Matt and Chester were sitting outside the Dodge House when Kitty and three of her girls came up to them laden with packages.
"Merry Christmas Matt Chester."
"Hello Kitty," Matt said.
"You're about 2 days too early ain't you Miss Kitty?"
"Don't get her flustered Chester. Big Christmas Eve party. You two had better be there early and dressed in your Sunday best."
Lucifer Jones saw them crossing the street and drove his buggy straight at them. Kitty and the girls managed to avoid him and carried on to the Long Branch. Once inside Kitty placed her packages on the table where another of her girls was making decorations.
"Guess who just tried to run us down outside."
"Who?"
"Old Lucifer Jones."
"Now what's he doing in town?"
"I don't know. Somebody must've told him that tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Probably came gunning for Santa Claus."
"Stop it. Stop what you're doing. You creature of sin. Fixing to have a dance?"
"Tomorrow night and you're not invited if you don't want to come."
"Dancing's criminal it leads to worse things."
"Why don't you get out of here and go home and then you won't have to see it."
"I won't see it you won't see it either. You're there wickedest of the lot you are."
"Me! Why me?"
"Because you're the prettiest like my daughter she was like you she was pretty too and now she's dead. The prettiest are always the most evil women. You started this I know you did but I'll stop it! I'll show you. There'll be no dance."
Lucifer started by tipping over the table with the decorations and packages and then started pulling the decorations from the ceiling. Now he started on the tree. Kitty seized the moment to rush out and fetch Matt. Kitty and Chester followed Matt into the Long Branch.
"Lucifer!"
"I'm stopping them, I'll show you."
"Get out!"
"What?"
"I said get out."
"You're in on it too you're as evil as they are. You the marshal."
"I'm not going to argue with you."
"It's wrong it's bad I'll stop it yet."
Exasperated with Lucifer's arguing Matt grabbed him and shoved him to the door.
"I won't stand for this. I'll destroy this whole wicked town if I have to, you'll see."
"Get out." Matt ground out through gritted teeth. "It should be all right now Kitty. I'll be back later.
"Thanks Matt."
Matt and Chester left to go to the office Chester was searching his pockets as they walked.
"Somebody steal your poke?"
"No, No sir. It's my knife, my new knife. If I've lost it, I'll kill myself."
"Well it's probably under your bunk in that war sack."
"Oh maybe that's where it is. It's the best knife I ever had Mister Dillon."
"Well we'll find it come on. Well, Doc there must be somebody lying sick or bleeding around here."
"Well now if you can't stand to see me getting few minutes hard earned rest why don't you go out and shoot somebody."
"Now what kind of talk is that? Tomorrow night's Christmas Eve where's your Christmas spirit."
"What spirit locked that door so I'd have to sit out here in the cold,"
Matt unlocked the door.
"Oh Chester. Chester there was somebody here looking for you a minute ago. Said he'd be back as soon as he'd took care of his horse. He was a tall fella in buckskin had a coon skin cap. Can't be very far there he goes, that's him."
"Oh my goodness."
"What's the matter Chester?"
"It's him, couldn't be anybody else. Don't tell him where I went. Tell him I went to Wyoming or something."
Chester entered the office and frantically started packing his belongings.
"Chester anything I can do I always like to help somebody's on the run."
"I ain't on the run. Just got to hide out for a spell that's all. Going to hole up someplace on the prairie."
"What if he finds you out there?"
"Well that's better than finding me here."
"Why?"
"Magnus don't belong in a town among civilized people, that's why."
"Chester, who is Magnus?"
"Magnus Goode, Mister Dillon."
"What?"
"My own blood brother doggone it."
"Well what on earth are you running from your brother for?"
he's going to do next. He's downright dangerous Magnus is."
"What?"
"Wild as a mountain he ain't lived in a house since he was 10 years old. All he knows is animals Indians and Country. Mister Dillon there's something wrong with Magnus he ain't quite human living alone so much an all you it just shames me to have a brother like him."
"Well how long since you seen him?"
"Years and years but it ain't long enough. Where's my new knife?"
"Chester what are you going to do about this Magnus?" Matt asked.
"I'm not going to do nothing about him except keep out of sight."
"Well don't you know running away won't do no good?" Doc said.
"Besides he doesn't sound like the kind of a man you can hide from for very long. No matter where you go."
"Oh why did he have to come here. People will think my whole family's brought up in a cave."
"Well Chester maybe it would do you good to see Magnus."
"Mister Dillon you don't know Magnus."
"All right but somebody's got to greet him it being Christmas and all."
"Well of course."
"Doc and I'll go," Matt said.
Chester dashed to the door and turned.
"He's a wild animal Mister Dillon," Chester sighed. "Well I reckon I better go along for your sake."
Chester left, Matt grabbed his hat and looked at Doc.
"You better let me handle this Doc," Matt said as he followed Chester out.
Matt followed Chester across the snow covered street to Moss Grimmick's stables. Chester hesitated reluctant to further but Matt signaled him to go into the stables.
"I don't see anyone Mister Dillon," Chester said half turning to the door.
"Wait a minute. Holler for him Chester."
"Oh!"
"Go ahead."
"Magnus, Magnus," Chester shrugged and started to back out.
"Chester!"
"Magnus!"
Chester shrugged again and started for the door.
"Back here," Magnus called out.
They walked to the back of the stables finding Magnus tending his horse.
"Chester you have got sloppy fat."
"Me?"
"Soft living done it."
"What are you doing here?"
"Why it's Christmas, Chester, day after tomorrow."
"Christmas. Haven't seen or heard of you in I don't know how long."
"Well that's why I come. I figured it was about time.
"You did huh. This is Marshal Dillon."
"How do Magnus."
"Proud to know you Marshal. Is Chester a good help to you?"
"Yes. Yes, he is very good."
"Fine. I-I reckon I'll go to work for you too."
"Magnus you can't talk like that."
"Why not?"
"Well it tain't polite. Nobody asked you."
"Nobody told me not to."
"See he ain't civilized."
"Why I learned a lot in the army Chester."
"How long since you slept in a bed?"
"Well not since I first run off from home I guess."
"How long since you lived in a town?"
"Well you know I don't like towns."
"How long since you talked to a woman?"
"You know I…"
"How long since you had a drink?"
"I don't never drink."
"Do you gamble?"
"Fella in the army learned me how but I never used it."
"There you see I proved it he ain't civilized no way shape or form."
"Now wait a minute Chester give him a chance. Show him the town show him what it's like. Let him make up his own mind."
"I wish you would Chester cause I'm want to stay anyway."
"You are huh. Alright. But you're going to do what I tell you. You're going to live just exactly the way that I do."
"I'll do it, Chester."
"Huh maybe you can get along better than me out there on the prairie but you're a lamb in Dodge and I'm going to see you slaughtered."
"Oh now Chester…"
"No you demanded it but by midnight tonight you'll be screaming to get out of it."
"Well I'll try to make you proud of me Chester."
"There you are. Why don't you take the rest of the day off tomorrow too I don't need you?"
"All right sir. Magnus I think I'll spend the rest of the afternoon playing cards gambling."
"Oh now Chester you don't want to do that it's evil and wicked. Can I just sit and watch?"
"Oh no. You're going to get wet all over," Chester beckoned Magnus out of the stable.
Matt stroked Buck's neck while he fed him some sugar lumps.
"Well, what do you make of that?"
Buck didn't know what to make of it but then to a horse brothers weren't that important. He did wonder how Chester and Magnus could be so alike and yet so different. Buck also thought that Chester might be underestimating Magnus that he could be surprised.
The dealer tossed a few coins on the table not sure of much more he could take of Magnus grinning at him like that.
"All in," the dealer said.
Chester tossed in his corn as Matt entered through the batwing doors. Magnus grinning started to collect his winnings. Chester tired of playing rose and went to the bar.
"Have a beer Mister Dilllon?"
"They got a new dealer here."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I quit I got tired of playing."
"Is that so?"
"And besides you know how it is with me I never do win a whole lot."
"Magnus didn't get tired though?"
"Wait a minute you're dealing from the bottom," the dealer yelled outraged.
Magnus rose to stand facing the man down. Matt went straight over.
"What's the matter did he break you?"
"He's been cheating. No man can win that much money from me."
"Cheating," Chester asked.
"That's what I said."
"That true?" Matt asked.
"The fella what larned me in the army, Marshal, he was a gambler."
"What's that got to do with it?" Chester asked.
"He was a gambler, Chester."
"What?"
"That's why he larned me to show me what happens when you gamble."
"I told you he's been cheating."
"Well of course I was it's the only way I know how. He's been cheating too but he ain't very good."
"That's a lie."
"No I never lie. He's got more than a gun in his pocket there, Marshal."
"What?"
"In his shirt pocket there, take a look."
Matt reached in to the dealer's top shirt pocket and pulled out 2 cards.
"Get out. Get out of Dodge. Thanks Magnus one less crooked dealer means one less shooting sooner or later."
"Well that might be," Chester said. "But it's a good thing Mister Dillon was here or you'd be the one to get shot."
"If he hadn't been here that dealer would have got opened up wide."
"What do you mean?" Chester asked.
Magnus lifted his foot onto the table to reveal a knife strapped to his boot.
"Well what are you going to show him next?"
"You said you don't drink?"
"Well that's evil and wicked."
"Well we'll just spend that doing it. We'll just spend all of it. Drinking's something nobody can touch me at."
Later that night as Matt finished his rounds outside his office he saw Magnus pushing a wheelbarrow with Chester lying passed out in it.
"What happened did he get hurt?"
"He got sleepy."
"What?"
"Well like you know I didn't want to do it but he made me. He said we were going to have a couple of drinks at every saloon in town."
"Well how many did you get to?"
"Well I made all of them but somehow Chester the last few he got sleepy. I wheeled him along anyway so's he wouldn't be disappointed about it tomorrow."
"Well we'll put him in a cell on the floor otherwise he might fall out of bed and hurt himself."
"Yeah," Magnus said.
Matt helped Magnus lift Chester and took him to a cell in the jail. Matt spread a blanket over him and went to use Chester's bunk.
The next morning Matt and Kitty were having breakfast together at Delmonico's when Chester and Magnus came in.
"That's Miss Kitty, Magnus," Chester said as he took his coat off. "That's a real life woman."
"Ah now Chester."
"No talking to women is just as much a part of being civilized as..."
"Is it like drinking and gambling?"
"You just follow me."
Chester hung his coat up and they went up to the table.
"Have a chair," Matt said.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Chester asked raising his hat.
"Of course not I've been wanting to meet your brother," Kitty said smiling up at them.
"Well this is him. Magnus," Chester nudged Magnus, "this is Miss Kitty."
"I'm right proud Miss Kitty."
"How do you do Magnus."
"Sit down you two I got work to do," Matt stood up. "Well I'm leaving you in good hands."
"I'll see you later Matt," Kitty said.
"Sure."
Magnus and Chester sat down at the table Chester reached up and plucked Magnus's hat from his head. Magnus stared pointedly at Chester's hat until Chester removed his hat and put it on the table.
"I um I think it's just fine that you can be with Chester for Christmas."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Ma'am is for married women. I'm still single."
"Oh. I don't get around women much."
"Huh, much." Chester said.
"I'm generally off in the country somewhere… I've never seen no animal as beautiful as you, Ma'am."
"Magnus. We got to go."
"That's mean Chester I want to talk to Magnus. I like him. How is you never told me you had such an attractive brother?"
"Well then at the dance tonight we'll see if you can talk and dance too."
"Ah now Chester."
"He'll be there Miss Kitty. Come on Magnus!"
Chester noticed his knife in Magnus's belt as he rose. He took it and looked at it and then to Magnus.
"Oh I plumb forgot I took it last night I didn't want you to lose it. I reckon that's about the finest knife in the world."
"Goodbye Miss Kitty."
"I'll see you tonight Magnus."
"Sure."
Chester was a little annoyed that Magnus seemed to be able to wrap everyone around his little finger. On the other hand, he was pleased that Magnus was doing well which confused him. He followed Magnus out of the restaurant and then went to the stables to check the horses while he was there he talked about everything. Buck listened then nudged Chester hoping for more sugar lumps. Buck didn't understand brothers he did understand that humans sometimes had a habit of expecting too much of their fellow man.
Later that night the dance was in full swing Magnus was dancing with Kitty while Chester nursed a beer. Once the dance finished they applauded the band and went back to the bar.
"Well did you see him?" Kitty asked. "He didn't have any trouble at all."
"You done fine."
"You know I don't believe that you've never danced before."
"Oh I've danced some but not like this."
"What do you mean?"
"Indians. I spent half the year with some Sioux once."
"Magnus you never told me that you spent time with the …"
"Well lots of things I'd tell you if I saw you more."
"Never mind. When's Mister Dillon coming?" Chester asked.
"Well he should be here now."
"Miss Kitty I'd be right proud to buy you a drink."
"Why thank you Magnus."
The other guests were just starting to enjoy the next dance when Lucifer Jones burst in armed with his shotgun.
"Stop! Stop the music! I told you there'd be no dancing tonight. I'll blast you all if the one who's responsible don't take it on herself to pay for your sins. You there the pretty one step out here."
He waved the gun towards the center of the room. Kitty moved towards the center of the room, Magnus tried to go with her.
"No you come alone come on I'll blast you right there if you don't. Others will be killed besides you."
Kitty stood alone facing Lucifer.
"You're the cause of this. I told you cause you're the prettiest and the wickedest and for the good of the others I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you right now."
"The old man's right!" Magnus said. "She is wicked, she's a terrible evil woman and she deserves to die. I know what I'm saying she tried to tempt me. But I resisted her. Her and her dark ways. I know'd her reckoning must come I know'd she must die."
Kitty was nonplussed she hadn't thought that Lucifer Jones would find any support.
"You heard him, you heard him. I ain't the only one. I'm going to kill you now."
He raised the gun ready to shoot.
"Wait a minute brother. Stone her."
Magnus lifted 2 pieces of coal from the bucket near the bar.
"Stone her until her temples turn red and she sinks down against the wall in death. Here brother, here are your stones of purification."
"You cast the first stone," Lucifer said.
"I will. I will with pleasure."
Magnus raised his hand as if to throw the stone all the time keeping his eye on Lucifer. Then he grabbed the gun struggling with him until the gun went off harmlessly into the floor. Another man rushed forward to help. Lucifer cried out in useless rage. Matt entered just then he'd the shot and dreaded what he might find.
"You're the prettiest the wickedest, wickedest, wicked, wicked evil."
Matt handed the office key to the man who'd helped out.
"Take him over and lock him up."
Once it was over Matt took Kitty to the bar with Magnus and Chester. Magnus propped the gun up against the bar.
Sam served up 2 whiskeys, Matt handed one to Kitty.
"Here this will make you feel better," Matt said.
"Thanks Matt," Kitty said shaken by the whole ordeal.
"Magnus I didn't know what you were doing. I never seen anything like it."
"Or heard anything like it," Kitty said. "Where'd you learn to talk like that?"
"Oh I spent half a year with a traveling preacher once."
"Well Magnus you never told me…"
"You was never around to ask me, Chester. Cause there ain't much to tell."
"You handled it real fine Magnus. Nobody got hurt or anything. You're real smart."
"It was all I could think of Marshal."
"Wasn't that something Mister Dillon. Magnus you do everything good. We could use you around here, couldn't we sir?"
"Well you've kind've changed your mind haven't you Chester?"
"Well, yes sir, I have. I was plumb wrong. I'll show you how wrong I was."
Chester pulled his knife from his pocket.
"Take it it's yours take it."
"No, Chester I couldn't."
"It's Christmas ain't it. I guess I can give my own brother a Christmas present if I want to. Now go on take it."
"I sure do thank you, Chester. I can use it when I go back out in the country."
"Oh Magnus you ain't leaving?"
"Uh-uh after tomorrow."
"No you cain't not now."
"I know where I belong."
"Well you belong here with me your brother."
"I just couldn't stand it here it ain't uncivilized enough. Why I'd go crazy here. No I'm leaving after tomorrow, after Christmas day."
"Well you know best. Come on everybody I'll buy you a drink. Merry Christmas Magnus."
"Merry Christmas, Magnus," Matt said.
"Merry Christmas."
Kitty noticed Doc coming in through the doors of the Long Branch.
"Merry Christmas Doc."
Doc walked over to them, he looked at them all then took Matt's whiskey and drank it down in one.
"Merry Christmas."
Later Chester went to check the horses before going to the jail to watch over it's one occupant old Lucifer Jones. Buck listened as he chatted with Moss Grimmick about what had happened. Buck knew how Matt felt about Kitty and that any harm done to her would have hurt Matt if that had happened Buck didn't really know what he would do but he would have done something.