"Marshal," Barney said stepping into Delmonico's later that evening. "Got that telegram from Unionville you was waiting for."
Matt looked at Kitty as he took the paper and tore it open. "Carpenter and his men are dead, the Judge has been wounded and Festus is under arrest and charged with attempted murder," Matt said chagrined. "Looks like I'm going to have to cut dinner short."
Kitty finally found her voice after the initial shock from what Matt had read finally wore off. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get Newly and we're going to Unionville," Matt said with a sigh.
"We'll be back as soon we can," Matt said looking at Doc and Kitty from atop his horse.
"You two be careful now," Doc said tugging at his earlobe. "Your not going to be in Kansas anymore."
"And wire us," Kitty said agitatedly. "If anything happens."
Matt nodded before he and Newly rode out of town.
Festus had to ponder how it was that he let himself get in this situation but worse yet what was Matthew going to have to say about it. He was surly going to find out soon enough.
"Got a telegram back from Marshal Dillion," the Sheriff said stopping outside his cell. "He says to tell you he's on his way here."
Festus nodded as the door busted open behind them.
"Sheriff," the deputy said in one quick breath. "Doctor Fisher says, the Judge is awake if ya want to question him."
"Tell him I'll be there in a minute," the Sheriff said turning back to Festus.
"Maybe now ya get some answers," Festus said scrunching up one eye. "He'll tell ya I didn't have anything ta do with that there attack on him."
"We'll see mister," the Sheriff responded with a smirk. "For your sake he better."
Festus sighed as the Sheriff left him alone once again to his thoughts. Soon enough, Matthew would be there. He'd straighten out the whole mess, Festus was sure of that.
The Sheriff left the Doctor's office with more questions than answers as he headed over to Roberts office.
He wanted to believe the whisker face deputy, but with out the reassurance of Judge Roberts telling him the hillman didn't have anything to do with the attack on his life, there was little the lawman was going to be able to do to keep him from being charged.
"Sheriff Evert," the prosecutor said looking up from his paper work when the lawman entered. "I suppose you saw the Judge?"
"I did," the Sheriff replied quietly. "Doctor Fisher don't know if the memory loss is permanent or not."
"Well, without any witness accounts," the prosecutor said handing the Sheriff a piece of paper. "I have no choice but to charge that Haggen fella with attempted murder."
The Sheriff nodded as he signed the paper before handing it back. "When's the circuit Judge due in?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," the prosecutor said. "He'll be here on the stage."
The Sheriff nodded as he looked at the time. "How long you think he'll get?"
"For almost killing a Judge?" the prosecutor asked with a smirk. "They'll throw the book at him, he'll be lucky to get out of that prison in twenty years."
