Festus continued his trek into the snowy night. The dampness was starting to set in which caused him to further tighten the collar of his coat. He thought back at how many early fall season snow storms he might have endured over his life and decided that one more was not likely going to be the cause of his death, at least now that he was part time deputy. Being deputy to the Dodge Marshal was almost something foreign to what he thought his place in life was. The first time he killed a man almost made him sick, but the Marshal was there to ease his ill-feelings. Just the same, living in a city life Dodge was equally odd for a man who lived off the land and usually hunted wolves for a living.

The hill man pushed further along the snow covered road and thought for an instant that his eyes were playing tricks on him as he swore that he saw candle light through the snow and woods from the abandoned farm house. He paused Ruth and squinted into the swirling snowy darkness and after a moment he saw the warm light again. "Come on Ruth. Looks like someone has taken comfort in the old Miller place..." he nudge the mule to continue forward.

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Billy poured some hot soup into a cup and sat on the edge of the bed to help Lilly drink i down. "Umm, that's good."

"Anything ought to taste good to you about now. You haven't eaten since yesterday." Billy smiled as he gently pushed a few errant strands of Lilly's hair out of her eyes.

"Oh, Bitty. If James ever caught you fussing with me..." her eyes filled with worry, "he'll tear you apart."

"I know. That's why he ain't gonna find out. Least just yet." Billy stood again and took the empty tin cup. "Would you like some more?" Lilly simply nodded yes.

Billy started to pour a second helping when there was a knock at the door. Slowly he handed the cup off to Lilly who watched with interest. "Who's there?" Billy asked loudly.

Festus leaned into the door. "My name's Festus Haggen. Can I come in to warm up so I can git back to dodge?"

Billy looked over to Lilly and she shrugged. "Maybe you better let him in then ask James. He'll be particular about who visits."

Billy nodded and slowly opened the door. "Much obliged." Festus said as he stepped iinto the warm cabin. "Is there a place I could put my mule and feed him some? I'll pay you whatever it takes...as long as it's around three dollars, 'cause that's all I have..." he smiled warmly at the young couple.

"Don't need yer money. I'll take yer mule out to the barn." Billy said with a hint of coldness about him. He was certain that Festus was the marshal's deputy.

"Wall shoot! I can take ole Ruth to the barn and feel him, that ain't no big deal!" Festus started to the door but was stopped by Billy.

"I said I'll take yer mule. I'm just being hospitable, that's all. There's hot soup on the stove." Billy said as he pulled his coat on and left the building.

Festus walked slowly into the cabin. "You and yer husband buy this place, did ya?" he asked Lilly.

The young woman sat up and swung her legs off the bed. "Not really. We..." she tried to think fast, "we got caught in the storm. We where heading to Dodge. I can't travel well right now..." she said while holding her abdomen.

"I can see that now." Festus smiled. "You been married long?"

Lilly didn't know what to say about their relationship so she shrugged. "Not really. My man was killed," she bit her tongue wishing sometimes it to be true, "so Billy, my brother, is looking out for me until my mother comes out to Dodge."

Festus nodded. "If you need anything and I mean anything, you jist ask me. I'll be pure-ole-de happy to help you out." He poured some soup into a cup and drank it down while smiling at Lilly who wearily smiled back.

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Billy pulled open the barn door and pulled the mule through and pushed him into a stall. "What are you doing with that?" James barked.

Billy stepped close to his brother. "The deputy marshal is in the cabin with Lilly."

James' jaw clenched. "That so?"

"I don't think he knows we're the ones he's lookin' for. He just wanted to warm up and feed the mule." Billy looked back at the barn door.

"Good. Let's keep it that way." James sneered. "Now look. Lilly and I are married. We're moving to California and got trapped in the storm. Understand?" James warned Billy.

"Sure. Sure I understand." Billy nodded.