Matt pulled his coat closer around his neck as the cold northwest wind bit at him. His steel blue eyes scanned the horizon as ho hoped to pick up movement but there was nothing. The Marshal walked back to his horse and climbed up onto the saddle and gave the fresh grave one more look. With a gentle nudge to the flanks with his spurs, Buck moved forward toward Dodge.

The marshal knew that there had been trouble between Frank Dunlop and some buffalo hunters, but he could see that Frank would have actually killed one of them without reason. His ranch lay between the path Matt was taking to Dodge and himself so he took it to mind to drop in on the rancher as he passed by.

Matt had ridden for close to an hour when he finally spotted the Dunlop Ranch and turned Buck in its direction. He cantered his horse through the main gate and up to the farm house.

Frank and his son, William, were busy in the corral trying to tame a mustang they had manage to snag on the ranch, "That's impressive animal," Matt said as he leaned over to his saddle horn and watched the men work the black horse.

"Impressive and bullheaded," Frank said as he left his son and climbed over the fence, "What brings you all the way out here, marshal?" the rancher seemed somewhat irritated by the marshal's presence.

"A cowpoke told me about a fresh grave, so I came out to look," Matt looked around the ranch.

"I don't know anything about any grave. Could have been one of those damn buffalo hunters. I'd like to put them all in a cold hole in the ground, if ever I catch up with them," Dunlop growled.

"What have you against them?" Matt pressed.

"My Elaine..." Dunlop looked toward the house, "not to mention some prime beef."

"I'm not following you, Frank," Matt said.

"One of them bastards layed his hand on her...and you know what I mean by that, don't you Matt?" Frank's nostrils flared in hate.

"Now why didn't you come to me about this, sooner?" Matt stepped down from Buck.

"I don't what my family's business broadcast all over Dodge," he turned to Matt quickly.

"And why do you think that would happen, Frank?" Matt looked the man in the eyes, "I'm a Federal Marshal and what happens in my office stays in my office."

"As if my showing up in Dodge wouldn't indicate something. No way. I'll take the task into my own hands," Frank again looked back at the farm house.

"Now, look, Frank," Matt stepped closer, "You can't start taking the law into your own hands. I won't stand for it. If you have a problem, you better tell me now," Matt insisted.

Frank looked at Matt and flexed his jaw muscles, "Yeah, so they can have a "fair trial" and the luxury of three square meals a day in a warm room in which to sleep. Forget it, Matt."

Matt stood holding his horse's reins and looked to the farm house, "Perhaps I'll send Doc out, then."

"Yeah, you do that Matt. Then he can verify what I know and then I can start after those buffalo hunters," Dunlop said.

"Fine. As soon as I get back to town, I'll talk to Doc," Matt stated and moved back to Buck. "And just remember this," he said as he prepared to climb back up onto his saddle, "I'm the one who looks after the law and if you go hunting for those buffalo hunters, you'll have to answer to me," Matt said.

"Best if you leave now marshal..." Frank said.

Matt mounted Buck and nudged the animal again and with a quick look over his shoulder he could see frank Dunlop walking back toward the farm house. It wasn't an easy existence for the rancher. His wife had died three years ago and his son, Stephen, had suffered injuries leaving crippled so it was up to William and Elaine to help manage the ranch.

Frank stopped short of the house and watched Matt ride away. He shook his head and was angry with himself for telling the marshal about Elaine. Then he wondered what Doc was going to say.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Festus Haggen stood against the long wooden bar at the Long Branch Saloon, "Well, maybe you should tell Doc how bad you fee," Kitty suggested.

"Oh, fiddlesticks, Miss Kitty. The last thang I need is his clammy hands pokin' at me. I feel bad enough without him tellin' me I gots a bugaboo of some sort," Festus stated as he ran his bandana across his forehead.

"Maybe so, but you look terrible," Kitty stated. Festus just made a face before he pushed away from the bar, "I think I'll just go and lay down," the deputy said as he began to walk to the door where he met Doc.

"There you are," Doc grunted.

"There I am what?" Festus countered.

"I've been looking all over Dodge for you, that what!" Doc said. "What's this I hear you aren't feeling well?"

"Who told you that?" Festus scrunched up his eye.

"Jonas did. He said you were buying one of them elixirs he sells and he said you looked like death warmed over," Doc brushed his hand across his moustache.

"Why, I otta," Festus tried to side step Doc to go and talk to Wilbur Jonas.

"It so happens, Festus, that there is a sickness going around and I'd like to check you over," Doc stated.

"What sickness?" Haggen's shoulders drooped as he knew he wasn't going to get out of the doctor's clutches.

"They call it influenza, and if you aren't looking after yerself, you could actually die," Doc stated matter-of-factly.

"Influenza? Huh?" Festus looked at Doc like he had kittens crawling out of his ears.

"Yes, and it is contagious, too," Doc stated.

"Well, how in thunder would I get something like that?!" Festus looked panicked.

Doc shook his head, "Could be a whole bunch of ways. I know two other families have it, and it would make me very happy if I could look you over and get you to bed,"

"Wall, Doc! I was jist going to go and lay down!" Festus whined. Doc rolled his eyes, "Come on, up to my office. Now."