The first thing Matt did when he left Doc's office was to visit the telegraph office. Sending off a message to Judge Brooker, he advised him of the situation regarding Billy Jacobs and asked about issuing an arrest warrant for attempted murder which the Judge readily agreed to and sent back for Matt's use.

Afterward, Matt rode hard out of town the same way Ruth had come, he had a pretty good idea of where the ambush on Festus had taken place so that would be the best area for picking up Billy Jacob's tracks.

Getting down off his horse, he walked the area just outside of town. It was obvious he had the right place from the multiple tracks leading away, the signs of a scuffle and from the dried blood that he presumed had come from Festus.

Curiously, two sets of tracks lead off to the west while two more headed East. Matt chased a lot of criminals in his lifetime and he had yet to encounter any that would go back to where they had been found.

Taking to his horse again, he started following the tracks that headed East. It was a gamble but one he figured the odds of being were in his favor.

"Why'd ya have to go and leave a note for that Marshal for huh Doyle?" Billy asked as they made camp that night. "Don't ya know that Marshal's going to be mad as hell already over his deputy."

"Aw shut up, will ya kid," Doyle said harshly more than he had intended to. "First off, I ain't worried about no Deputy, he was probably dead by the time that ol mule brought him home! And second if that Marshal is dumb enough to come after us, I got a bullet with his name on it."

Matt moved in toward the camp as silent as he could, the voices were of two men, one far less younger than the other and judging by the conversation the two were having it was the two he was after.

Watching from the dark he waited until they decided to bed down for the night to make his move.

Doyle laid atop his bedroll, resting against a log as his kid brother snored a few feet away, hearing a twig snap, he drew his revolver stood up and peered into the woods.

"Hold it right there," Matt yelled. "U.S. Marshal!"

Doyle took the chance and shot into the direction where the voice had come from but Matt easily avoided the shot. Returning fire, the bullet hit Doyle square in the chest as Billy came up out of his bed gun in hand!

"Don't even think about it," Matt said kicking the gun out of his hand and for the first time, he almost wished the kid would make a move. "Billy Jacobs, your under arrest for attempted murder of a U.S. Deputy Marshal."

"I...I...swear Marshal," the kid stammered. "It wasn't me, it was Doyle."

"Uh huh," Matt said putting shackles on the kid. "Tell it to the judge, I'm bringing you in to stand trail!"

(Dodge)

The clang of the bullet hitting the bottom of the basin reverberated throughout Doc's office as he packed the wound with gauze dipped in an antiseptic salve.

He and Newly had worked in silence with Kitty administering help to them both when needed. "How's that wound Newly," Doc asked as he finished up the surgery on Festus shoulder. Luckily, the bullet had missed all major organs, so it had been relatively easy to remove. Now it was just a matter of keeping it free from infection.

"I've finally got the bleeding stopped Doc," Newly replied while cleaning out the nasty gash. "But the swelling is severe, you might want to have a look."

Doc moved to take Newly's place and examined the head wound himself, taking off his glasses he looked at Newly before speaking. "Go over to the ice house for me will you and bring back a chunk of ice."

"Yes sir, Doc," Newly said grabbing an empty basin.

Kitty recognized that look on Doc's face as he turned Festus head side ways and retrieved his otoscope. "Doc," she said when he looked up from looking inside Festus ears. "You look worried, what is it?"

Doc swiped at his mustache before speaking. "Brain hemorrhage Kitty," he said looking at her. "If I don't stop this swelling it won't matter what we do."