Doc opened the swing doors into the Long Branch. Several patrons stepped aside as they were leaving to allow him through. They greeted him and continued on their way. He spotted Kitty who was waving him over to the table where she, Hootie and Festus sat.
"Kitty! Good afternoon Hootie. Festus." He said as he took a seat next to Kitty. Festus and Hootie sat across them with their backs to the entrance. "Howdy Doc." Festus said. Hootie smiled a hello.
"What would you like to drink, Doc?" Sam stood next to the physician.
Doc looked up into the eyes if the tall barkeep. "I would love a whiskey." He said with a tick of his head and a wink.
"Commin' right up." Sam walked back to the bar for Doc's drink.
"Where's Matt and Newly?" Doc asked no-one in particular, while looking around the room.
"Oh...Matthew said he'd be here directly after he is done doin' whatever it is that he's needed done." Festus waved his hands about. "And Newly said about the same darn thang!"
Doc nodded. "Well, Hootie, it sure has been a pleasure to have you in town. Not one thing has gone wrong! Unlike some other incidences." Doc's eyes drifted to Festus who saw his look.
"What was that fer?" Festus scrunched up his right eye and looked at Doc who sat innocently across from him.
"What was what 'fer'"? Doc mimicked Festus as best as he could.
"That thing you jist said about other incidences..." Festus pried.
Sam came back with Doc's drink and placed it in front of him. "Thank you Sam..." Sam nodded and walked away with a hint of a smile on his face. He had seen and heard Doc time and time again get the best of Festus. Doc took a sip from the glass and set it down in front of him. "I was merely stating that, it seems to me, that every time one of your relatives comes to Dodge all hell breaks loose!" He winked at Hootie with a sly smirk on his lips then took another drink.
Festus' chin almost hit the table. Hootie started to laugh. "Oh, Doc, it must be so true. Even back home we hear of it!" She continued to laugh. Then Kitty started to laugh.
Festus grabbed at his beer glass, not knowing if he should laugh with his aunt or not. Instead he took a long drink from the glass stein he held firmly in his hand. "Blamed ole scudder..."
Doc smiled and placed his empty glass on the table. "Looks like you could use another drink, Doc." Kitty said with a warm smile on her face.
"Thanks Kitty." Doc said as Kitty stood up and asked, "Hootie. Would you like another drink?"
"Why sure Miss Kitty." Hootie was still trying to recover from laughing at Festus and Doc.
Kitty started to walk away and looked back to Festus who stared into his empty glass. "Festus? Another beer?"
Festus all of a sudden came back to life. "Why sure Miss Kitty!" Kitty smiled and continued to the bar for the drinks.
Doc rolled his eyes while shaking his head. He slowly leaned toward Hootie. "I don't think he's paid for one drink in three weeks!" He said loud enough for Festus to hear.
Hootie looked at Festus who sheepishly played with his empty glass. "It anit like you think, Aunt Hootie. It's jist that I'm savin' my money so that some day down the road when no-one else has none, I can buy them drinks...don't you see?"
Doc wiped his moustache. "I think it has more to do with that piece of tin pinned to you're vest!"
Hootie waited to see what Festus was going to say and all he could do was squirm in his chair.
"You see Hootie, Deputy Haggen here, seems to think that by having that badge on and being able to throw himself in front of danger to save the town, gives him some privileges. Like free drinks!" Doc almost laughed himself at the look on Festus' face.
Kitty started back with the tray of drinks when her eyes caught the sight of a rag-tagged man standing in the doorway of the Long Branch. She didn't stop walking and continued to look at he man. That is until she bumped into Doc's shoulder causing a glass to tumble off into his lap. "What in thunder!" he yelped and stood up quickly to dry himself off.
As he stood his shoulder hit the tray in Kitty's hands and the rest of the glasses flew off and rolled across the table into Festus and Hootie.
Doc's eyes caught the look on Kitty's face and slowly looked over to the doorway. His jaw dropped open. "Kitty. Come on...lets move over there..." Doc lightly grabbed her arm and guided her away from the table.
Hootie and Festus exchanged looks and then looked back at Doc and Kitty who slowly backed away from the table. Festus looked at Hootie and they said in unison. "Hard Luck Henry..." They were stuck at the table when they heard from just behind them. "Howdy Festus. Ma. Bin lookin' fer ya!"