Festus moved around the kitchen area of the little cabin and Lilly watched him. "You look like you're looking for something, or some one..." she said from the bed.
The deputy stopped and looked at the beautiful young woman. "You and Miss Kitty will hit it off fer sure. She's smart too."
"Who ya looking for?" Lilly pressed.
"I'm lookin' for two roughens that shot Mr Jonas. M\He's the general store owner in Dodge. They stole some money too. Me and the marshal have been out looking for them all day, til this snow started, that is. Ol' Matthew went one way, I came this way. You haven't seen anybody else have ya?"
Lilly shook her head no and within seconds James and Billy appeared at the door. Festus smiled at Billy but wondered who the other man was and his face read of the question. Billy stepped into he cabin and James followed. "You must be wondering who this is?" Billy said awkwardly.
"Not until now." Festus remained looking at James. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising. James stepped into the cabin and closed the door. He slowly removed his coat and hat and placed them on the back of a chair then walked toward the cook stove. As he poured himself some soup the looked up at Festus. "Cold out huh?"
Festus nodded and his eyes remained on James. "Coldest it's been this autumn so far."
James sipped on the hot soup and moved to the bed. "This here is my wife." He stroked her hair gently.
Lilly looked up to James in a panic and then over to Festus, who's eyebrow was slowly creeping up. "James. I just told Mr Haggen that my husband died and I was waiting for my mother in Dodge..."
James' jaw clenched as he felt Festus' eyes on him. Charles smiled slightly and said nothing at first. He returned to the stove and poured himself more soup. "Guess your wondering now, aren't you, Mr Haggen."
"Jist like before. Not until now." Festus found himself getting edgy as he watched James Charles.
"She just forgot that I have asked her to marry her, that's all." James smiled over his cup.
Festus's eyes narrowed. "I reckon with all the excitement that could happen." Festus stepped closer to James. "You wouldn't know anything about a hold up at the general store in Dodge this morning, would you?"
"Should I?" James asked with an edge to his question.
There was something about his body language and his shifting eyes that told Festus that James had something to do with the robbery. He changed his angle. "Miss Lilly, here shouldn't be staying out here in this cabin with a youngin on the way. Maybe we should take her to Dodge..."
Festus' statement made James laugh out loud. "Are you stupid?!" James then pulled his gun on the deputy. "I'm not going anywhere near that town. And as for your general store, hope the store owner is okay..."
"So you are the ones..." Festus' right eye scrunched down. "You come peaceful, I'm sure Judge Brooker would be understanding." The hill man tried to reason.
"You aren't takin' me in, deputy." And with that, James pulled the trigger of his gun which sent Festus reeling to the floor. James pulled on his coat and opened the door. "I'll find us another place to stay and be back for you later!" He raced through the door and slammed it shut behind him. Billy and Lilly held their hands over their mouths at that sight of the downed deputy. Their eyes met each others and Billy pulled Lilly tight into his arms.