The Judge took a moment to think things though before turning around. "Cal!"

Matt tipped his hat up as Cal stepped into place beside his father. "Your under arrest for assault," Matt said evenly.

"Assault?" Cal said looking from Matt to the Judge. "I didn't assault no one!"

"Shut up, Cal," Judge Strom said lifting his head. "What's the bail Marshal?"

"There won't be any until he goes up before the Judge in Dodge," Matt replied taking Cal's arm. "Let's go!"

"Pa," Cal said looking at his father. "You going to let him take me in?"

"Yes," Judge Strom said watching them go.

Doc looked at the time on his pocket watch as Festus fell into place beside him on the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch.

"Matthew's a comin," Festus said stepping forward as Matt rode in with Cal at his side. "He got him," Festus said started toward the jail.

"No you don't," Doc said grabbing his arm. "Your going to go up to my office and take Abelia home so she can rest!"

"That feller's got a beatin comin I guarantee ya that," Festus said angrily.

"Later," Doc said heading up the stairs to his office. "Once this case is over, you can bash him to a bloody pulp for all I care but until then, you've got to show some restraint."

"Golly Bill, Doc," the hillman said entering the physician's office. "What ya think I'm a doing!"

"About what?" Abelia asked from the doorway of Doc's spare room.

"Bee," Festus said gently taking her into his arms. "Don't ya be a worrying bout nuthin now!"

"Festus is right," Doc said picking up a length of clean cloth. "Let me make a sling for that wrist and you can go home."

Abelia cradled the cast against her chest as Doc slipped the cloth around it and then tied it around her neck.

"It'll be uncomfortable for a day or two but once the wrist starts to heal it won't hurt any more," Doc said handing Festus a package of powder. "If it gets to be two much, put this in some water and have her drink it."

"Thanks, Doc," Festus said putting the powder in his pocket before putting an arm around his wife. "You ready, Bee?

Abelia nodded as they started for the door. Doc followed them out the door and down the stairs, he watched the couple until they were out of site and then shuffled over to the jail.

"Doc," Matt said hanging the keys on the peg outside the door where the cells were. "I half expected to see Festus come though that door."

"I sent Abelia home," Doc said taking a seat at the table in the center of Matt's office. "He give you any trouble?"

"Nope," Matt said taking his hat and gun belt off. "Of course I explained to the Judge that it wouldn't be favorable for his case if he didn't turn his son over to be to face charges for assault."

Doc nodded. "When's the hearing," he said swiping at his mustache.

"Day after tomorrow," Matt replied taking a seat at his desk. "Judge Brooker sent me a wire."

"Can I get ya anything, Bee," Festus asked once they were home and Abelia was settled on the sofa.

Abelia shook her head no as Festus smiled. "Wal, you just get some rest like ol Doc said. I'm a gonna go check on the youngin's."

"Don't be long," Abelia replied as Festus picked up his hat.

"I won't," he said shutting the door behind him.

Walking toward Ma Smalley's, Festus, deep into his own thoughts, passed by an alley that was blocked by a wagon with two men standing outside.

"What are ya fellers doing here," he said looking at one and then the other.

"Well, it's like this whiskers," the one man said smiling as the other slid around behind him.

"The Judge wants to see you," the man behind him said as the one in front of him grabbed a canvase sack from inside the wagon while the man behind him grabbed Festus around his arms.

Festus started swinging but once the two men got a hold on him there was little the hill man could do to stop them from gagging, tying him up and tossing him into the back of the wagon before riding out.

As if being bumped and jostled around wasn't bad enough, when they finally stopped, he was pushed onto his knees and when the canvase sack was finally removed from his head, his eyes narrowed.

In a circle lit by torches, under the cover of darkness, stood a scaffold with not one but two noose's attached to it.

Looking to his side as a second sack was dropped beside him, Festus heart sank when the canvase sack was removed and Kitty's eyes met his.