As he entered the Long Branch Doc took one look at Kitty and saw the worry in her eyes. Doc knew there was only man who Kitty would fret about that much.

"Good morning Kitty, Matt not back yet?"

"No, but I'm not unduly worried," Kitty lied, "it's only 1 day."

Matt almost always sent a wire if he was going to be more than a day late. Doc looked out the door at the thick layer of snow on the street and the blizzard still raging through the town.

"Maybe he decided to wait out the storm or he was on the way and took shelter."

"Yes, but he had flu."

Doc nodded wondering if the flu had got worse.

"I wish he'd been able to take Buck with him," Kitty said.

"Yes, he would turn up lame at the wrong time."

Buck had stepped on a devil thorn while Matt was out hunting which had probably contributed to Matt getting the flu in the first place. Doc had tried to get him to put off the trip to Hays but Matt had refused citing duty and the fact that a man's life hung on his testimony. If Matt could get there on time he might be able to prevent a miscarriage of justice.

The trial had taken longer than Matt had expected and now he would be at least a day late getting back to Dodge. Matt was riding one of his government issue horses, he'd never named either of those horses. Then Yorky had given him Buck and he'd proven to be the best horse he owned. Matt found himself planning his reunion with Kitty. He was jolted out of his reverie as the bay under him slipped on an icy patch and went down. Matt just had time to throw himself clear of the falling horse he landed on his back in the snow. Matt rose to his feet then checked the horse he sighed and pulled his gun the horse had broken its right front leg. He removed the saddle and set out, it was getting late Matt remembered an abandoned farmstead he headed for it hoping to take shelter in the barn.

Matt's chest felt tight as he coughed while he walked on he had expected to see the house in darkness but when he got near he saw a light in the window. He stepped up onto the stoop and that's when everything went black and he fell to his knees. A young woman opened the door guessing the situation instantly. She gripped his wet coat and tried to lift him.

"Come on Mister get up I can't carry you."

Matt struggled to his feet standing leaning on her heavily he muttered that he was sorry. She ignored him and guided him into the house and to a bedroom. She pulled the bed clothes down.

"You're soaked to the bone, give me your clothes I'll get them dry in front of the fire. I'll bring coffee and some blankets."

Matt's fingers felt llike blocks of ice as he fumbled with buttons until he stood precariously in omly his union suit. She returned not long after cast a gaze at the pile of clothes catching sight of his badge she looked at him.

"Union suit too Marshal or do I have to take it from you."

Matt looked like he wanted to object but he wasn't sure she couldn't do it in his present condition.

"Towel yourself down with this," she handed one of the blankets to him. "Wrap yourself in the rest and get in bed."

"What's your name? I can't keep calling you Marshal."

"Matt Dillon, I'm the marshal for Dodge City. What about you I thought this place was abandoned?"

"Moved in a month ago. My name's Beth Morgan."

Beth pulled the bed clothes up over him.

"Get some sleep."

Then looked down to see that he was already asleep. She took the clothes to the front room the clothes airer already set up in front of the fire she draped the clothing up over it. Then she set about making a meal of Son of a Gun stew knowing that a man of Matt's size would support a large appetite. Later she heard him coughing and went in to see him struggling for breath she remembered when her dad had been like that he'd only been able to breath when propped up she got more pillows and managed to lift Matt up long enough to get the pillows under him. Now Matt breathed easier she went to check on the stew, once it was ready she put a couple of heels of bread and a bowl of the stew on a tray and ttok it through to find Matt awake.

"Here I just made some ..."

"Son of a Gun Stew," Matt's grin told her it was a favorite meal.

"Yeah," she put the tray on his lap. "Is there anyone I should inform about this?"

"Doc Adams in Dodge City ask him to tell Festus Haggen to take over for a bit. He'll probably come out to check on me."

"Is there anyone else who needs to know?"

"If you mean am I married no there's no wife just a good friend she'll probably come with Doc."

His grin told Beth that she was more than a good friend.

"Your friend wouldn't be Kitty Russell?" Matt grinned. "Right when my hired hand gets here I'll send him in to Dodge."

She left him to his meal and went out to the stoop remembering that Matt had dropped his saddle when he fell she lifted it onto the hitching rail. Seeing Pete arrive she waved him over.

"Pete I want you to ride into Dodge go see Doc Adams. Give this note to Doc Adams, he'll do the rest."

"Someone hurt only I found a horse dead in the lower pasture. Broken leg it seems his rider shot him."

"He isn't hurt just real sick the flu or something."

"I'll be back faster than you can say rat run over the roof with a piece of raw liver in his mouth."

"Pete remind me to ask you where you learned that saying."

"My mam was hill folk I think her uncle said it a lot. Reckon I better be going."

Pete rode as fast as he could mindful of the conditions underfoot, it was early evening when he arrived by the stairs leading up to Doc's office he dismounted and walked up to Doc's door and knocked. Doc opened the door for him. Pete handed him the note. Doc read it quickly and started to get his bag ready.

"You going back tonight?" Doc asked.

"Yes, sir should be there early tomorrow morning. Told her I'd be back faster than she could say rat run over the roof with a piece of raw liver in his mouth."

"Don't tell me you're a Haggen?"

"No, sir I'm a Walters it's my ma who was a Haggen."

"Well you head back and tell Miss Morgan that I'll be there directly."