Matt rode hard back to Dodge. He needed Doc quickly, as the rumour that ol' Charlie MacKay had beat on his wife again reached him and was proven to be not just rumour. Upon Matt's entry to the MacKay home, Matt found the Mrs battered black, blue and bloodied. She needed Doc's help and was in no condition for Matt to bring her into town - at least not that many miles.

What Matt wanted to do to ol' Charlie was unmentionable, but he didn't have to worry; the old man took his own life when Matt threatened to bring him in. What the man did to his wife made Matt's stomach churn.

The summer heat was almost unbearable and a storm loomed in the distance. Being late in the day, Matt figured that Doc would have had most of his appointments out of the way and if not, they could wait as Doc tried to schedule the more important ones for earlier, rather than later.

Matt halted Buck in front of the general Store and scrambled up the stairs to Doc's office. He practically burst through the door almost causing Doc to jump from his chair. "What in thunder is your problem?" The old physician barked.

Matt huffed and pushed his hat back on his head before looping his thumbs into his belt. "Doc I need you to come with me to the MacKay place."

"What did that old buzzard do now?" Doc stood and walked to Matt with deep concern in his crystal blue eyes, pushing his hands down deep into his pockets.

"He almost beat Wilma to death. He got into the hard stuff again..." Matt didn't know what else to tell the doctor as the smaller man stood before him looking more and more angered at Charlie MacKay. "If I get my hands on him..." Doc seethed between his teeth and looked like he was preparing to hunt the man down.

"Don't waste your energy on hating him Doc. He's dead - he killed himself when I told him that I was going to bring him in..." Matt's blue eyes looked down on the doctor knowing full well that if Doc did get his hands on Charlie, he'd kill him flat out.

Doc wiped his hand across his graying moustache and huffed while turning back to his desk before he returned his look to the tall marshal. "Matt. Get my rig ready and I'll meet you at the livery in about ten minutes. I need to pack some things." Doc's eyes drifted back to his desk. "I hate this, you know that."

Matt nodded and reached for the door knob. "I know you do. So do I..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Festus and Thad stepped out of the Long Branch Saloon, having just enjoyed a cold beer in the heat of the day. The both stood on the boardwalk and watch Matt and Doc ride out of town. "Where do you reckon their headed?" Festus's left eye squinted in question as he looked to the lanky younger man next to him. "I don't know. Matt never said anything about being out of town. Guess there is some kind of emergency, otherwise why would Doc be going with him?"

"Wall, Matthew didn't say nothing to me neither. Sure looks a tad strange, don't it?" Festus continued to watch his two friends ride out of Dodge.

Thad shrugged, "I guess they'll tell us when we need to know."

Festus looked up to Thad again. "I suppose yer right..." And then looked back down the street.

In the distance thunder rumbled. Festus looked up into the sky and he didn't like what his senses were telling him.