The sun poured a golden flood of light and warmth over the river. A soft breeze on the prairie mingled with birdsong and butterflies darted like blossoms that had taken wing. Festus sat back against a big cottonwood and took in a huge lungful of fresh air perfumed with wildflowers, then smiled sweetly at Letty as she ran up and flopped down in the grass next to him.
"You sure you're feeling all right, Festus?"
"Ain't I already told you twicet this mornin' I feel better than a barn rooster on a prime hoot?"
Letty smiled and looked up at the tree. "Do you remember when I climbed up there and fell out?"
Festus shuddered. "I cain't forget that to my dyin' day." Letty looked away and he took her chin and turned her face back to his. "Honey, that ain't gonna be for a long time yet."
Letty's eyes filled with tears. "I just keep thinking how it was all my fault. If I hadn't been so stupid you wouldn't have gotten hurt. I thought I was so smart. I thought you were the stupid one..." The tears fell and the deputy wrapped his arms around the girl and rocked her as he had years ago when she was little. Finally she was still and he pulled off his kerchief and wiped her face.
"We need t'get somethin' straight," said Festus firmly. She opened her mouth and he put up a hand. "Hush up now." She subsided and he went on. "First off..." Festus took Letty's hand. "Letty, I love you more'n I know how to say. I'd a heap ruther die myself than see any harm come to you and that's the pure ol'dee truth."
"Festus..."
"Hold yore taters, 'cause I got somethin' more to say." Letty fell silent. "Honey, they's all kinda ways of bein' smart. I sent you to that there school because I wanted you to have the best book learnin' you could get. Don't never stop learnin'. You learn a thing a day you store up smart. That's important."
"I know, Festus, but..."
The deputy squeezed her hand. "What's more importanter is to be smart in here." Festus put his hand to his heart. "When you ain't sure what to 'bout somethin' you study on the folks you love. You do what's best for them and you cain't never go far wrong." He smiled and brushed her hair back. "Now we better get home, 'cause Doc'll go to faunchin' and bellerin' somethin' fierce if'n I stay out too long my first day up." Letty jumped to her feet and helped Festus up. His face was pale and he favored his wounded shoulder, but his eyes were bright as they headed back to Dodge.