Matt and Festus were at least 3 hours behind the gang trailing west. It was getting dark too dark for even Festus to see the trail. Festus got a fire going to make coffee and fry up some bacon. He could see the strain on Matt's face and knew that his friend was worried about Tess.

"Matthew you know Ol Doc'll take right good care of Tess."

"I know but she's so young."

"She'll be up and running around soon enough."

"Yeah cause she will."

Matt didn't get much sleep he never did when he was out on the trail. While Festus could fall asleep anywhere. Matt recalled Chester to mind and how he could practically sleep in any position including standing by the bar of The Long Branch. He thought about all of the people he'd known and had considered friends. All of them had known his feelings about Kitty. They'd all said he should marry her. Now his regret was that he hadn't taken their advice sooner. Festus was still sleeping when Matt started the coffee at first light before starting on the bacon. The aroma soon woke Festus up he smiled knowing that Matt had probably not slept.

"You git any sleep Matthew?" Festus asked.

"Not a whole lot I never do when I'm on the trail like this."

Once they'd eaten they made sure the fire was out before saddling up and riding on.

"I'll go see if I kin cut trail on them yahoos?"

"I somehow think they'll continue on west."

Festus scanned the area carefully smiling grimly as he cut the trail. He wondered how Matt knew that they'd be heading West.

"Matthew they is still goin' west. How'd you know they would head west."

"I didn't I had a 1 in 4 chance of being right."

Festus nodded luck often played a part when you were trailing outlaws. 5 days later Matt and Festus rode into Pueblo Colorado. Matt was glad he'd stopped at Judge Brooker's to get pursuit warrants. They stopped at the Sheriff's Office and went in.

"Sheriff Walsh I'm Matt Dillon."

"Marshal I reckon I know why you're here. I heard about what happened. Your deputy Newly O'Brien sent the description of the men to us when he received news that the men had already passed Cimarron."

"Did Newly tell you how my granddaughter was?"

"Your granddaughter?"

"Tess Clarke Dillon she's only 4 years-old."

Matt explained in a few words just how Tom had arrived in Dodge some 8 years previously. Finishing with his marrying Kitty at the same time as Tom married Mary Jane 6 years ago.

"You married? How many times did we tell you that you should marry Kitty?"

"Yeah I know that's my one regret that I didn't marry her sooner. We have two children together Galen 4 and Johnny 6 months. Tom and Mary Jane have given me 3 grandkids. Tess and her twin brother Matthew and the latest is James he's 18 months-old."

"Newly sent another wire for you."

Matt took the wire from Sheriff Walsh. His smile told Festus that the news must be good.

"Festus she's awake Tom's taken her home."

Festus grinned he'd known all along that Doc would bring her round.

"Well I recognized the descriptions and dug these out."

Sheriff Walsh put five wanted posters on the desk. Matt perused each one.

"The Cooper brothers all five at the moment worth 300 dollars each. First time they tried bank robbery though."

"Have they passed this way?"

"Not through Pueblo but there's other places they could go through."

Matt nodded he was just too relieved about Tess to let the Coopers' bother him too much.

"I've still got to find the Coopers' for bank robbery and causing harm to a child."

"Too late to go on tonight. I've got a couple of spare rooms and my wife Martha's the best darn cook hereabouts."

"Thank you it'll be nice to sleep in a bed at least for one night," Matt said.

They followed Sheriff Walsh to the stables. They found stalls for them then followed him to his house. Pretty soon after a superb meal Matt was stretched out asleep in the room that had belonged to Sheriff Walsh's eldest boy who had left to join the cavalry. His two youngest bunked in together so Festus could get some much needed rest.