Widow Miller pulled herself up into her buggy. Her nostrils flared at the unjust treatment she felt that she just received. With a flick of the reigns and her chin in the air she left for her home. As she turned the buggy up Front Street she watched several men enter the Long Branch. She almost hissed at them before her mouth opened "You are all sinners! Temperance is the answer!" She bellowed loudly.

Two of the men laughed out loud at her as she rode passed them. Her only rebuttal was an icy glare. But the men continued to laugh.

As widow Miller left town she cast a hated glance back over her shoulder. It had become too big a town for her now. Her mind shifted back to when she and her late husband, Bernard arrived there in the spring of 1865. With a grown family they quickly made a name for themselves and provided much to Dodge's early economy with produce and prime beef.

Then suddenly he died and she was left alone on the farm with two grown boys who were all to eager to leave. She blamed his sudden habit of taking drink for his death due to his success in town. In reality, he died of a massive heart attack caused by a hereditary weakened heart. She never believed Doc's story, in fact she was still bitter toward him.

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Festus finished his beer and was about to leave the Long Branch when Kitty stopped him. "Festus! I meant to ask you earlier how you were doing."

"Ah, fiddle, Miss Kitty. It takes a lot more than a bump to the head to get a Haggen down, you know that!" He was a little bashful about being asked. "Ol Doc said I can come back to deputing in another day or two."

Miss smile and placed her hand on his forearm. "Well, I've missed you!" Her eyes shone with honesty.

Festus blushed slightly and smiled. "I missed bein' here too. Stayin' at the widow Miller's and working fer her..." His eyebrows grew closer together in a disturbed manner. "...wall, she's just pure ol-de miserable!"

Kitty chuckled, "I know. I have had to deal with her on occasion. Say, are you staying in town tonight?" She asked out of plain curiosity.

Festus scratched his stubbled chin. "Yeah, I'm staying at my own place at the livery. I'm sure by now Louie has a yarn or two to spin." He mused. "I'll see you later, Miss Kitty. Thanks fer the beer."

"You're welcomed Festus. I'm glad to see and hear that you are better." She blinked both eyes at him as he smile and left the saloon and headed toward the livery stable to make sure his bed was ready for him when night finally arrived.