Fort Dodge was its regular hustle of activities with rumours of some renegade natives who were training anything they could get for alcohol in order to trade it amongst themselves on the reservations. This activity had been monitored over the past few months by Sergeant Williams and his men. It left and uneasy feeling in the fort.

Williams walked to the window in his office and watched Trooper Dwight Hodgson walked toward the door. Just on time. Williams turned to face the door as it opened and he smiled at the young man.

"Good morning, Trooper," the Sergeant smiled. He was certain that Hodgson was going to go far in the army.

"Fine, sir. Just fine," the tall slim young man smiled with a quick salute.

"Good," Williams smiled back and offered the young man a chair in front of his desk. Hodgson lowered himself into the chair and watched Williams take his seat. Williams folded his arms across in front of him on his desk and studied Hodgson for a moment.

"Do you know why I called for you?" Williams asked.

Hodgson shook his head slowly no.

"As you know, we have a situation with the natives. And in order for me to deal with tis, I have to bring in more troops and with that, a larger payroll," Williams spoke quietly. Hodgson nodded in understanding. Williams paused and stood then walked to the window again.

"How does this affect me, sir," Hodgson followed the Sergeant with his eyes.

Williams remained looking out the widow studying the men inside the fort. "I want you to pick two other men and ride to Dodge City to pick up the payroll that will be coming in on the stage the day after tomorrow. I've ordered compete secrecy on the shipment that will be coming from Wichita, though Grand Bend and then over to Dodge," he said as he slowly turned and looked at his young protege.

Hodgson sat quietly staring at his boss. Williams moved back across the floor and took his seat again. And again the young man's eyes followed this boss. "Are yo up for this job?" Williams asked.

Hodgson thought for a moment and then smiled, "Yes sir, I sure am," he stood and extended his right hand.

Williams also stood and smiled broadly, "Excellent," he took Hodgson's hand and shook it. "Now get your men and be on the road before two o'clock this afternoon," he said as he pulled his pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at it. "That gives you and hour and a half to get your supplies. I also want you to report in before you leave so I know who is with you," Williams gave his orders.

"Yes, sir!" Hodgson saluted and left the office. Outside the building he paused and looked around. His eyes narrowed as they scanned the fort interior for his friends, Frank Elcombe and James Doris.

Once Hodgson spotted Elcombe, he stepped forward and walked across the compound with a purpose.

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Kitty tied the ribbon under her chin and then slightly adjusted her new bonnet. She was slightly grateful that the trial of Bower and Foster wrapped up as quickly as it did. It gave her an opportunity to do some shopping. Matt stepped up behind her in her room, "I figured you'd buy that bonnet," he smiled.

"It's a hat," she smiled and looked over her shoulder. She looked up into Matt's eyes, "I guess the stage will be here soon, huh?"

Matt nodded, "Yeah. I came to carry your bags," he said as he gathered the two carpet bags. Kitty picked up her two boxes of new purchases and followed Matt to the door.

Wilbur Jonas and Doc were waiting on the boardwalk out front of the hotel where the stage coach stopped. Both men were glad the trial was over and they could get back to Dodge and get back into the daily routine that they hadn't enjoyed for more than a week.

Matt sat the carpet bags down on the walk and looked over to Doc and Jonas. He chuckled to himself noting that the two older men seemed to have formed some bond. Matt was glad for both men as they always seemed to be loners, and came across as standoffish, but now they had each other to relate to - especially after their latest "adventure".

Matt stepped over to his friends and tucked his thumbs into his waistband, "I hope you two aren't planning any more extracurricular activities," he joked.

Jonas looked at Matt and his facial expression said it all, "Certainly not," he was almost white with fear, "I've had enough dealings with crooks," he said almost ashamed of his actions.

Matt smiled, "You know, I don't recommend that you ever do what you both did again, but did well for yourselves," Matt said to both Doc and Jonas. Both men exchanged glances, "Thanks, but you have no worries that it will happen again Matt," Doc quipped and Jonas nodded in agreement.

Kitty stood off to the side and watched the three men talking and she couldn't help but smile. Even she could see that Jonas seemed to have come out of a shell and seemed more officious then he used to be, and with Doc, it seemed tenfold. She could only wonder what the future would hold.

"Well, I'm just going to be happy to get back ti Dodge and open my store," Jonas stated as he tried to change the subject.

"I'll be just glad to get back to Dodge and way from here," Doc said as he drew his hand across his moustache and looked up the street to see the stage coach cutting the dust up the street toward the hotel.

Matt smiled and picked up Kitty's luggage, "I think we'll all be glad to get home," he stated.

"Amen to that," Kitty sighed. "I can't remember the last time we had much excitement in Dodge," she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Matt looked at her with a bit of a smile on his face.

"You won't get that again from me," Jonas huffed not catching the joke. Doc bit his lips and then pursed then while looking down at the ground to hide his smile. They were all saved from the slightly awkward situation when the stagecoach finally pulled to a stop. The dust billowed up around the small group on the boardwalk.

One woman and one man stepped down off the stage and as the luggage was loaded and Kitty, Matt, Doc and Jonas settled into their seats to head home, a new team had been changed to the coach. The ride to the next stop would be several hours and it would get them there at dusk. There was a selective sigh of relief as the coach began to move again.