Matt stopped the wagon in front of the jail as Festus climbed meekly out.
"Newly," Matt said taking Festus arm. "Take the girls body to Percy Crump's."
"No," Festus said pulling away from Matt's grasp. "I'm a gonna take her."
"Festus," Matt said tipping his hat up. "Why don't you let Newly do it."
"My responsibility Matthew," he said lifting the cold body from the back of the wagon.
Newly stepped forward ready to help as Matt grabbed the young deputy by the shoulder. "Let him go," he said.
Newly nodded and watched the hill man walk slowly down the street before he followed the Marshal to the Long Branch.
Kitty had long since closed the doors of the saloon but left the lights on for Matt and Newly's return.
Stepping inside, Matt looked at the three people sitting inside and nodded. "We got him," he said as Abelia smiled.
"Where is he," she said standing up as Doc and Kitty followed. "Is he alright?"
Matt put his hand out to stop her and a cold chill ran though her spin.
"What is it Marshal," she said looking up into Matt's eyes.
"Sarah killed herself," Matt explained. "She told Festus it was his fault."
"But it's not," Abelia replied gently.
"I know that," Matt said evenly while looking at Doc and Kitty. "But I don't think he's going to be so easily convinced. He's taking the girl's body over to Crump's place as we speak."
"Here he comes," Newly said lowly as the hillman entered a few moments later.
"Festus," Abelia said sliding into his arms. "I was so worried about you."
The hillman shivered as he wrapped his arms around Abelia and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her scent soothed his worries at least temporally.
"I'll take you home," Abelia said looking at Kitty. "Will you see the children to Ma's tonight?"
"Of course," Kitty said knowingly.
"Hold on," Doc said grabbing his black bag. "That arm needs tending to, I'll come with you."
Abelia nodded as she kept a solid arm around Festus all the way home.
Once there, Abelia help Festus into a chair by the fire place as as stroked up the fire in the stove.
Doc set about cleaning the wound in Festus arm as Abelia put on a fresh pot of coffee.
"Wanna talk about," the physician said gently.
"No," Festus said firmly. "Don't ask me again!"
"Festus," Abelia said kneeling at his side. "Doc's just trying to help."
"I don't want it," Festus replied harshly. "And I don't need it. Go home Doc!"
Doc sighed as he took out a vial from his bag. "Give him these before he goes to sleep tonight and come get me if he has any trouble with that wound," he said softly handing Abelia two white pills.
The woman nodded and put them in the pocket of her dress.
"Get some sleep," Doc said looking at the hillman. "I'll come by tomorrow," he said looking at Abeila.
"That wasn't very nice," Abelia said once Doc was gone. "Let me help you get cleaned up and we'll go to bed."
"Don't feel like movin," Festus replied staring at the fire. "I'm a stay here tonight."
"You sure," Abelia said not wanting to press the issue. "We haven't slept apart since we got married."
"I'm sure," Festus said not meeting her eyes.
"Alright," Abelia replied taking a crochet blanket and covering the hillman with it. "I'll make you something to eat then."
"No thanks," Festus said. "And I don't want nothing ta drink, don't need those pills Doc gave ya neither."
Abelia sighed as she ran a hand along Festus cheek. "You won't even tell me, your wife, what happened out there?"
"Maybe tomorrow," he said closing his eyes.
Abelia got up several times to check on Festus and each time he was asleep. Finally succumbing to sleep herself, she awoke the next morning to find Festus had already gone.
Quickly changing, she pulled back her hair and left the house with every intention of giving him a piece of her mind.
Opening the front door, she saw Doc coming up the path.
"Morning," Doc said once he was on the front porch. "I came to see how Festus is this morning."
"I wish I knew," Abelia said crossing her arms. "He's not here, I woke up this morning and he was gone."
"Let's check over at the jail," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "Maybe he wanted to talk to Matt about what happened."
Abelia nodded as she pulled the door shut. "Maybe," she said as they walked together toward the jail.
Matt stepped out of the jail and headed to the Long Branch as Doc and Abelia came down the boardwalk together. "How's Festus this morning," he said looking from Abelia's surprised expression to Doc's
"Well," Doc said tugging on his earlobe. "We thought he was with you."
"You mean," Matt said. "He's not with you."
"No," Abelia said hotly. "He was gone when I woke up this morning."
"Marshal," Louie said running up to the three.
"What is it Louie," Matt said as the town drunk looked as Abelia.
"Ya might want ta take a look inside the Bull's Head," he said lowly.
"Why Louie," Matt said. "Is there a fight or something?"
"Not yet," he said pulling on Matt's arm. "It's Festus, he's in the saloon and he's really drunk!"