Clarence stepped into the common room at Ma Smalley's boarding house. As plume of mist followed him as the cold air from the outside met the warm dry heat inside. Cox set his saddle and kit down and looked around the spacious room.

Ma heard the door from the kitchen and walked to the front of the house, "Hello," she smiled warmly.

"Hi," Clarence smiled back. "I was told by the fellow in the stable that you might have a room," Cox stated.

Ma smiled, "You're in luck. One of the boarders has moved on," she smiled.

"Oh," Cox was stuck and feeling awkward, "I am sorry to hear that," Cox said.

Ma frowned and then laughed, "Oh, you have me wrong. The fellow left on his own accord, not the other way," she continued to laugh.

"I see. I think," Cox smiled as he finally caught onto what Ma Smalley was saying. Finally he too laughed.

"Here, let me get the key for your room...Mister?" Smalley said as she walked to the desk at the head of the room.

"Cox. Clarence Cox, ma'am," Cox's eyes watched the older woman. "For short I go by C.C.," he continued. He kept his eyes on the boardinghouse owner. Somehow no one in this town had settled his nerves. However as Clarence watched Ma, his thinking slowly changed about her, anyway.

She was in her sixties, he figured by her greying hair and the navy blue dress with a lace collar. He wasn't sure if she was married, or eve had been, but by the smells in the boardinghouse, she would have made a wonderful mother, and perhaps a wife.

"You can have room number five at the end of the hall," she handed Clarence the key. "Meals are at 7 a.m., 12:30 and 6 p.m. If you want something in between, there are usually some left overs in the kitchen," she pointed.

"Thank you," Clarence smiled. "I was also told I could get a bath here," he looked around again.

"Yes. The bath room is across the hall from you room. There's a stove and a water pump. You draw what you need. Pour the waste into the drain as it servers the fire brigade if they need it. I guess they don't care if the water is fresh or not to put out a fire," she half laughed.

"I suppose not," Clarence began to pick up his saddle and kit, "About payment."

"I'll be sure you settle before you leave," Ma smiled.

"Oh, and one more thing," Cox stopped to ask.

"Yes?"

"Do you know fellow named Festus Haggen?" Cox asked.

Ma laughed, "Oh, heavens yes. Everybody knows Festus!"

"Hum," Cox replied.

"Why, are you a friend of his?" Ma asked.

"I might be," Cox answered. "Can you tell me if he goes by any other names?"

"Oh, folks have called Festus a lot of names, I'm sure," Ma giggled. " Sometimes he just seems to get folks into trouble and then he gets himself into a mess..." Ma thought of one or two times he was involved with one thing or another, "You cold ask the marshal and he will tell you about some of Festus' "get rich" schemes," she chuckled some more.

Cox smiled as he understood what ma Smalley implied, "What I really meant was, does he go by another name like Isaac, for instance..."

Ma stopped to think, "I can't say that he does. Festus, however, is very private about his personal life," Ma stated.

"I see," Cox commented and began to turn to his room. He stopped in his tracks, "What's Festus look like now?"

Ma studied the man before her. He seemed to be a likeable fellow, however, she really wondered what his intentions were with Festus. "When's the last time you saw him?" she asked.

"Oh, it's been quite a spell," Clarence smiled which was enough to take the edge off Ma's slight distrust. "Well, just look for the fellow with a large floppy hat that sits funny and a face full of whiskers. Festus also has large Mexican spurs he wears with this tall black boots. You most likely find him at the marshal's office, the Long Branch Saloon or pestering Doc," Ma nodded.

"Thank you ma'am," Cox smiled. "Now I intend to rediscover myself," he looked down at his clothing and decided he must be quite the sight. He watched Ma leave for the boardinghouse kitchen as he picked up his saddle and kit before heading to his room.

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Festus strutted along the boardwalk and poked his nose in any door that he might find the town doctor. "Where is a that old scutter," he muttered to himself. "Likely with that blamed ol' Harvey Miller," he continued to squawk to himself.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the doctor with Miss Kitty as they were leaving Del Monico's. "Doc!" he bellowed across the street causing everyone to turn and watch the deputy cross the street.

"What in thunder is his problem now," Doc grunted.

"I don't know, but it sure looks serious," Kitty nudged the doctor's elbow with her own while trying to hide the smile on her lips.

"You're a big help," Doc shot a glare at the saloon owner who finally laughed. Doc looked at the hill man, "What's your problem?" he grunted.

"Yer bedside manner is getting worse, Doc," Festus shot back. "So happens Ma Miller wanted me to ask you if you seen ol' Harvey," Festus blurted out as he stood in front of the doctor stopping him from going anywhere.

"No, I haven't seen Harvey Miller. Why?" Doc asked in a slightly more civil tone.

"Cause Ma Miller said Harvey had gone out hunting and cut himself good across the hand and she told him to go see you," Festus stated.

Doc drew his hand across his moustache and looked Festus in the eye, "That old fool like came into town and bought his own supplies and fixed it himself. Knowing him..." Doc twisted his mouth in thought. "Have you told Matt?" Festus shook his head.

"Well, when did this happen?" Kitty asked with concern.

"Ma Miller said two days ago. She needs supplies in the food line, and I just happened to be riding by when she called me to her door," Festus said thumbing over his shoulder.

"Well, you better let Matt know," Doc said. "I'll see if Jonas sold Miller any supplies. And if he did, I'll kick him in the pants for not sending him up to see me," Doc grumbled as he stepped down to the street.

"I wouldn't put it past Miller to have gotten some supplies and a bottle," Kitty chimed in before she headed toward the Long Branch leaving Festus on the boardwalk in front of the restaurant alone. "Humph," the deputy huffed and started toward the jail house.