Samuel Baker rode back the encampment as Frank Hannon just set another log on the fire. Hannon looked up with a sly smile on his face knowing full well what the rider was about to say to the group of men. Dust followed the horse and finally enveloped them as he pulled it to a sharp stop and quickly dismounted.
Clarke Rusland stepped toward the man, "well?" he questioned.
"Everything is ready. The marshal left for Buckner this morning with a few men. Sounds like they had some trouble over that way," Baker gaffed.
The rest of the men gathered around Rusland, "Well that is very good news," he smiled as he drew a deeply satisfying puff on his cigar. "Looks like we're in business tomorrow night in Dodge, boys," he looked at the men; all of them looking eager to get started and add to their bounty from Buckner and Pratt.
"Make sure that wagon is cover and out of sight. I have a feeling it will be over flowing after tomorrow," Rusland ordered with an evil grin.
The other men laughed as they went to work covering the wagon with a tarp and branches. Rusland watched on and then looked out to the horizon. Dodge City was just over the hills and if his timing was just right, he'd clean out the town.
It was late in the day, almost dusk as Matt and Festus rode into Buckner to be greeted by an angry group of citizens outside the sheriff's office, all of whom were demanding answers. Hank Fuller was going his best to calm the townsfolk down after the early morning raid. Fuller was grateful to see the marshal from Dodge.
"Matt!" Fuller said as he pushed his way through the group to meet the marshal and his deputy. "Glad to see you here," Fuller sputtered.
Matt stepped down off his horse and looked around, "What happened?" he asked as he also knew of the raid in Pratt earlier in the week.
"A mangy group of men came storming through and robbed the bank and shipping depot before shooting their way out of town. We got a few of them, but the rest got away," Fuller informed the marshal.
Matt had his thumbs tucked into his belt before he handed off his reigns to Festus. "Where are the ones you got?" he asked the sheriff.
"Over at the undertakers," Fuller thumbed over his shoulder up the street.
Matt nodded, "I want to look at them," he stated. Fuller nodded and walked up the street with the marshal. "How many do you think there were?" Matt asked as he glanced over to the Pratt sheriff. Festus followed along with the marshal's horse and his mule.
Fuller shrugged, "They moved through here fast, Matt. They must have scouted us out first to know where everything is." he sighed. "We got three, and there may have been another nine," he said as they stopped at the undertaker's door.
Matt pursed his lips – he didn't like the thought of that many men getting away. "Festus, I want you to look for tracks to see if you can figure out where they were headed," he said directly to the hill man.
"You betcha, Matthew," Haggan said with a tick of his head and handed Matt the reigns to his horse, before he mounted his mule.
"Come back here when you find anything," Matt urged.
Festus nodded and was on his way.
Fuller led Matt into the back room where the three men were stretched out on bare wooden tables. Matt looked down at their faces as they stared up blankly. "I can't say I've seen them before," he said looking over to Fuller. "Me neither," the sheriff added with a slight shrug.
Matt straightened his back, "I'm sure you've heard that the same thing happened in Pratt," he said more as a statement than a question. Fuller nodded. "I don't know if anyone was killed there," he said lowly.
"Did anyone get hurt here?" Matt stepped from around one of the table.
"Mr. Walsh, the banker was shot. The doc isn't sure he'll make it," Fuller stated. Matt nodded knowing he had to catch this gang of raiders and soon.
"What kind of losses are we talking about?" Matt then asked.
Fuller scratched his chin trying to remember what the banker's teller told him, "About two thousand from the bank, and Fred at the shipping depot said that some high-end merchandise for the store. According to Nat, the store owner," he added, "the items were on order for a Mr. Johnston," the sheriff said. "Johnston carries a lot of weight in Buckner," Fuller stated.
"Has anyone checked in on him?" Matt asked.
"No, but I guess we should," Fuller quickly walked to the door, with Matt hot on his heels.
News finally reached Dodge about the two raids and the townsfolk grew uneasy. Doc and Kitty stood at the long dark-wooden bar at the Long Branch. Doc was nursing a whiskey as they chatted about the news, "Well it would certainly be cheeky and stupid if they tried a third raid in as many days," Doc muttered. "Every law man in Ford County will be looking for them," his eyes lifted to Kitty's. Kitty frowned and sipped on her brandy. "Well, I hope that Matt and Festus can stop them," she said. Everyone in town knew that they were sitting ducks.
"We'll just have to be more vigilant," Doc said as he set his cup down. "I can only imagine what Jonas is thinking right now!" he said ticking his head.
Before the doctor even finish, the store owner stepped through the swing-doors of the saloon, "Doc?" he called from the doorway as he slowly made his way to the bar.
"Jonas?" Adams looked over his shoulder before turning to Jonas.
"I guess by now you've heard what happened to Pratt and Buckner," Jonas gulped slightly; his eyes scanning the room.
Doc nodded, "I have," he declared.
Jonas' eyes then locked onto the doctors, "Well? You're on the safety commission too. What are we going to do?" the store owner asked as he nervously wrung his hands with his apron.
Doc glanced over to Kitty and then back to the store owner, "We're just going to have to assume that the raiders will not strike another town anytime soon. Just be extra vigilant. Maybe we can have business shut down earlier than usual for the next few days," the doctor added.
Jonas nodded, "That sounds reasonable," he said somewhat satisfied that at least something was being done. "I'll talk to Newly and we'll try and get the word out," Jonas left the saloon as quickly as he came.