Matt knelt by Kyle Stoner and felt his heart. The boy was gone and the marshal bowed his head for a moment, then looked up as a hand touched his shoulder. Thad was standing beside him, a frightened look on his face. Matt stood up. "Doc throw you out?" Thad nodded and the marshal smiled a little. "Don't take it personal. He's just worried about Festus."

"I know how he feels." Thad's voice was low. "I'll never forget finding Festus in that alley..."

Matt cut him off. "Thad, why don't you get Kyle over to Percy Crump's for me?"

"Sure thing, Matt." The young man seemed grateful to have something to do and he beckoned to a couple of the townsfolk drawn by the shooting. The marshal watched them carry the body away, then looked around the street as if he was not sure what to do next. Kitty was standing by the doors of the Longbranch, and he went to her.

They walked inside and she went over to Sam and spoke to him in a low voice. He nodded and left, Kitty locking the doors behind him. Matt had seated himself at the table nearest the door and was staring blankly into space. He didn't seem to notice as Kitty sat next to him, but when she poured some whiskey he gulped it as if he were dying of thirst. "Thanks, Kitty."

"Have another." She poured and Matt took the glass and raised it to his mouth, then put it down. Kitty spoke gently, trying to control the quiver in her voice. "How bad is it?"

Matt looked at her and his blue eyes were anguished. "I've never seen anyone beaten as badly as Festus was." His voice dropped. "Anyone that lived."

Kitty's mind shied away from the thought of a world without Festus. She tried to sound encouraging. "You know, Festus is pretty tough and Doc...he'll do everything he can."

"Yeah." Matt pressed his hands over his eyes. "I just wish I hadn't snapped at him this morning."

Kitty was startled. "What do you mean?"

The marshal took another pull of whiskey. "Oh, when John Stoner came to pick up Kyle we had words. Kyle accused me of everything under the sun, including having Festus back me up to bring him in, and then John...he was a lawman, you know. Down in Texas." Kitty nodded. "John put his two cents in. Told me he never had anyone cover him to bring in an eighteen year old kid." Matt's voice was bitter. "Kyle shot a man in here last night. Killed him in cold blood, but John acted like he got caught stealing apples! I don't care how old Kyle was, he was mean and dangerous and he went after Festus just to get to me." He swallowed hard. "Festus..."

Kitty touched his hand. "You said you snapped at him this morning."

The marshal shrugged uneasily. "After John left, I told Festus when I wanted him to cover me I'd let him know." He downed his whiskey, but when Kitty raised her eyebrows at the bottle he shook his head. "I know I hurt him, Kitty. I could see it in his face." Kitty was silent. Let him get it out. After a moment he went on. "Festus has always watched my back. Right from the beginning." Matt stopped again and took a deep breath. "If he...if he dies now, like this..." He couldn't go on.

Kitty said quietly, "So that's what he was upset about."

"He told you about it?" asked Matt miserably.

"Oh, yes. That's not the version I heard, though."

"What did he say?"

Kitty looked thoughtful. "Well, he said Kyle got picked up by his father and his brother Woody and they all 'talked a mess of foolishness, upsettin' Matthew' and then he mentioned that he sure didn't blame you none for being riled."

The marshal sat a little straighter. "Festus said that?"

"That's what he said. He also said you have the patience of ten saints and he just hoped someday he could measure up to you."

Matt put his arms around Kitty and held her close. He still didn't know if Festus was going to live and he was sure he was in for more trouble with the Stoners and Kyle's two friends, but he felt comforted all the same.