Festus sat by the river under the big cottonwood tree, watching the play of light and shadow over the water. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear the hooves behind him and he jumped when a soft hand dropped on his shoulder.
"I might have known I'd find you here," said Letty, dropping to the ground at the deputy's side.
He continued to stare out over the water. "Doc talk to you, did he?" Letty nodded. "I sure am sorry, honey..."
She cut him off. "Don't say that. Don't you ever..." Letty's voice broke and Festus wrapped his arms around her and rocked her as he had always done when she was upset. She relaxed, secure in his love, then sat up and regarded him sternly. "Festus Haggen, I'm surprised at you."
He was startled. "What do you mean?"
"After all that you've done for me...after all that you've been to me, do you really think I care if you learn to read or not?"
The deputy sighed. "It ain't that, Letty. It's just...well, you looked that pleased when I said you could learn me to read writin'..." He took a deep breath. "I cain't say I was enthusiastical 'bout the learnin' but it would have been a pure pleasure to do somethin' to make you that happy." Letty took his hand and he smiled a little. "I ain't frettin' 'bout it. I don't rightly know how old I am but I've lived a good many years 'thout knowin' how to read and I reckon I can finish up my time that way. Leastways now I got a good excuse for that old scutter Doc when he gets on me 'bout not readin'."
Letty squeezed his hand. "Festus, you know Doc thinks you're just about the smartest man he ever met."
"I know that," said the deputy softly. "Fact is, they's a whole heap of things I know how to do I couldn't teach Doc if'n I wuz to take the rest of my life." His face turned thoughtful. "Mebbe that's just the way it wuz meant to be...folks bein' smart in dif'rent ways so's they can help each other out." He looked out over the water again. "I will have to say I'm sorry I won't never be able to read the Bible. I remember my Grandpa Hawg Haggen readin' to me out of the Bible when I warn't no bigger'n a tater bug, and my nephew Sweet Billy's wife Orabelle reads to him from the Bible..."
Letty got up and went to her horse, then came back with a small book bound in leather. She sat down again next to Festus and gave the book to him. "I got this for you in England. It's the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. I was..." She took a deep breath. "I was saving it for when you could read it."
Festus thumbed through the little book, perplexed. "Honey, they ain't no sense in givin' it to me now. I ain't never goin' to be able to read it."
"I want you to have it. I want you to keep it with you all the time so whenever you want to hear something I'll be able to read it to you." Letty took the deputy's hands and opened the Testament to the dedication page. "Look what I wrote here." He peered at the words as she pointed to each one. "To Festus with all my love from Letty." She closed the book and tucked it into his shirt pocket, then got to her feet and held out her hand. "Now let's go home."