Kitty was in her office going over the inventory when the door opened and Matt slipped in. Walking softly, he came up behind her and grabbed her around the waist.
"Matt!" Kitty leaped in his arms and pushed him off. Grinning, he sat on the edge of her desk and she said, "You seem to be in good spirits. What's the occasion?"
"Isn't tomorrow a special day?"
Kitty raised her eyebrows. "Why, Marshal Dillon, do you mean to say you remembered my birthday?"
"Have I ever forgotten it?" She gave him a look and he amended that statement. "Have I ever forgotten it in the past twelve months?"
She laughed and took his hands. "I don't know what's worse...forgetting the day or remembering the year. You never do either, so maybe I'm ahead."
Matt smiled. "This time Festus wrote it on the calendar so I wouldn't forget." Kitty looked puzzled and the marshal explained, "He drew a picture of a birthday cake and a cat." Kitty smiled and shook her head and Matt pulled her to him.
There was a knock at the door. "Miss Kitty?" She sighed and went to let the intruder in.
It was Newly. The young man looked concerned and Matt came forward. "Something wrong?"
"I'm not sure, Matt," said Newly. "I was riding by Crooked Crik and I found this." He held out a United States deputy marshal's badge.
The marshal took it, frowning. "Doc and Festus went fishing there this morning."
"I know," said Newly. "I looked around for them." He took a deep breath. "I found the tracks of Doc's buggy...looked like he drove away and there were two riders with him. I wouldn't be worried, except for that badge."
"Where exactly did you find it?"
"Right by the buggy tracks. Either Festus took it off deliberately or somebody took it off him..." Newly's voice trailed away.
Kitty's eyes were apprehensive. "Matt?"
The marshal tucked the badge in his vest pocket. "Newly, saddle my horse."
"You want me to go too?"
Matt thought a moment. "No, there may be some reasonable explanation. You stay here and look after things."
Newly left and the marshal turned to Kitty. "I'm sorry..."
Kitty shook her head, going into his arms and looking up at him appealingly. "Just find them."
"Don't worry." Matt gave her a quick kiss and headed out, leaving Kitty with a nagging sense of foreboding despite his admonition.