Wilbur Jonas pounded on the jail house door before he pushed it open, "Festus!" he blurted out.

The ruckus caused the hill man to bolt upright on the cot, "Mr. Jonas, what in tarnation are you doing?" he asked the store owner as if the man had leave of his senses.

"Festus you have to come quickly!" Jonas said pointing to the open door.

Festus made a face and scratched his whickered cheek, "Let me be my boots on," he huffed and pulled his left boot on – the spur jangled as he stomped the floor. "Woke up out of a good sleep. This had better be good," he grumbled.

"Matt's horse just came into town, and look," Jonas said holding he blood covered hands out in front of him.

Festus froze as he looked at the blood, "Where's Mathew?" he then asked looking up at the store owner.

"I don't know," Jonas said with sorrow filling his voice. "This doesn't look good," he added as he looked down at his hands while Festus hurried with this other boot.

The deputy stood and darted past Jonas and out to the boardwalk where he saw Doc bringing the horse down the street. Festus jogged over to the doctor, "Doc?" he said as he examined the tall buckskin animal. The store owner quickly followed.

"I don't know what to think, Festus," the doctor stated as he continued to examine the horse. "There's a lot of blood here," he sighed.

"Maybe he shot a deer and draped it over the horse," Jonas offered. Both Festus and Doc looked at the man but didn't comment causing Jonas to clamp his mouth shut with a frown.

Festus further examined the horse, "I'd better go out and see if I can pick up Buck's trail," he said and was about to leave, when Doc stopped him. "Hold on a minute," the doctor said in a hushed voice, taking Festus by the arm, pulling him closer to the horse.

"Doc?" Festus question noting the look on the physician's face, while pulling his arm free from the doctor's grip.

"You'd better find Newly," Doc said looking around. "Four men came into the Long Branch last night and Kitty and I think they are up to something," he stated.

"Why would you think that?" Festus asked.

"You could tell by just they way they wore their guns," Doc said. "They look like the kind looking for trouble or some thing else," he added.

Festus frowned, "Doc, you've told me a thousand times not to go jumpin' to any conclusions about folks," he stated with a hint of dismay in his voice.

Doc nodded, "I know I have, but this is different," he said defending himself and swiped his right hand across his moustache. "Just trust me," he said looking the hill man deep into his eyes.

Festus made a face and looked over to Jonas who appeared to be hanging on the doctor's every word, "Who are they, Doc?" the store owner finally asked.

Doc shrugged, "I don't know. I've never seen them before in my life," he stated. "Two came in the Long Branch earlier in the evening and sat by themselves. Then close to closing, two more came in. Kitty saw them make eye contact with the first two," Doc explained. "They appear to know each other but kept their distance for whatever reason," he said.

"Wall, if Miss Kitty feels thars something afoot, then there likely is, but all this isn't helping Matthew," the hill man stated with a wave of his right hand.

"No. You're right, Festus, but we can't have you leave town if something is about to happen. As deputy, you should send Newly out for Matt," he suggested. "You have more authority than Newly," he added.

"How will we know if and when something is going to happen?" Jonas asked.

Doc shook his head, "I don't know, but we'd better keep our eyes open," he said with caution in his voice.

"Jist what do these fellers look like?" Festus asked.

Doc was about to answer the hill man's question when he saw one of the men standing on the boardwalk across from them, "Just pretend you are making casual conversation and glance over your shoulder, that's one of them on the boardwalk," Doc whispered as he pulled Matt's horse closer to the livery stable.

Baker leaned against the post and lit a cigar as he watched the three men with the horse. Soon he lost interest with them and moved on and Festus got a good a view of Baker. "I can see what you mean now, Doc," the deputy stated. "Just the way he walks and the way he wears that gun," he said in a hushed voice.

Louie Pheeters noticed the small group of men and wander out onto the street to find out what was going on, "Is everything all right?" he asked as if he hadn't slept all night.

"I hope so," Festus quickly answered took over to his old friend.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Pheeters asked.

"Matthew is missing," the hill man said. "I'd better get a search party together and get moving," he added.

"Be sure that Newly is the lead. I think you'd better stick around town," Doc stated. "I have now idea who those men are."

"What men?" Louie asked.

"The ones that rode into town late last night," Doc explained.

Louie looked back to the stable, "Two came in early this morning too," he said with an eerie tone in his voice. "I don't know who they are," Louie looked alarmed.

Doc, Festus and Jonas exchanged looks. "Where are they now?" Festus asked.

Louie pointed to the livery stable, "They went up to the loft," he said in a hushed voice. "They didn't see me at the back of the stable."

Festus frowned, "I'll be back directly," he stated before he scurried up the street in search of Newly O'Brien; the sound of his spurs jingling, the sound fading they further he went.

"I do not like this, Doc," Jonas said as he looked around Front Street.

"Neither do I," Doc huffed as he pulled the horse toward the stable and handed him off to Louie, "Put him in a stall," Doc said as he noticed Matt's normal stall was occupied by one of the mystery men's horses. "I think we should gather the town security committee," the doctor suggested. Jonas nodded in agreement, "I'll notify them," the store owner stated before heading back to his store.

"I hope there's no trouble," Louie said with sadness in his voice.

Doc tried to smile, "Me too, Louie," he said ticking his head; knowing in all likeliness hell was soon going to break out, but of what nature, the old doctor didn't know.