Festus piled the last basket in the buggy and fastened the cover. "Orabelle, Doc and me's just goin' to Dodge City, not the Oregon terr'tory. 'Pears to me you'd ort to keep some vittles for yoreself."
Orabelle laughed. She stood between Sweet Billy and Jessamine, leaning on her husband's arm for support, and she looked radiant. Jessamine had one baby and Eliab was holding the other under Melody's close supervision. All the Haggens looked radiant as Orabelle said, "Festus, I just wisht we could give you and Doc a lot more than just a little food."
Doc inspected the babies and shook his head. "Nonsense, Orabelle. I told you I would deliver the first baby for free, didn't I?" Festus smiled proudly as the old man went on. "A promise is a promise. Now you just take care of these little codgers."
Festus climbed into the buggy. "Ready to go, Doc?"
The old man climbed in and looked wistfully at the new family, the beaming relatives and the sturdy little house set like a jewel among the surrounding hills. "I suppose it is time we went home, Festus." The hillman snapped the reins and Popcorn trotted off, all the Haggens waving goodbye. Festus drove along until they reached the hollow, where he pulled up and climbed down. "What's wrong?" asked Doc.
Festus looked up at his friend. "Ain't nothin' wrong, Doc. I just don't know when I'll get back this way." He walked away and Doc got down and followed him. The hillman stopped next to a big white rock and took off his hat. Doc saw a rough cross chiseled on the rock and took off his hat too. Festus said softly, "I figgered this wuz the most fittin' place for Fergus to rest. I wanted to put his name on the stone but I never did learn to read'n write...I cain't even spell my own name..."
Doc cleared his throat. "So you put this rock here and marked it with a cross?" Festus nodded and Doc said gently, "I can't think of a more fitting monument for your brother. I only hope I'll have something this good when my time comes."
Festus sighed. "Doc, you ever get to studyin' on how things mighta been if they warn't the way they wuz?"
Doc ran his hand over his face. "I suppose we all do that from time to time, Festus."
The hillman's voice was very low. "If'n Fergus hadn't...if'n he wuz still alive mebbe there'd be a house here...a woman...mebbe some kids..." He paused and Doc waited until his friend was able to go on. "I wuz thinkin' 'bout that...and then I got to thinkin' if'n I wuz here I wouldn't never have come to Dodge..." Festus smiled at Doc. "Reckon I'd have to say there's been a time or two I been glad to be there."
Doc smiled back. "I suppose I'm not always entirely sorry you're around."
Festus lingered a moment longer by Fergus' marker, then set his hat on his head and started for the buggy, Doc beside him. They climbed in and the hillman took the reins. "Giddap, Popcorn." The buggy rolled briskly away, leaving the white stone shining in the sun in the hollow among the hills.