Trama

The Ward gang is on the run after a bank robbery. The gang loses one of the Ward brothers, shot in the stomach, while Abelia and another gang member go to Dodge for a painkiller; in town Festus and Newly have a run-in with the pair. Festus has a tracking job which leads him to Abelia's home where the gang has already taken off southbound. One of Abelia's children is bitten by a snake and Festus stays to help heal her.—moparblock

Abelia's home is invaded by four outlaws, one of whom was wounded in a robbery, who are running from Matt's posse. The gang take Abelia and her two children hostage, forcing her to go to Doc's office to steal the necessary medicine for the wounded man. Festus & Doc get cold-cocked as the outlaws steal the medicine. But Festus wakes up in time to be able to track Abelia's wagon and soon shows up unwanted at her door. The gang is gone, but Abelia still acts guilty, denying that she was ever in Dodge City. Soon the little girl, Marianne, gets bitten by a rattlesnake, and Festus helps her by sucking the poison out of the wound. He learns that the family watched in horror as their grandfather died from a similar snake bite. The kids soon fall in love with Festus and tell him that he can court their mother if he wishes. Abelia assures Festus that they say that to everyone and he shouldn't take it personally. She gives Festus her room for the night while she sleeps with the children, but after Festus goes to bed (in his longjohns) she comes into the room to fetch her nightgown -- and the gang returns. They hold everyone hostage, assuming that Festus is Abelia's husband. Festus waits for the gang to fall asleep and sneaks Abelia and her children into the cellar. One of the guards outside yells that he sees the woman and her kids sneaking off. Meanwhile in Dodge City, Matt talks to Doc about the break-in and starts to put the pieces together. Matt surmises that the gang has a hill-woman hostage whom they are forcing to help them, so he sets off to find them. Festus tries to escape, which brings the gang back to the cabin, but he is unable to break free. Then Abelia comes out of the cellar, causing a commotion that distracts the outlaws. As matters come to head, Matt bursts in and saves the day. Afterward, Festus and Abelia talk about how he can come by Sunday for dinner because she always makes too much. The children say what a wonderful person Festus is, and Abelia agrees that Festus is a very special man. As the episode closes, the children point out that she always says that about their father, too.