"All aborad!" the conductor yelled out to the small crowd on the Wichita Station platform, as he ushered people along the boardwalk to the various waiting passenger cars. Matt snorted, "They sure don't get credit for manners, huh, Doc?" he looked over to his friend.

"I think you're just being too cynical," Doc said as he swiped his right hand across his moustache, "trying to get this crowd moving makes herding cats look easy! At this rate we'd make it to Dodge before the train if we walked," Doc grumbled.

"Who's calling the kettle black?" Matt scoffed and Doc shot a look at the marshal. "I some times wonder why I hang around with you," Doc grumbled again as he stepped up into the passenger car and walked down the narrow aisle and took a seat near the middle of the car at the window. Matt settled in next to the doctor, "I think Jonas' wife is in that back there," Matt mused.

"Oh?" Doc looked over his shoulder and then back to Matt, "That will be a good thing for Jonas. I actually think he missed her!" Doc joked.

"Well, after that last ordeal, I'm sure he'll welcome some decent meals and gentle hands to care for him," Matt smiled.

Doc also smiled and shook his head, "I still can't believe he almost made it to Cimarron on foot with those busted ribs."

Matt smiled, "Sometimes personal goals grow out of personal pain, I suppose. Nonetheless, I'm glad he did what he did."

"Oh, don't get me wrong! So am I. I just didn't figure he had it in him, that's all," Doc looked over to Matt and then back over his shoulder and finally spotted Ellen Jonas near the rear of the car.

Ellen didn't see Doc or Matt, as she watched out the window as the train began to move. She sighed and knew by night fall she would be home with her husband, Wilbur. She'd received several letters while she visited her sister, the latest recounting the story of Frank Dunlop and his men, and a little about Wilbur's trek. He did tell her he'd been injured but not to worry and all she could do was to smile. She knew Wilbur wanted to be stronger in the community, and personally so she decided that she'd stay the full three weeks with her sister, rather than rush home to be by her husband's side. She felt it would be good for him, and little did she know, she was right.

Ellen opened her small carpet bag pulled out some cotton and a crochet hook and began to work on the doily they had started while she was away. This seemed like a good way to pass the time and preoccupy oneself until the train reached Dodge.

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Kitty Russell had just finished with her books as Sam arrived to begin his day, "Good morning, Miss Kitty," the tall bar keep smiled.

"Good morning, Sam," Kitty smiled back. "Hope business is as good today as it was yesterday she sad while picking up the books and headed to her office.

Sam smiled, "It was a busy one," he said as he removed his coat and hat before putting on his white apron. His next chore was to set the chairs down on the floor which he quickly busied himself doing.

Kitty walked back out in the main area of the Long Branch and walked behind the bar to finished drying a few glasses, "It's another beautiful day," she said while looking out the door.

"That it is," Sam said as he walked back to the bar, "And maybe that's why business has been good," he smiled.

"Oh, I think you might be on to something, Sam," Kitty winked and they both laughed and looked at each other as the familiar jingle of large spurs grew louder as did the humming that often accompanied them. Festus stopped at the swing doors and looked in, "Mornin' Miss Kitty! Sam," he chirped as pushed through the doors into the saloon.

"Well, good morning to you too," Kitty smiled and leaned on the bar, "You are certainly in a good mood this morning," she said and winked at Sam.

"I am and you want to know why?" Festus leaned on the bar and scrunched up his right eye and waited for Kitty to bite.

"Why?" she said dryly.

"Cause I have been yapped at or poked at fer three whole days and I'm gonna make the most out of this day I have left," Festus poked his index finger onto the top of the bar to make his point.

"Are you planning on going somewhere?" Sam asked, knowing full well what the deputy meant.

"No, I ain't goin' nowheres. But Doc will be back tonight, and likely just itching to get yappin' at me fer no-good reason!"

"Oh. I see," Kitty said as she played along with Sam.

"I swear, Miss Kitty, ifin ol' Doc ain't squakin' about me, he's harpin' at some other poor fella..." Festus shook his head.

Kitty shrugged, "Festus, did you ever think, that maybe he does that because he cares about you?"

Festus huffed, "Ah, fiddle sticks, Miss Kitty. He does it 'cause he likes it. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to continue to enjoy my day," he tipped his hat and swiftly left the saloon. Both Kitty and Sam laughed again.

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Doc watched out the window and Matt read over some letters and notes he received while in Wichita; his silence was broken by Doc, "I think every time I travel past here, there are more and more homesteads," he said to no one in particular.

"Well, it seems to reason Doc, everyone is moving west with big dreams of one sort or another," Matt offered as he folded the letters and stuffed them into his vest pocket.

Doc sighed, "I guess one day, there won't be much left of the wild west, that we know..."

Matt chuckled, "You sound like you're getting all sentimental on me," Matt smiled at his friend. Doc shot his a cold look, "you hush your mouth, Doc scolded with a hint of humour, "if that got out, it would be the end of me. Furthermore," he waged his index finger at the marshal, "I just might be a little bit homesick. Wichita has a bad habit of that..." Doc drew his hand across his moustache.

"Well, relax. We'll be in Dodge in just over eight hours," Matt stated and then settled back into his seat and pulled his hat down over his eye. "Try and keep your enthusiasm down, will you Doc?" he grinned.

Doc was about to say something in retaliation, but gave up. Instead the physician folded his arms across his chest and pushed back into his seat and watched the scenery going by.