"The coroner's jury meets next week," Matt said holstering his revolver. "Don't you think it's time to stop running?"

"I suppose it is Matthew," Festus said looking back at James. "Guess I got ta own up ta what I did."

Matt nodded as he looked beyond the hillman. "I guess so."

Festus walked out as James looked up at him. "He gonna arrest you Festus?"

"Oh no," Festus said with a smile taking a seat beside the boy. "But I do have ta go back."

"I understand," James said as Matt stepped out of the store.

"Festus," he said looking at the boy. "You ready to go?"

"Sure am Matthew," Festus said looking at the boy.

"I got those fellas all ready to go Marshal," Thad said stepping out of the general store.

"Alright," Matt said with a nod. "Let's get going.

Matt turned the men that had been harassing Esther Harris and her family over to the local Sheriff before retrieving Festus mule and gun which Matt turned over to Thad until after the coroner's jury met.

* Dodge *

Kitty shook her head as Doc Brown spouted off in the Long Branch later that night, about the night Festus shot Sandy.

"How long he been doing that?" Doc said walking in.

"At least the last hour," Kitty said sighing as the man asked for another whiskey.

Kitty shook her head when Sam looked in her direction but before the man could protest, Doc Brown's assistant pushed open the doors of the Long Branch.

"The Marshal is back!" she yelled at the man who owned the Medicine Show. "And he's got the man that shot Sandy!"

Kitty looked at Doc as the Long Branch all at once cleared out when Doc Brown followed his assistant out the door.

Doc took Kitty's arm as they stepped outside the saloon and started for the jail.

Matt and Thad climbed down off their horses as Festus got off of Ruth.

"That's him," Doc Brown yelled at Matt. "He's the one that murdered Sandy!"

"Thad," Matt said looking at the younger man. "Take Festus inside."

"I want him charged with murder, Marshal!" Doc Brown said looking around. "You all heard the Marshal, he said anyone left alive in a gun fight would be charged with murder."

"That's what I said alright," Matt replied as Doc and Kitty slid past him. "The corner's jury will determine if what happened was murder first, then there will be charges!"

"I'm not waiting for no jury," Doc Brown yelled. "Charge him now!"

"I'm not going to stand here and argue with you," Matt said with finality. "Next week we'll find out."

"You better keep him locked up Marshal," Doc Brown fumed.

"I'll do what I have to," Matt said evenly turning around, he entered the jail.

Matt sighed deeply as he stepped inside his office, Doc and Kitty glared at him as he closed the door.

"Well," Kitty said looking at the tall Marshal. "How can you bring Festus in for murder?"

"I haven't charged him with murder," Matt said looking at the hillman sitting at the table in the middle of his office. "But I have to bring him in, you all know that!"

"It's wrong Matt," Kitty said passionately. "Thad and I both saw Festus go for his belt, that Sandy kid could have killed him!"

"I know that," Matt said slowly. "He'll have his day in court. In the meantime, he'll have to stay away from Doc Brown."

"And how do you propose to do that," Doc said angrily.

"Keep him here," Matt said firmly.

Doc tugged on his earlobe before putting a hand on Festus arm. "Kitty said, you got hit?"

"Ain't nothin," Festus groused. "Bullet just grazed me."

"Well, it still needs tending to," Doc said harshly.

"Festus," Matt said gently. "Go with Doc."

"Alright, Matthew," Festus replied standing up.

"Thad," Matt said watch Festus and Doc stepping out the door. "You better go with them just incase there's trouble."

"Alright, Matt," Thad said following Doc and Festus outside.

"Well," Kitty said crossing her arms. "What are you going to do now?"

"I really don't know," Matt stated grimly.