"My god," Abelia sobbed as Festus stood up to follow Johnny out the door with Matt.
"Your honor," the Prosecutor said angrily. "Deputy Haggen can't just walk out of here."
"Watch me," Festus said looking at the man as Matt looked at the judge.
"Let's go," the Marshal said as Brooker nodded his head.
"Marianne," Festus said dropping to his knees beside the blond headed child after he pushed his way though the crowd that had gathered.
"Let me though," Doc yelled pushing though the crowd just behind the hillman. "Don't touch her!"
Festus watched as his friend lifted Marianne's eye lids, then felt for a pulse before sliding his hands behind her neck.
Nodding his head, he looked at Festus before he spoke. "Put one hand under her head and the other under her back and carry her up to my office," he said as the hillman followed the Doctors orders. "Be careful not to jostle her."
"Alright everyone," Matt yelled. "Go on about your business."
"Jake Guthrie's at the hotel Marshal," Newly said after checking with the clerk.
"Alright," Matt said heading in the direction of the Dodge House. "Let's pay Mr. Guthrie a visit."
"Put her here," Doc said moving the pillow off his exam table. "Just lay her down flat."
Festus nodded as he gently laid the girl down and then stepped back.
"She's gonna be alright, ain't she Doc? Festus asked as Abelia took the girls hand.
Doc put on his glasses before picking up an ophthalmoscope and using it to look in Mariannes eyes, ears and nose before nodded.
"There's no intracranial bleeding," he said turning the girl's head. "Looks like just a severe concussion but this gash is going to require a few stitches."
"Why hasn't she woke up yet," Abelia asked rubbing the girls hand.
"It's normal," Doc said taking off his glasses. "She'll come to in a bit."
"Open up Guthrie," Matt said knocking on the man's door. "We want to talk to you about the girl."
"It was an accident Marshal," the man said though the door. "I didn't mean to hurt her!"
"Open the door and we'll talk about it," Matt said firmly.
Guthrie opened the door slightly which gave Matt the chance to push it open and grab the man by the arm.
"C'mon Guthrie," Matt said. "You're going to jail."
"On what charge Marshal," Guthrie said trying to pull his arm away. "I told ya I didn't do anything!"
"Trying to coerce a child into lying and then assaulting his sister," Matt said leading the man out of the hotel. "I'm sure the judge will have something to say about that!"
"Doc," Festus said standing next to Abelia as Marianne started to stir.
Doc shuffled over to the exam table as the seven year old opened her eyes.
Marianne looked from Doc to Abelia and Festus before she spoke. "I'm hungry!"
Abelia smiled as she brushed the hair from Marianne's face.
"I'll bring you something in a bit," Abelia said as Doc nodded.
"I want to have a look at you first honey," Doc said peering into the child's eyes. "Do you hurt any where?"
"Just my head," Marianne said then looking at Festus.
"Papa, that man was trying to hurt Johnny," she said alarmed.
"Wal it's alright now," Festus said smiling. "I'm gonna go jaw with yer uncle Matt bout that, let yer Ma and Doc here tend ta you."
Marianne nodded as Festus kissed Abelia before leaving Doc's office.
"Matthew," Festus said entering the jail. "You got that Guthrie fella, did ya?"
"Yep," Matt said signing some paper work. "I just drew up the charges on him, how's Marianne?"
"Doc says it's a bad concussion," Festus replied relived. "She'll be alright in a day or two."
"That's good news," Matt said looking up in surprise as judge Brooker walked in.
"Judge," Matt said handing him the paper work. "I was just getting ready to come see you."
"No need to Matt," the Judge said taking the papers and handing him a different one.
"How's you daughter, Deputy? Brooker said looking at Festus.
"She'll be alright, Judge," Festus replied inquisitively looking at Matt.
"This is your ruling Judge?" Matt asked as Brooker nodded.
"Yes," he said nodding his head. "I see no reason to put Deputy Haggen on trial for a murder he obviously didn't commit. After the boys testimony and the evidence that Doctor Adams presented to me about the location of the gun shot, it's highly unlikely anything else took place."
"Alright," Matt said with a grin. "Festus your a free man again."
Festus nodded as he opened the door for the Judge. "Thank you yer honor," he said as the man nodded.
"Well," Matt said looking toward the door where the cells were located. "Guess I better deliver the good news to Mr. Guthrie."
"That alright Matthew," Festus said with a mischievous grin. "Let me do it!"
"And then you know what happened?" Doc said looking at Marianne and Jonathan.
"What?" they both said in unison.
"Jack chopped down that bean stock and the giant fell off and died!"
"Aww foot," Festus said scrunching up his eye. "Ain't never heard of such."
"It's a fairy tale, Festus," Doc said.
"Why'd a fairy want ta tell a tale like that fer?" Festus replied waving his hands. "And why ya tellin youngin's such stuff, tell em sumthin true."
Doc wiped his mustache before he replied. "First off, a fairy didn't tell it and that's what makes kids have imaginations."
Festus scoffed. "Ya mean that's what makes em tell tall tales, don't ya!"
"Alright children," Abelia said stepping onto the front porch of their house. "Supper's ready, get washed up."
Marianne and Johnny raced inside as Abelia looked at Festus and Doc. "That goes double for you two!"
Doc grinned. "I think she means you," he said pushing past Festus.
"Naw, now you ol scudder," Festus said following the older man inside. "Yer the one acting like a child!"
Abelia looked at the twins asleep in their basket. "Just once I'd like a quite Sunday dinner, wouldn't you?"