"A week ago," Festus said thoughtfully. "Matthew, I saw that there boy's tombstone with fresh flowers on it just today."
"I don't think it means anything," Matt said shrugging his shoulders. "We'll take a look around town but I don't think they'll come here after the last time."
Judge Strom rubbed his hands together and held them over the fire in their camp later that night. "Cal," he said calling his son who walked toward him from a group of men.
"Ya Pa," the man said hunching down by the fire.
"Let the boys know," Judge Strom said with a wiry grin. "We'll be going into town tomorrow night!"
"We'll be ready, Pa," Cal said tipping his hat.
"So Kitty's got the food and I'm making the cakes," Abelia said looking at Festus across their kitchen table. "Festus, are you listening to me?"
"Oh ya, Bee," Festus said sipping his coffee. "You got the food and Miss Kitty's got the cakes."
"That's not what I said," Abelia replied standing up.
Festus looked up as his wife took a seat on his lap. "What's bothering you tonight?"
"Nuthin," he said running a gentle hand down the woman's back. "Just sometimes a man has thoughts, is all."
"You've always told me before about your thoughts," Abelia replied running a finger down the side of his face.
"I can't with this one, Bee," Festus said slowly. "Ya just gonna have ta trust me."
"I always have," she said kissing the man. "The children are asleep, let's go to bed and maybe I'll give you something else to think about."
Kitty picked up another tray of sandwiches the next evening and brought it over to the bar before joining Festus and Abelia, Doc and Matt standing around the table where Galen, Kathryn, Marianne and Johnny were seated.
"Oh my," Kitty said as Galen picked up his piece of birthday cake and took a bite out of it before dropping the rest in his lap.
"They're having way to much fun with that cake," Doc said sipping his punch as Abelia nodded.
At the table, Festus spooned a bite of cake into Kathryn's mouth as the doors to the Long Branch opened behind them.
Kitty giggled softly as she picked up a glass of punch from the bar and looked up when Sam gently nudged her side. After seeing who it was that stepped inside, she dropped the glass on the floor causing it to shatter and everyone in the building to look in her direction.
Matt clinched his jaw when he followed her gaze to the door and watched as Judge Strom, Cal and several men stepped inside.
"Well, well, well," the judge said meeting first Matt's eyes, then Kitty's and finally Festus. "I see a few things have changed over the years, but all the important characters are still here!"
Matt stepped forward putting himself directly in front of the Judge. "What do you want here, Strom?"
"Want?" the judge said slowly as a grin spread across his face. "What I want, you can't give me, Marshal."
"Then why are you here?" Matt asked looking at Cal and the other men. "I'm not playing games with you! I told you years ago, I don't want to see any Stroms in my town as long as I'm the Marshal."
"Well now see that's where you might have a problem," the judge said slowly. "My boy and I are free men Marshal, we've served out time, we're here on business and as long as we're not doing any harm to you or anyone else in this town, well then you have no cause to throw us out!"
"Well, he may not but I do," Kitty said angrily looking directly at the Judge and Cal. "I own this saloon and I want you to leave!"
The judge smiled as he took an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the counter of the bar before heading toward Festus.
"That maybe true now, Ms. Russell," he said looking at Abelia as Festus stepped in front of her.
"Mr. Haggen," the judge said looking down at the twins, he handed an envelope to Festus. "This is for you!"
Festus snatched the envelope and passed it to Abelia. "You've done handled yer business Judge," he said advancing on the man as Matt grabbed his shoulder.
The judge smiled as he looked at the family. "A very happy birthday to your children, Mr. Haggen. I guess you know that a father would be willing to do any thing for their children. Ask yourself, what would you be willing to do for yours? Would you commit murder for them?"
"What is that supposed ta mean," Festus said as the Judge turned around and headed for the door.
"I'll see you both again," he said tipping his hat before he along with Cal and the other men stepped out and got on their horses.
Kitty opened the envelope and pulled out several pages, reading over the documents, she gasped as she looked at Matt.
"It's a wrongful death lawsuit," she said looking at Abelia as the woman started to cry.
"It's everything we own," she said looking at Festus. "The house, the land, even down to the exact cent we have in the bank, he wants it all."
Festus hugged Abelia as he looked at Kitty. "Looks like he's gonna get the chance ta see us in court after all!"