It was 3AM in Dodge City. A cold wind was cutting through the mild fall air, perhaps a harbinger of things to come.

The sagebrush that was being bounced down Front Street by that wind was the only thing moving. Everything, even the saloons, had been long locked up for the night, and the citizens of Dodge were asleep in their beds. Louis Pheeters, being the last to leave the last saloon to shut its door, had hours ago been staggering down the street alone, but the marshal, knowing Louis had no place to stay, had gently taken him by the arm and led him to the back cell of the jail house. Said marshal left Louis in an unlocked cell and went up the back stairs of the Long Branch to the beautiful redhead who was waiting for him with a smile and a passionate kiss.

Now at 3 AM the marshal was asleep with his arms wrapped around his redhead, her head resting on his chest. They had dozed off after a night of passionate lovemaking and were sleeping contentedly.

As everyone slept and quiet enveloped the town, a woman rode into Dodge astride a white mule. Her dark red skirt flowed down over her legs, and her white blouse almost glowed in the moonlight. Her long hair, which was hanging over one shoulder, was black with streaks of white, and she wore a red and white kerchief on her head. Her age could not be discerned. Someone giving her a quick glance might guess 20. Someone looking closely might guess 50. On the other hand, if questioned, each person might alter their guess by decades.

She rode with her arms hanging down at her sides, as the reins drooped down and swayed with the rhythm of the mule's steps. The animal plodded on unhurriedly but with purpose, and came to a halt in front of the Long Branch Saloon. The mule turned her head and looked at her rider, who then slid off the animal's back and stood in front of the saloon. Standing motionless, the woman closed her eyes. Impressions flooded her – men drinking, painted women in low cut dresses, gambling tables, gloating winners and desperate losers. She went deeper in her concentration – a female with red hair ran this place – a female with a clear, quick mind, and a strong will. The woman opened her eyes. The red head would not accept her offer, this was not the place she needed. She mounted the mule and they plodded on to the next saloon. The woman did not even bother to get off of her mount. One glance and she knew it was not the place she was seeking. It was a saloon that was usually filled with simple farm boys looking for their first taste of women and booze. It would be of no use to her. The mule moved on, and stopped in front of the Lady Gay. The woman dismounted once again and stood in front closing her eyes in concentration. As expected, images of drunks, painted woman and gambling came to her, but there was more. The owner was an overweight man who thought that crooked gambling and fights over his saloon girls were good for business. She looked deeper and saw the shadow of a man hanging over the place. He was a big man of tremendous authority whose presence restored order, but the shadow although strong, faded now and then. The man could not be everywhere at once.

She opened her eyes and looked at the mule, "Well Muma, this is the place. Let's set up camp outside of town and return at noon. I'll be looking for the owner of the Lady Gay. He is a very fat man with no morals. He will not be hard to find."

The mule turned her head towards the street as the woman mounted and they plodded on out of town.

Later that Morning

It was 6AM. Matt Dillon was out of bed and dressing quietly so as not to wake Kitty. He was pulling on his boots when she turned over and sleepily opened her eyes, "Good morning Cowboy."

Matt sat down on the side of the bed and kissed her lips. "Good morning. I'm sorry I woke you, go back to sleep."

Kitty smiled as her eyes closed, "Mmm, I'm going to. I love you."

Matt smiled at his sleeping beauty and whispered, "I love you too."

After leaving by the back stairs, Matt walked out into the hazy, dawn air. All was quiet but as was his habit, he went on an early morning walk around Dodge. It was not something he demanded of his deputies when he was away, but when he was in town he made a point of doing it. He liked to feel the town slowly coming to life, to feel its mood, almost like a physician taking a patient's pulse.

After his walk Matt went to his office. Louis Pheeters was still snoring in the back cell, and Festus hadn't arrived yet. Matt set the coffee pot on the stove, and then sat down at his desk to write some reports.

Suddenly his door burst open and three people rushed in, all talking at once. Matt held up his hand, "One at a time." The three looked at each other, and Mr. Quince a local pig farmer stepped forward and spoke first, "Marshal, several of my pigs wandered off onto my neighbor's property, and he refuses to return them."

Mr. Quince was barely finished when Mrs. Trim started talking, "Marshal, when I got up this morning my son Jake was missing. Now I know Jake is 16 and lot's of folks say he's old enough to be out there on his own, but he is still my son, and I am worried."

Mrs. Trim had just about finished when the third person spoke loudly, "Marshal, I'm new in town. My name is Daniel Warren. I got up this morning and discovered that the money I won last night at a gambling table is missing. I know I was pretty drunk, and may have lost count of how much I had, but I know I had more than I have now. I demand your help."

Matt looked from one to the other and then glanced with resignation at the pot on the stove, knowing that the coffee wouldn't be ready for at least 10 minutes. He stood up and put on his hat wishing he could be in three places at once, "Mr. Quince I'll ride out to your place with you, Mrs. Trim after that I'll look for your boy. Mr. Warren, I ask that you count your money again, and try to remember just how much you had. After I finish this other business I'll look into your missing money.

The three citizens walked out the door with Matt following, wishing he had had time for breakfast or even just a cup of coffee before having to settle a pig dispute, look for a lost teenager, and investigate a theft.

The Woman and the Mule

The woman was sitting on the side of the lake as the sun rose. She was staring down into the water thinking about Dodge City, and her concentration was such that the water seemed to reflect an image of the town. She threw a pebble into the water, the image dissipated and she rose to fix breakfast.

TBC.