Chapter Six: Bascombe Comes to Town

Festus made his way to the west, calling at all the local ranches and warning them to keep their families close to home. He rode in to the Johnson spread. "Howdy, Festus, how's Matt?"

"Hurting, not wounded," Festus saw the question in Bill's eyes. "You ever hear of the time when Lon Gorman and Carl Mandee kidnapped Matt trying to get to the border?"

"Heard of it, heard Matt helped Gorman prove that he was framed," Festus nodded.

"Lon brought Matt's cousin's two boys to him jest this week, their folks were killed by the Jicarilla. The other man Carl Mandee escaped from Fort Leavenworth he's followed Lon. He intends to kill both Lon and Matt, but he's tormenting Matt first, he shot at Matt's house, scared Mary. He's moved the kids to the Long Branch. Mandee also shot out one of the Long Branch's windows, but the worst thing he's done is to dig up Ellie's body."

"That's the girl, Matt was going to marry?"

"Yeah," a man approached.

"You are talking of Matt Dillon?"

"Yes, sir."

"I am Scout, I am half Kiowa, I scouted for General Custer but I was fortunate to be with Captain Benteen. I met Matt Dillon when the son of the Kiowa chief I was visiting was beaten. Matt Dillon found him took him to Dodge saved his life. If this man Mandee leaves Dodge the Kiowa will hunt him, I will make sure he is alive when we bring him to you. I cannot promise he will be unharmed but he will be alive to suffer at the end of a rope."

"I'm warning the local ranchers to stay close to home. We don't want the families being caught in the crossfire."

"Thanks, will do," Festus rode on, he would take most of the day getting to the Bascombe spread. It all day to get to the ranch, Joe was just going to the house for the evening meal when Festus arrived.

"Festus, come on in Ching Lee will be happy to see you. She's probably cooked up enough to feed twenty people. Matt, not with you?"

"Your offer still stand?"

"To help Matt, it still stands. I owe him for what so nearly happened."

"Oh, foot Matthew don't see it like that, at all. But he do need your help," they entered the house.

"Festus it is so good to see you," Ching Lee said, "come sit eat with us."

"Festus, was just telling me that Matt needs my help."

"What is wrong, is Matt in trouble?" Ching Lee asked, Festus explained everything except for the desecretion of Ellie's grave.

"There's one more thang. Mandee done dug up Ellie's body, he busted her coffin open and just dumped her there."

"But that is just terrible. How has he taken it?"

"Well, Ching Lee, he took it hard when I left Miz Kitty, Doc and Joseph were going to take him to lunch. I reckon as how he'll be all right."

"Who is Joseph?" Joe asked.

"Cause, you ain't heard. Joseph is Doc's son from a saloon gal he knew when he was young. He's a Doc too," once the meal was over Joe went to hitch the buckboard, he came back opened a drawer and lfted out his gun and holster both still well kept.

"Never thought I'd have to strap this on again," Joe fastened the gunbelt round his hips and loaded the gun. Joe helped Ching Lee up onto the box and they set out for Dodge. "Be about midnight when we get there, we'll get a room in the Dodge House. Where's Matt sleeping?"

"Miss Kitty made him a room up in the Long Branch, wut with Sam's shotgun and the Texas drovers, nobody's gitting anywhere's near him or the kids. Figure having an extry gun couldn't hurt."

"I would have been disappointed if you hadn't asked. Tomorrow I'll set about looking for this Mandee, you got poster on him?"

"Sure do in the office," they arrived outside the Dodge House at midnight, "you get settled I'll take care of the wagon and horses."

"Thanks, Festus," Joe assisted Ching Lee down and took her inside.

"Mr Bascombe, Ching Lee, so nice to see you," the clerk said. "I'll give you your ususal room. You've heard about Matt?"

"Yes, Festus, came and told us. Now I have a chance to repay the debt I owe him," the clerk handed the key to room eight to Joe.