PT.2
Good Luck Charm

Festus headed for Moss' stable for Buck and Ruth, returning ready to go. Entering through the batwing doors, "Matthew, we be all ready."

"Thanks, Festus. Well, Kitty, I guess I'll see you for supper tonight."

"Ok, Cowboy, and Matt...?"

"I will, Kitty." He placed his large hand atop her tiny one.

Sam pretended not to notice. Matt and Festus walked out the doors. "More coffee, Miss Kitty?"

"I'll take some in my office, Sam. I'm going to work on the books."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Matt and Festus rode into the heavy wind toward Jake's place. They noticed the drovers camping just outside his ranch. There must have been fifty or so. New group. Matt didn't recognize any of them. They were riding up on them, slowly, wanting to feel them out. It was mid-morning.

One of the men spotted them coming in. "Mr. Forrester? Mr. Forrester? Riders, incoming." Several men jumped up.

The camp leader, John Forrester, a rather large man, equal to Matt in size, came out of his tent, watching as Matt and Festus approached. "What can I do for you boys?"

As Matt got closer, "Hello, I'm Matt Dillon,United States Marshal in Dodge City. Just wanted to come out and have a talk with you. Seems there might be a problem."

"Mr. Forrester, that's the big guy that threw us out of the saloon last night when the redhead got a little crazy."

Forrester turned, "Shut up, Malloy! You'll have to excuse him, Marshal. I'm John Forrester, this is my crew. They're good men but they get a little crazy sometimes, especially when we've been on a trail for months. You know what I mean? Please, my apology to the lady."

"Thank you, Forrester, but I'm not here about last night. Actually, it's your choice of camp. This here is a private ranch and I believe you were asked to move."

"Now, Marshal, we're not hurting anything and we'll be gone in a week."

"Jake Worth is a rancher and a hard working one at that. He runs cattle through here and horses. This is private property. You'll have to move. You can head down a few miles into the canyon near the river. You have till morning." Matt and Festus rode off towards Jake's ranch house.

"Mr. Forrester, you just gonna let him run us off like that? Let him push you round?"

Forrester was steamed. They had cattle grazing on Jake's land, about 1500 head.

When Matt and Festus showed up at Jake's, they told him they had been out to the camp and that they had told them they had till morning to move off Jake's land. But Matt had a feeling in the pit of his stomach, the warning was taken lightly.

Later, back at the Long Branch, the new dealer, Kitty had hired, came in. "Hello, Sam, Miss Russell around?"

"She's in her office. Is it important?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to start working here tonight. My name is Rudy. Rudy McDonald. I'm a dealer."

"Wait right here, I'll tell her you're here."

Kitty was engrossed in the books, hearing a knock on the door, welcoming the interruption. "Yes, Sam?"

"Miss Kitty, there's a gentleman here to see you. A Rudy McDonald. Says you hired him as a dealer?"

"Oh, yes, Sam, send him back." As Rudy entered, "Hello, Rudy, welcome to Dodge City and to the Long Branch."

"Oh, happy to be here, Miss Russell."

"Now let me see, if I recall correctly, you deal poker?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"And faro?"

"That's right."

"Good. Just so you understand, honest games."

"Oh, yes, Ma'am."

Smiling at him, "Marshal Dillon has a strict rule here in Dodge about that."

"I understand, Miss Russell."

"Well then, there's just one more thing."

Wide eyed, he asked, "What's that, Ma'am?"

"Can you start tonight?"

"Yes, Ma'am, I sure can. I have a room at the Dodge House."

"Great! We should have a pretty big crowd, a big group of drovers, and they like to play cards. I guess, I'll see you then?"

"Thank you, Miss Russell."

"Oh, Rudy, it's Kitty."

"Yes, Miss Russell."

Laughing, "Uh huh."

"I mean, Miss Kitty."

"Go on, go have a drink on the house, then rest up. You're gonna need it.

TBC