Letty walked up to the doors of the Longbranch and peeked over, then turned to Rob, frowning. "Well, the marshal's there, and Miss Kitty and Doc and Sam, but I don't see Festus."

"Sweetheart, you didn't let anybody know you were coming," said the young man reasonably. "You can't expect everybody to be waiting for you."

"I know, but...well, he's usually here by now." Letty bit her lip. "I hope nothing's wrong."

"Do your friends look worried?"

Letty glanced inside again, then shook her head. "No. All right, let's go in." Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open and they walked into the saloon side by side.

Kitty looked up, did a double-take, and hurried to the young woman. "Letty!"

Letty threw her arms around Kitty. "Miss Kitty! Oh, Miss Kitty, it's so good to see you!"

Matt and Doc and Sam came up. They were all smiling and for the next few minutes Rob stood back, watching as Letty traded hugs with her old friends. Then there was a jingle of spurs outside and Letty spun around.

"Festus!" Rob turned as Letty ran past him. She threw herself at the newcomer and he picked her right up off the floor. They held each other tightly and it was a very long moment before he set her on her feet, saying gruffly, "Ain't you never goin' to learn I got to breathe?"

Letty laughed through the tears in her eyes. "I'm just so glad to see you again." She took his hand and turned towards Rob. "Rob, this is Festus Haggen. Festus, Dr Robert Parker." She took a deep breath. "Rob is my fiancé."

"Yore fiansay!" Festus' eyes twinkled. "You ain't old enough to be gettin' hitched, are you?"

The young woman tossed her head. "I was twenty-three in August."

The deputy nodded solemnly. "That is pretty old. You'd best be gettin' this feller to the church before you dry up and blow away." Letty laughed and he offered a hand to Rob. "It's a pure pleasure to meet you."

Rob took the deputy's hard brown hand. "It's quite an honor to meet you, Mr Haggen. I've heard a lot about you."

"Fiddle, you don't got to call me Mr Haggen," said Festus warmly. "My name's Festus."

"And I'm Rob."

They shook hands and Letty took Rob's arm as Doc asked, "Did I hear you say this young man was a doctor?" She nodded, smiling, and he smiled back and offered his hand. "Well, sir, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you. This town could use another doctor."

Rob glanced at Letty and she said quickly, "Rob, this is Doctor Galen Adams, but we all just call him Doc. And Marshal Matt Dillon and Sam Noonan and Miss Kitty Russell. She owns the Longbranch." Rob shook hands all around and Letty grinned at Kitty. "Miss Kitty, the last time I was in here you threw me out. Do you suppose I could stay long enough to have just one drink?"

Kitty laughed. "I think that would be all right. Sam, bring us some champagne and don't forget a glass for yourself."

The bartender smiled. "Coming right up, Miss Kitty." He left and Rob looked at Letty, bemused.

"Did I hear you say the last time you were here you were thrown out?"

Letty assumed a prim expression. "Miss Kitty doesn't allow anybody to get drunk and disorderly in her place."

The young man looked alarmed and Kitty shook her head at Letty. "Rob, don't listen to her. She was just a child when her father brought her in here."

"Ah." Rob took Letty's hand. "Was that when..."

Letty nodded. "He wanted to find the man who killed my mother. We went to every saloon in town." Everybody fell silent until Letty said brightly, "We only did that one day and then the marshal and Festus started guarding me around the clock." She laughed. "Festus, do you remember how I sneaked out and left you guarding my doll?"

The deputy rubbed his head. "I remember all right."

"So do I," grumbled Doc. "You're lucky you didn't wind up with a concussion."

The laughter died out of Letty's face and she stared at Doc. "What do you mean, a concussion?"

"Never mind Doc," said Festus hastily. "He's gettin' so old'n feeble he don't know what he's sayin' half the time."

Letty turned to the deputy. "Did you get hurt?"

Festus looked exasperatedly at Doc and the old man sighed. "Letty, if you must know, he got hit on the head. Obviously it didn't do any damage...well, there isn't anything in his head to damage in the first place."

"Why, you blamed old quack..."

"Quack! I've told you a thousand times..."

"All right, you two, that's enough," said Kitty sternly. Festus and Doc subsided as Sam returned with the champagne and glasses and poured drinks all round. "What are we drinking to?" asked the bartender, standing next to the table.

Kitty smiled and raised her glass. "How about Dodge City's new doctor?"

The toast was followed by a cheerful evening, marred only by the unspoken observation that Rob set his drink down untouched.