~10~

Will was lying across her bed fully clothed in the dark with her stomach in knots. She couldn't stop thinking about Festus up at Doc's. She knew Doc wouldn't let her back in to see him until tomorrow afternoon.

She let out a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. She heard Kitty's footsteps coming down the hall and stop at her door. Will wasn't in the mood to talk, so she didn't make a sound. After a few heartbeats, she heard Kitty move on and go into her room next door.

Will tossed and turned for over a half hour until she finally gave up and got off the bed, grabbed her coat, hat, gun belt and left. She walked down Front Street towards the edge of town arriving at Festus's place. Will went inside and started a fire in the stove to warm the room. She hung her coat and hat on the peg by the door, and turned down the bed. Will undressed down to her union suit and climbed into bed. If she couldn't watch over Festus this was the next best thing.

The next morning Matt walked into the Long Branch and went straight to the end of the bar where Kitty was drinking a cup of coffee. "Morning, Kitty."

"Morning, you want a cup of coffee?" Kitty offered.

"No thanks, Kitty. I'm here to see Will."

"She hasn't been down yet this morning." She told him.

Matt pushed his hat up his forehead. "You mind if I go up and get her?"

"What's going on, Matt?" Kitty asked with a worried look.

"Unfinished business from last night."

"Wait here and I'll go get her for you." Kitty told him.

Matt leaned against the bar and watched Kitty go up stairs. A few moments later Kitty came out on the walkway and placed her hands on the railing. "Matt, she's not here and her bed hasn't been slept in."

"We saw her go upstairs last night. Did you see her when you turned in last night?" Matt asked.

"No." Kitty answered as she descended the stairs.

"Well, when she turns up will you let me know?"

"You know I will. In the meantime you might want to check Doc's."

"Why Doc's?"

Kitty put her hands on her hips. "Sometimes what you notice about a woman you could fit in a thimble."

"You mean Festus and Will…" Matt broke off as Kitty nodded her head. Matt tucked his thumbs in his gun belt. "Well that rascal." Matt rocked back on his heels, "I'll see ya later, Kitty." Matt turned and headed out the door

Matt entered Doc's office. "Doc?" he called out.

"In here, Matt." Doc called from the other room.

Matt walked into the other room. Doc had just finished changing Festus's bandage. "Morning, Doc, Festus. Is he giving you trouble, Doc?"

Doc took his glasses off and put them in his pocket. "No more than usual."

"Awe foot I've don no such a thang." Festus refuted.

"Festus, has Will been here today?" Matt asked.

"No, why?" Festus told him.

"I just need to clear up a few details is all."

"She was here last night, Matt. I told her I didn't want to see her back here before noon." Doc divulged.

"I have to get back to the jail. I'll stop back by around noon." Matt informed them.

"See ya then, Matthew."

After Matt left Doc's he stood on the boardwalk wondering where to look for Will, when he suddenly had a thought and headed towards the edge of town. Matt shook his head when he saw smoke coming out of the stovepipe of Festus home. Matt knocked on the door, "Will, its Matt Dillon."

The door swung open. "Is something wrong with Festus?" Will asked, with concern.

"No, he's fine. I came out here to see you." Matt told her as he walked in.

Will closed the door behind Matt. "Me?"

"Have a seat, Will."

Will sat down at the table. "What happened?"

Matt took a seat next to Will. "Judge Danby is in town and we have to be in front of him with Avery and Powell this afternoon at one."

"I'll be there, Marshal."

"Good, I gotta make my rounds so I'll see ya then." Matt said getting up from the table, and leaving.

Kitty was behind the bar cleaning glass when a stranger came into the bar. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, average height and build, salt-n-pepper hair, and a horseshoe mustache.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I'm looking for the owner Kitty Russell. Would you be her?" The cowboy asked.

Kitty placed the towel she was using on the bar. "I am." Kitty answered, giving the cowboy a curious look.

The cowboy took his hat off. "I'm Lloyd Pierce. Hank, at the stable, said you'd know where I can find Will Curtis."

"You wouldn't happen to be a foreman for a ranch in Montana?" Kitty wondered.

"Yes, ma'am, I'm foreman of the Bosque Ranch." He told her.

"Will is staying here at the Long Branch, Mr. Pierce."

"Please call me Lloyd."

"As long as you call me Kitty." she smiled. "I'm afraid Will isn't here at the moment."

"Ya mind if I wait here for her to come back?"

"Can I get you anything while you wait, Lloyd?"

"A beer would be fine." Lloyd answered, placing a coin on the bar.

Judge Danby had sentenced Avery and Powell each to two months in jail for their actions, and now Matt had just finished telling Danby what had happened with Kasey Grimes.

Judge Danby leaned back in his chair after Matt finished. "Well, Matt, I have cause for concern here. Willa has had two incidents inside a week, and it makes me wonder if she is a vigilante."

"I see how you might think that, Judge, but I don't believe that's the case here. Willa went to the Bozeman Sheriff when she heard Grimes confess to killing that stagecoach driver. She could have very easily punished him right then. As for last night, she did tell me that Grimes had shot Festus and again easily stopped Grimes by shooting him when she caught up to him outside of town instead of tackling him off his horse."

Judge Danby sat in silence for a few moments. "Would you please have her come in here? I'd like to talk to her."

Matt opened the door and called Will into the courtroom. Will stood in front of Judge Danby with her hat in her hand, and her hair tucked behind her ears.

"Marshal Dillon just finished telling me what happened with Kasey Grimes, and from what I understand this is the first time you have taken a life. Is that true?"

Will looked Judge Danby straight in the eye, "Yes, Judge. Kasey Grimes left me no choice. He was going to stab Marshal Dillon in the heart, killing him." She told him, the last part was a bit shaky.

"The Marshal told me as much." Danby explained.

"I accept whatever punishment I have coming to me, Your Honor."

"Taking a life is serious, Willa. However, you were justified in your actions. Something I feel the Marshal and this town, are grateful for." Danby told her. Simultaneously Will dropped her shoulders in relief as Danby continued. "Now, I hope not to see you back in front of me for the remainder of your time here in Dodge City, young lady."

"I understand, Judge, and thank you."

Danby made a dismissive wave of his hand. "We're done here." He told Matt and Will.

Matt walked into the Long Branch, closing the big outer door against the cold. He looked around the saloon and spotted Kitty at the far end of the bar looking over her ledger and walked straight over to her. "How's it going, Kitty?"

"Well, I wondered if you'd be by again today." She said.

"Why's that?" Matt asked.

"You saw Judge Danby just now, right?"

"Yes."

"So when are you leaving?" She asked, with a touch of disappointment.

Matt pushed his hat higher up his forehead, and with a look of regret he rested his arms on the bar. "By golly, Kitty, I'm sorry. I came by to ask you to dinner later, but since you rather I lea-"

Kitty smacked Matt on the arm. "Oh, you." she said with agitation, before smiling at him. "I'd love to go to dinner with you."

Matt returned the smile. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked her.

"No, thank you. I was just going to have some coffee, care to join me?" she offered.

"That sounds good."

Kitty closed her ledger, "Have a seat. I'll be right back with the coffee." She told him and left through the back hallway door.

Matt no sooner took his coat off and sat down at a table and Kitty came back with a tray of coffee for them. She poured them both a cup of coffee before sitting down next to Matt. "Everything go ok with Judge Danby?" She asked.

Matt took a sip of his coffee. "Yes, he sentenced Avery and Powell to two months each. Newly and I will be taking them to Hays sometime next week after Festus is on his feet."

"What happened with Will?" Kitty wondered.

"Danby ruled that she was justified in shooting Grimes." Matt explained.

"Thank goodness, if he hadn't I was going to hire her a good lawyer." Kitty informed him. "When I think-" she broke off as she blinked back the moisture from her eyes.

Matt patted the back of Kitty's hand. "I know, Kitty."

Kitty cleared her throat. "Any idea where Will went after seeing Judge Danby?"

"She was headed to Doc's, why?" Matt wondered.

Kitty nodded her head towards Lloyd. "That's Lloyd Pierce. He's here to see Will." She told him.

Matt looked over at Pierce and then back to Kitty. "He say what he wants with Will?"

"He's the foreman of the ranch she worked on. I didn't ask him why he was here. All I know about him is what Will has told me. He was her father's best friend who took her in when her parents died."

Will stood at Doc's door and knocked. When her knock went unanswered, she tried the doorknob and found it unlocked and entered the office. She saw the door to the backroom halfway open and went over to it. She topped in her tracks when she heard Doc mention her name.

"...what do you really know about Will other than her name, Festus?"

"She gots a lot of talents, Doc. She's smart as a whip, tough as nails, hard working, loyal, knows the difference betwixed right and wrong, and mighty pretty ta boot."

"So you have strong feelings for her then?"

"Yes 'em."

"Is this a serious relationship? Do you want to make it permanent?" Doc pushed.

"And what if'n I do?"

"Festus, you have only known Will for four days. Don't you think you should get to know her more before you go all in?'

Will knew it was wrong to be listening to this conversation and quietly went back outside and knocked loudly on the door. A moment later Doc opened the door.

"Will, come in."

"Hi, Doc." Will said as she stepped back into the office. "Is it alright if I visit Festus? She asked.

Doc swiped his chin, "Yes, of course."

Will took off her hat and hung it on the coat hook by the door. "Thank you." She told Doc as she walked past him and into the backroom.

Festus's face lit up when he saw Will. "Howdy." he told her.

"How are you feeling?" Will asked.

"Better now that you're here," he smiled.

Will saw the checkerboard on the dresser and pointed to it. "You wouldn't have been beating Doc at checkers, were you?"

"I might've won a game or three."

Will walked over and grabbed the checkerboard. "I'm not going to go easy on you like Doc did."

They played several games until Will noticed how tired Festus was getting.

"Whooee, I won again, Will."

Will picked up the game board, "It's time you got some rest." she told him.

"Awe shucks, I ain't tired."

"Tell your face that." Will put the checkerboard back on the dresser and then sat on the edge of the bed next to Festus. "I want you to rest so you can get better."

Festus took a hold of Will's hand. "I'd rather visit with you."

Will gave him a warm smile. "I know, so would I, but that's not what you need right now. I'll come back later with supper and we'll eat together. Ok?"

"I shore would like that." Festus told her.

Will leaned over and kissed Festus, and he reached up taking a hold of her upper arms deepening the kiss.

Will ended the kiss when she started to feel butterflies in the stomach. "I'll see you later." She told him, then kissed his forehead.

Festus grabbed ahold of Will's hand as she stood up. "Will ya bring me some pie with supper?"

Will chuckled, "Yes, now get some rest." And she left the room.

Doc was sitting at this desk when Will came out from seeing Festus. "Doc, I'm on my way to the Long Branch. Can I buy you a drink?"

Doc perked up. "I'd like that. Just let me grab my coat and hat."

Doc and Will entered the Long Branch and went straight to the bar.

"Sam, two beers please." Will ordered.

Sam filled two mugs with beer and placed them in front of Doc and Will.

"Thank you, Sam." Will told him.

Doc took a drink of this beer. "Thank you for the drink, Will."

"You're welcome, Doc. Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"You don't cotton too much to me, do you?"

Doc sat his beer down and looked at Will. "Well, Willa, I wouldn't go so far as to say that."

"Then what would you say?" Will pushed.

"You're no ordinary woman." Doc explained.

"You got me there, Doc. There aren't very many women drovers. I get the feeling that's not the reason. You mind telling me what is the reason?"

Doc was about to answer, when Matt and Kitty came into the saloon. "Well, Doc, Festus must be doing better if you're over here." Matt commented.

"He's coming along, but it will be a day or two before I want him up and round. He's damn lucky that bullet missed any of his organs, or we'd be having a drink for a different reason."

Kitty was the only one who noticed Will blanch. "Well, that didn't happen and the two of you will be back to bickering soon enough." Kitty told Doc.

"What you mean? We don't bicker." Doc scolded.

"Easy, Doc, no need to take Kitty's head off." Matt reprimanded. "What's put you in such a surly mood?" Matt wondered.

Will downed her beer. "If you will excuse me." Will took a coin out of her pocket and tossed it on the bar. "Next round is on me." She said and walked towards the stairs.

Kitty handed Sam her cloak. "Will you take care of this for me, Sam?" Kitty followed Will. "Wait a minute, Will."

Will stopped at the bottom of the stairs and waited for Kitty. Kitty was halfway to the stairs when Lloyd entered the bar. "Miss Russell." He said, tipping his hat to her.

"Lloyd?!" Will said with a shocked look on her face.

"I was just going to tell you that he came in here looking for you earlier." Kitty explained, before she went back to Matt and Doc.

Lloyd walked over and hugged Will. "It sure is good to see you. Is there somewhere we can talk?"

Will looked over at Kitty, Matt and Doc and then back at Lloyd. "Let's have a seat over here." She told him, leading him to a table at the back of the bar.

Doc leaned over towards Kitty. "Who's that?"

"Lloyd Pierce, Will's boss." She simply stated.

Matt looked at Kitty. "I'll be by later to see you, Kitty."

"Ok, Matt." Kitty smiled.

"I best get back to Festus." Doc added, as both he and Matt left the saloon.

Will put her hat on the table. "How did you know I was here in Dodge?"

Lloyd leaned forward putting his arms on the table. "After you up and quit, I thought you just needed a break and would be back in a few days. Only you didn't come back, so I set out to find you. I went to the Sheriff first. He said you came to see him about Kasey and Ike, and that he thought you were drunk and imagined it. I then spoke to Rosie," Rosie was the local prostitute that Lloyd would spend time with and who knew everything that went on in town. "She told me that you went after Kasey and Ike."

Will looked down at the table. "I killed Kasey." She whispered.

Lloyd reached over and placed his hand on Will's arm. "I know, honey. I heard what happened here. You did the right thing."

Will looked up at Lloyd with tears shimmering in her eyes. "I broke my promise to you."

As soon as Lloyd had discovered how skillful Will was with a gun at an early age, he had made her promise that she would never take a life. "You were twelve when I made you promise that. I knew there would be a day that you would have to take a life, although I prayed it would never happen. I didn't know how to explain that to you at the time. You did it to save a man's life, and a very important one at that."

Will watched as Kitty loaded more wood into the near by stove and then warm her hands in front of it. "When are you heading back to Montana?" Will asked.

"I'm not." Lloyd told her.

Will's brow furrowed. "You're not?"

"Will, I am finally going to Texas to live out the rest of my life where it's warm. I want you to come with me."

Will shook her head. "I can't, Lloyd. I have some business to settle with Ike."

"He's dead, Will."

"What?! How?"

"Willa, I knew something was wrong the next day after that night in town when I saw you. Your account of that night didn't add up to me, so I went into town and spoke to Rosie. She told me that Ike had come to her with a knife wound, and while she was sewing it up he bragged to his buddy how he beat and violated you. I sent the Bailer kid out to the ranch to get John, Tate, and Walker. He'll never do what he did to anyone else, we saw to that. Anyway, what do you say? Will you come to Texas with me?" Lloyd asked again.

"I need some time to think it over." Will voiced.

"I understand. I could use a few days rest."

"Where are you staying?" Will inquired.

"I have a room over at the boarding house. The Russell woman said you were staying here."

Will looked over to where Kitty was still warming her hands. "I am. She was kind enough to put me up when I came here."

"Well, it's been a long days ride. I'm going to get something to eat would like to join me?"

"No thank you." Will gave him a warm smile.

Lloyd stood up and pulled Will into his arms. "I sure have missed you, kid." He said as he hugged her.

"I missed you too, old man." she said with warm affection.

Will sat back down and watched Lloyd leave the saloon. She was still trying to wrap her head around Lloyd showing up out of the blue, confessing what he knew, and asking her to go with him to Texas. She looked down seeing a beer stain on the tabletop and absently traced it with her finger.

Will's feelings were all over the place as she thought of everything that had happened in the past few days. She felt like she was caught in a whirlwind, and didn't know which way she was going to end up. She had originally planned to go to Texas once she had settled things with Grimes and Clayten, but what about Festus. She had just intended it to be a quick fling until she could figure out which direction to go after Grimes. Will never expected her feelings to grown the way they had for him. She needed to clear her head, so she grabbed her hat and left the bar.

TBC