Doc set the pencil down and looked up noting the time. He stood from his desk, stretching his back and rubbing his sore ribs. It was almost three weeks ago that James Charles hit him. And it was the same amount of time that anyone in Dodge saw Festus Haggen. Doc ran his fingers over the top of his ear before swiping his hand across his moustache while walking to the coat rack to retrieve his suit jacket and hat.

It was early enough that he decided to visit Matt at the jail house for a quick coffee and maybe catch up on the latest who-dunn-it or who was wanted for what. Doc opened the office door and was please to feel that the late November day felt as warm as it did. He stepped our on to the landing and pulled his door shut.

The wafting smells of cooking turkey, ham and all the fixings drifted up into the alleyway. He smiled in anticipation of Kitty's Thanksgiving meal that she was hosting for her friends and loyal patrons. He ticked his head and walked down the stairs and onto the boardwalk. A cursory look and it occurred to him that he hadn't seen Front Street that quite in a very long time.

Doc checked his pocket watch and with a nod he continued down the street tipping his hat to any passing ladies. He stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of the red brick jail house and half expected to be met at the door by the marshal. However, he ended up opening the wooden door himself and stepped down into the cozy room. "You must be awfully busy."

"Oh. Hiya Doc. I'm just trying to get caught up on a few outstanding reports." Matt looked up from the desk. "Grab a coffee and read the newspaper and I'll be ready to go to the Long Branch with you in a few minutes."

Doc poured the over perked coffee into the white cup and then settled in at the little table at the centre of the room. "When did you make this?" Doc said after taking a sip of the black liquid.

Matt looked up from the paperwork he was engrossed in. "This morning. Why?"

Doc frowned. "Tastes like it...did you put any egg shells in?" he shot a disapproving look at the marshal. Matt just made a face and went back to work.

"Say. You should smell the turkey and ham that Kitty's has going..." Doc interrupted again. Matt gave up and placed his pencil firmly on his desk. His blue eyes softened at the bemused look on the doctor's face. "I take it that you are hungry." Matt stood.

"Well, now that you mentioned it, I am!" Doc almost leaped to his feet. "Why with that heavenly aroma I should ask Kitty to marry me..." the twinkle in Doc's eye was caught by Matt. "Very funny..." he said as he opened the door and following the doctor though.

As the two men walked to the Long Branch, Doc couldn't help but ask before they got there. "Haven't heard anything...I mean about Festus."

"Not a word Doc. I'm sure he's alright. He's tough." Matt pat Doc on the shoulder knowing his old friend was missing his sparing partner. Doc just huffed.

They reached the doors of the saloon and pushed through. Kitty and Sam had fall coloured garlands and leaves in bunches all around the room. The meal was set up along the bar and folks helped themselves. Kitty spotted them and waved them over to the table where she sat waiting.

Matt pulled out his chair and Doc followed. "I didn't think you two were ever going to get here!" Kitty smiled. Both men dropped their hats on the empty chair beside them.

"You couldn't keep me away with those smells drifting all over town!" Doc winked and looked around the room. Somehow something was still missing, and he knew what...or who. He looked back to Kitty and smiled. "You have out done yourself." he pat her forearm.

"Thanks Doc. Now go and get something to eat. With this crowd there wont be much left." she shoed both men away. She sighed and watched her friends at the bar. Sam poured each man a glass of wine and they loaded their plates before returning to the table.

"Kitty, if this tastes half as good as it looks and smells, I'm going to sweep you out from under that marshal's feet..." Doc winked. Kitty laughed. And then she stopped. Doc and Matt looked at her. "What's the matter, Kitty?"

Kitty said nothing as she stood. Her eyes were locked on the entrance of the Long Branch. Both Matt and Doc slowly looked in the direction. There stood Festus Haggen.

Slowly the hill man stepped down and into the room. He looked around at the folks who were watching him. He smiled ever so slightly and removed his hat. "Miss Kitty." he said as she stepped toward him. "Festus!? Where have you been?"

Festus was reluctant to say anything at first.

"Come over here and sit down." Doc motioned. "You look terrible."

Festus slowly made his way to the table and sat in a vacant chair. "You otta know. You're a doc and all..." Festus' hazel eyes looked like he'd been carrying a heavy burden a long, long way.

Doc squared himself to his friend. "Well, where did you go and why?"

"I went to do some thinkin'. When a Haggen needs to do some soul-some thingkin' we just go off fer awhile til we think it through."

"Soul-some thinking?" Doc looked at matt who shrugged.

"Yes. Soul-some thinkin'. That's what ya have ta do when your inners are all knotted up and you cain't think straight. Yer mind gits all muddled up..." He looked at Doc.

"So what was this soul-some thinking about?" Doc enquired and his eyes squinted at the man sitting beside him.

"Wall, mostly me...and Lilly and that Billy fella. And during my thinkin' I realized that I didn't really love Miss Lilly like I thought I did...in fact, I was jist feeling plum sorry fer her and the way that James fella treated her. I didn't know that Billy was her man."

Doc wiped his moustached and looked at Kitty and Matt. "So you just up and left us?" Doc looked back to Festus.

"Now, Doc. I do feel badly about that too..." Festus looked down at the hat he held in his weathered hands.

"And so you should! Running off and not telling anyone where you were going...well, just what would have happened if you were hurt?" Doc barked.

"Wall, I jist didn't want any one of you to be following me...or I couldn't have done my thinkin'." Festus looked up at the doctor. "Part of my thinkin' was also knowing what I have...and what I need...and both are right here in Dodge."

Matt interjected. "Huh?"

Festus smiled warmly at each of the people around the table. "I figured that all I need and want is right here. Right now. I didn't need Lilly. Foot I couldn't even afford to keep me, let alone her and then there's Ruth. Why Matthew you'd have to give me a pay raise...!" He chuckled.

Kitty looked at the hill man and raised her glass. "Welcome home, Festus!" Doc and Matt raised their's which caught Festus empty handed. Kitty started to laugh. The more things change the more they stay the same. "Sam, bring Festus a drink and a plate of food!" They all laughed.

The scene in the Long Branch that afternoon would be one long remembered by those who were there. For Kitty, Matt, Doc and Festus, it was the best Thanksgiving ever.

The End

And a Happy Thanksgiving (on the 23rd) to my friends in the US.