Rose had been fuming ever since she saw them come in together. She had never seen Festus so scrubbed and attentive to his appearance; but he obviously did it for Kitty Russell. She had heard that Kitty was Marshal Dillon's woman, but it didn't look that way at breakfast. She actually thought that Festus was slightly sweet on her; how naive she had been. He was obviously interested in more complicated women. She was just putting in an order when he walked back into the restaurant. She felt her cheeks flush at the very sight of him, and today, that made her angry.

He removed his hat, and walked over to her, clearing his throat nervously.

"Uh, Miss Rose..... Miss Rose, I was wonderin' if'n I might have a word with you."

She brushed past him, busying herself, "I don't have time right now, Festus."

He fingered the rim of his hat, "Yes ma'am, I can see that, but it's kinda important."

Rose glared at him, but could see by his eyes that he was sincere. She grabbed a hold of his sleeve and pulled him outside.

"Five minutes."

"Ma'am?"

"You have five minutes."

"Well you see, Miss Rose, this mornin'.....with Miss Kitty.....well, it twarn't the way it looked at all, don'tcha see? Gettin' dressed up like this, and shaved, and all, well, it twarn't my idea. Doc and Miss Kitty did it. They was a-thinkin' I might be able to..... well, maybe I could..."

"Festus. Is there a point?"

He nodded, "Yes ma'am."

"Then please get to it."

"Miss Kitty thought if'n I made you jealous jes' a little, then maybe you might be interested in a goin' for a stroll or settin' with me in the hotel lobby or somethin'."

"You didn't think I'd be interested if I wasn't jealous?"

"I wasn't sure, you see....don't be mad at me none, Miss Rose, I didn't mean nothin' awful by it. Neither did Miss Kitty or Doc. It's jes' that I'm a might sweet on you I guess, and I didn't knowed whut to do. I'll be gittin' on my way now, I'm sorry if'n I bothered you, I jes' wanted a chance to 'splain myself, that's all...."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes."

Festus looked at her, confusion on his face, "Well, yes, what, Miss Rose?"

"Yes to a stroll. You can call for me after six at Ma Smalley's place. That's where I'm stayin'."

His eyes lit up for the first time all day, "Yes ma'am. I'll be there."

She smiled at him, and he watched her walk back into the restaurant. He felt as if his heart would no longer stay inside his chest, and the smile on his face would never end. He put his hat on his head, and bounded over to the Marshal's Office. But it was going to be a long day until he would be with her again.

***********

"Matthew......whut time is it?"

Dillon looked over at his deputy with slight annoyance, "That's the third time in the past fifteen minutes you've asked me that."

Festus looked down at his feet, "Sorry Matthew."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of the marshal's mouth, "It's three minutes to five, Festus. Heavy courtin' tonight?"

The deputy's eyes darted to Dillon, "Thar ain't no call to say thangs o' that nature. I jes' wanted to know what time it twas, that's all. Ain't nuthin' else to it."

Matt hooked a hip up on the desk, taking a long sip of his coffee, "Where you takin' her?"

"Jes' goin' for a stroll...hadn't thought 'bout whar."

"Down by the lake is always a good place to go. You won't run into everybody in town there."

Festus thought on it: being alone was a good idea. All day long people had been making fun of the way he looked, and the last thing he wanted was to have any of them comment on his taking Miss Rose out for a stroll.

"That thar is a fine idea, Matthew."

Matt couldn't stand watching Festus fidget in his chair any longer.

"Why don't you knock off early? It'll give you a chance to clean up before you pick up Miss Sullivan."

"Clean up? How much cleaner can I git?"

Dillon reached over and ran a finger along the deputy's chin, "You feel a little scratchy..."

Festus ran his hand on both sides of his face, and realized that he was indeed stubbly again.

"Clem's still in his shop...."

The deputy looked down, then up at the marshal, "Truth be told, Matthew, I'd just as soon ask Miss Kitty to do it."

"Kitty?"

"Yessir, she done it this mornin'...and while ol' Doc tried to tell me I was a-lucky she didn't take my skin off, I think Clem's far more likely to just that thar thang."

Matt tried not to laugh, but his voice betrayed his amusement, "And Kitty doesn't charge either..."

"Now that don't have nothin' to do with it, Matthew. You been hangin' around that ol' codger Doc Adams too much lately."

Matt laughed as Festus walked out, heading toward the Long Branch.

***********

It was half past six, and Festus was still pacing outside Ma Smalley's, hat in hand. He was so nervous he could barely breathe. What was he going to talk about with her? What if he bored her, or said the wrong thing? Maybe he should just leave. He wasn't good with women, and he surely wasn't good enough for the likes of Rose Sullivan. Why she had even agreed to go strolling with him, he couldn't figure.

Rose watched Festus work himself into a frazzle, pacing outside. He was about to leave when she went to the door, opened it, and put her hands on her hips.

"Why Festus Haggen, aren't you supposed to call on me this evening?"

"Y-yes ma'am."

"Then I suggest you do!"

She went back inside, slamming the door behind her. Festus blinked. He wasn't sure exactly what it was that he was supposed to do. After several minutes of indecision, he put his hat on his head, and finally stepped up onto the porch. He knocked on the door. Ma Smalley opened it.

"Yes?"

"Howdy Ma.... where'd Miss Rose go?"

"Festus Haggen! Is that the way you come callin' for a gal?"

He pulled his hat off, looking at his feet, "No ma'am. No. I was wonderin' if Miss Rose might want to come out with me for a stroll."

"You sure done look different."

"Yes ma'am."

"Just where are you plannin' on takin' her?"

"Why down by the lake, ma'am."

"Festus Haggen! You orta know better than that! No gentleman would take a decent lady down by the lake."

"Well I just wanted to--"

"Festus! Where are you going to take her?"

Festus was ready to scream. Was there a person in Dodge who would just let him be? He didn't think that there was. He exhaled slowly and looked Ma Smalley in the eye.

"Where I'm a-takin' Miss Rose is betwixt me and her. Now may I see her, please?"

Ma glared at him, but stood aside, "Oh come on in.... and what is that I smell on ya? Smells like a derned flower garden."

Festus ignored the barb, and stood in the parlor, waiting for Rose. After a moment, she appeared, and she had changed her dress. She was wearing a simple yellow frock, but to Festus, she looked like a princess. He smiled at her.

"Good evenin' Miss Rose."

"Good evenin' Festus."

"I came a-callin' on you to see if you wanted to have a stroll with me."

His hazel eyes held a combination of excitement and fear, and it endeared him to her. She smiled at him.

"A stroll would be a lovely evening pastime."

He held out his arm, and she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow. He opened the door for her, guided her through it, and put his hat on his head. Arm and arm they began a stroll around Dodge City, and became the talk of the entire town. Festus was relieved that he didn't have trouble chatting with her the way he did other women, and she laughed at most of his stories. Rose found him to be perfectly charming in a very quaint way, and he was more handsome than she had realized.

***********

Ma Smalley stood at the window, peeking out, waiting for Rose Sullivan's return. After what seemed like an eternity, Festus and Rose strolled arm and arm, up the walk. They stepped onto the porch, and Ma watched the deputy remove his hat, all the while smiling at Rose. She leaned toward the open window, so that she could hear them.

"Miss Rose, I done had the nicest time a-walkin' and talkin' with you tonight."

"Me too, Festus." She reached a hand up and stroked his face, "I like you clean-shaven."

He blushed, and looked down at his feet, "Aw, Miss Rose, 'tweren't nothin'...."

She smiled and walked toward the door, "Will I see you at Delmonico's tomorrow?"

He looked at her sparkling eyes, "Yes ma'am. I'll be there.... and Miss Rose?"

"Yes?"

"Would it be all right with you if'n I call on you again?"

"Why Festus, you'd better!"

She quickly slipped in the door of Ma Smalley's, giggling all the way up the stairs. Festus stood on the porch, hat in hand, staring at the door for a long time. His heart had never felt so warm in his life. It was like nothing could ever go wrong again; as if he could do anything. With a smile on his face, Festus put his hat back on his head, humming a tune all the way back to the jail house. He wished in that moment that he had his own place to go to; maybe it was time for him to take Doc Adams' advice and invest in a little lot of land.

A small place for him, and if things went well, perhaps his plans might include a wife. Festus Haggen would have to think on that a spell.