "We was, Miz Kitty."

"Oh?"

"Well, Abelia, she took poorly sick and well... I lost her bout three years back."

"Ohhhhh, Festus, I'm... I…" She wrapped her arms around him, tears in her eyes.

Just then, Matthew and Martin entered the kitchen. "Momma?" He walked to Matt. "Daddy, why is Momma hugging that stranger? He's the man from the stream, the man looking for his friend."

Festus looked up. "Momma? Miz Kitty, this youngin... He called you Momma?"

Smirking back a laugh at Festus' expression. "Uh huh. Festus, this is my son, Matthew."

"Matthew?" Festus repeated.

"Yeah, that's right. Matthew Russell Dillon."

Festus looked from Kitty to Matthew to Matt. "Ya mean..."

"Uh huh. He's our son."

"But, Miz Kitty, ya left Dodge and Matthew a long..."

"Et et. Yeah, Festus, that's a long story. Just a minute. Ok? Boys, why don't you go on outside while it's still early. But see if you can stay out of trouble. Try at least."

"Yes, ma'am."

After they left, "Festus, I know this is all confusing to you but... Yes, you're right. I did leave Dodge but when I left, I was expecting Matthew."

"Well then why?" Turning, "Matthew, why'd ya let her?"

"Festus, I didn't know."

"That's right, I didn't tell Matt. I knew he'd probably stop me. Festus, you know how dangerous it would be for me and Matthew to have been in Dodge. So, I had to leave as long as Matt was Marshal, and I went home to New Orleans. I had friends there."

"But you had friends in Dodge."

"I know. I know. But I had to do what I knew was right for everyone. So I went into a partnership in a café and made a home there. Then after a few months, I had an accident and the baby came early. After a few days I was told he died."

"What? Why? Who would tell such a blasted lie?"

Closing her eyes and shaking her head, "Festus, that's another long story." She rolled her eyes in Matt's direction, shaking her head.

"Miz Kitty, you didn't tell Matthew? I mean about the baby?"

"No, no, Festus. By that time, Matt had retired, took off the badge and left Dodge himself. I thought he'd moved on and rightfully so. So I tried doing the same."

"Miz Kitty, how'd ya git here?"

"Well, a little less than a year ago, I took a trip to San Francisco on business and I met Matt's daughter Beth and her husband."

"Huh? A dawter?"

"Oh, yes."

"Matthew?"

"Ok, Festus, I'll get to that. Yes, Matt has a grown daughter. Anyway, on the train back there was a derailment and we were helped by some Indians. You remember that Indian chief that Sgt. Holly was after, Gregorio?"

"I think I member him."

"Well, his tribe was in Arizona territory and Sheriff Rose, you met him today, and Matt were having talks with them. It just happened that they helped us when the derailment happened. He remembered me. So, anyway, Matt and I crossed paths. I had injured my foot and ankle so Matt bought me back here to the ranch. But I had to return home and then Matt had business in New Orleans and we met again at my café."

"Festus, that's when I learned about Matthew, our son. Kitty told me what happened. We talked and I convinced her to come to Arizona, here to the ranch."

"But the boy, Matthew. Miz Kitty?"

"Well, after I came here, I got word that someone I knew was sick." Matt and Kitty locked eyes. "Festus, you remember Dr. Chapman?"

"Uh, foot yeah."

"Well, he was in New Orleans when I was. He'd had a heart attack and when I saw him he told me our son was still alive. Long story short, Matthew was in a boarding school. We went and got him and bought him home. Oh, and while we were in New Orleans, we were married."

Festus wore an ear to ear grin. "I'm pure plum happy to hear that."

"Festus, I'm going to fix a room for you."

"Aw shucks, Miz Kitty. You don't have to go and do..."

"Festus Haggen, I don't have to do anything. But I want to and I'm going to. And I won't stand for any arguments."

Before he could answer, Matthew and Martin both in unison said. "Better listen less you want your hide skinned."

Suddenly, the room broke out in laughter. Festus looked at the boys. "Boys, let me tell ya sometin', I'd never buck ya momma. Leastways, lessn' ya can run faster than a rat over the roof with a piece of raw liver in it's mouth."

Both the boys looked at each other. "HUH?"

Kitty just let out a barrel laugh. "Oh this should get interesting."

TBC