It was a day after the bank robbery and Festus walked from the jail house over to Ma Smalley's looking for his Aunt Hootie. Matt had received a wire that the would be bank robber was also wanted in several other bank heists. It appeared that the sherif in search of the young man had posted a $100.00 reward on his head. It was all Hootie's.

"Mornin' Ma!" Festus said as he took off his hat and entered the boarding house. "My Aunt Hootie in?"

Ma smiled. "She sure is Festus. But I think she's getting ready to leave Dodge soon." A sadness came over her. "You have a wonderful aunt, Festus! I can see every ounce of you in the family genes..."

Festus stood with a strange look on his face. "Family "genes"! I only got one pair of jeans...I don't wear no-one's but my own..."

Ma chortled at Festus's naive ways. "Your aunt is in room...that one over yonder." Ma pointed knowing that giving Festus a room number was like asking him to recite a passage from a book. Festus nodded and walked to the door where he knock gently. "Aunt Hootie? I gots somethin' fer ya..."

Hootie heard Festus and set down the laundry she was packing in her bags. "Come in dear!"

Festus opened the door into the room. It was piled high from one end to another with things Hootie was picking up for her new place. "Looks like yer about to open yer own store!" Festus looked around in awe.

Hootie let out one of her belly laughs. "Oh, Festus. It's been good to be with you these past few days. I have only been picking up a few things for my new place..." She said and continued to watch her nephew survey the piles of goods.

"Yes...it's been good to see you too..." his mind was still distant on the large amount of supplies that she had amassed in such a short time.

"Festus? You said you had something for me?" She tried to break his spell.

"Oh! Yeah! Matthew...you know the marshal? Wall he sent he over with this here note. Says that 'cause you stopped that bank robber yesterday, you git the reward!" Festus grinned broadly at his aunt. "It's fer a hundred dollars!"

Hootie looked at the note as if it were attached to a sting. "Festus Haggen...you had better not be joking with me.."

"Oh, no Ma'am! I ain't jokin'! That's fer you to keep!" Festus knew that as loving as his aunt was, she also held a powerful way about making sure no-one stepped out of line. "Ma Smalley says ger fixin' on leavin' soon?"

Hootie nodded and looked around the room. "I might have to get me a second wagon!"

Festus smirked. "Guess you could get anything you wanted with that..." He pointed to the note.

Hootie looked down at the piece of paper. "Well if your marshal says this is worth a hundred dollars...well...I want to buy you and your friends a drink or two at that saloon before I leave!"

Festus' eyebrows rose. "That be the Long Branch. Can I invite Doc along?"

Hootie laughed. "Festus...if there were ever a true friend to you...Doc would be it. You just can't see it 'cause you're too much alike!" She laughed again.