After a hearty breakfast, Matt kept his word and gathered up the tools Mike had available and headed out to the dilapidated old barn.

The door needed new hinges which he didn't have and the windows needed new glass which her also needed to obtain.

But he was at least able to mend the holes he found and the roof as he had already done with the house but he'd have to discuss the other repairs with Mike. Surly there was a general store nearby that had the items he needed.

As he worked, Matt thought about Mike's earlier words. While he still didn't remember who he was and he sensed that what ever he'd done previously had a certain weight of responsibility, he just didn't see himself as a law man.

Neither did he think he was married with a family as Mike believed. But one thing he did know, he had fallen in love with the woman and was content to just stay right where he was with her.

"How's it going, cowboy," Mike said jolting him out of his reverie.

"Damn," Dan said dropping the hammer on his foot before whirling around.

"Cowboy?"

Mike smiled at the bemused look. "Well," she said looking him up and down. "Your certainly dressed for the part."

Dan returned the smile as he bent down to retrieve the hammer. "I've done as much as I can with the repairs until we make a trip to a general store for some glass and hinges."

"There's a trading post bout ten miles from here where I usually bring pelts and fresh eggs to trade," Mike replied putting her hands on her hips. "Bout time I got over there for some supplies if you're up to making the trip we can go tomorrow."

"Sounds fine," Dan said putting the tools away.

"What's wrong?" Mike asked after noticing the look on Dan's face.

"I'm a little worried about Fortunate, if what he told you about Starcourt is true..."

"Then what's to stop him from killing Fortunate?" Mike said with a nod. "I thought about the same thing but then I think a man like that can take care of himself, don't you?"

"Yeah," Dan said putting his arm around the woman. "I think that he can."

Festus rode north the first day and stopped at any farm, way station or trading post he encounter. But no one had seen the Marshal or the fugitive called Fortunate.

Breaking camp on the second day, Festus wondered how many days ahead of him Matthew could have gotten. He was sure by now, he would have gotten a lead on the law man or the man he'd been tracking.

But he wasn't about to give up, if Matthew was out there, Festus would do all he could to find him and bring him home.

"C'mon Ruth," Festus said climbing onto his donkey. "We got ta keep lookin fer Matthew!"

"It's not a perfect fit," Mike said as Matt tucked in the clean shirt that belonged to Mike's deceased husband. "But it'll do until I can get some material to make you a few more."

"It's fine," Matt said looking down at the fresh change of clothes. "You sure, you don't mind me wearing them?"

"I gave em to ya didn't I," Mike replied sternly. "If I had a problem with it, I wouldn't have offered. Besides, you need clean clothes."

"Thank you," Matt said. "I'll go saddle up the wagon for that trip to the trading post."

"Alright," Mike said with a nod. "Get them pelts out of the barn while your at it and I'll gather some fresh eggs."

"Yes, ma'am," Matt replied with a wiry grin as Mike scoffed.

Festus stopped for a moment to collect his bearings on the direction he was going and noticed another trading post in the distance.

Spurring Ruth forward, he stopped in front of the building and climbed down to look around.

Stepping inside, he gave his eyes a moment to adjust before approaching the burly man behind the counter.

"What can I do for you, mister?" the man asked barely glancing up from his bookkeeping.

"I'm looking fer a man," Festus said. "A law man, Marshal Matthew Dillion outa Dodge City. He was trailing a man named Les Dean. They would have come this way bout three weeks ago."

"Don't know no one like that," the man said meeting Festus eyes. "Can't help you."

"What else is beyond this here post?" Festus asked looking around.

"A few farms here and there and then you got the spread that's owned by Hasty Starcourt bout ten miles from here," the man replied as Festus nodded.

"Much obliged," Festus said before heading out the door.