Matt and Festus both stood up as the door to the room where they were held opened.

"Don't make any moves," Pete said leveling a double barrel shot gun at the two men as Susie stepped forward

Looking from Matt to Festus, she looked the hillman up and down and smiled. "Your not as mangy as you were last time I saw you," she said snidely as Festus shot her an angry look.

"I'm sure ya didn't bring me here just ta see me again," Festus replied angrily. "Tell us what ya want!"

"Just what you took from me, about twenty thousand dollars," she said looking at Pete. "Didn't I tell you he looked just like Frank?"

"Spitting image," Pete said in disbelief.

"Make sure they get something to eat," Susie said stepping away. "I need them alive!"

* Dodge Christmas Eve *

The next evening, Abelia, Doc, Kitty and Newly together in Matt's office, counted out the money that Susie had demanded.

"That's everything," Abelia said with a weary sigh. "I borrowed what wasn't in the bank."

"Don't worry," Doc said swiping his mustache. "If I know Matt and I do, he'll take care of all of this and get the money back."

"What if he's not the one that comes back," Kitty said what Abelia was thinking.

"We're not going to think about that right now," Abelia said patting Kitty's hand. "Besides the twenty thousand, we have ten more to bargain with, it doesn't matter right now if it's Festus or Matt's life, we'll do what ever we have to."

"That's right," Doc said checking the time. "It's getting late, she should be coming anytime."

Newly watched the middle of town from the window of the jail and turned. "Someone's coming!"

"How many riders," Doc said joining him at the window.

"Looks like Mrs. Eaton and the same two gunman," Newly said shaking his head. "No sign of Matt or Festus."

Stepping back, Newly and Doc waited for the door to open.

Mrs. Eaton stepped into the jail house with her two gunman, each carrying a saddlebag.

"Well," she said looking over the paper money set out on the table. "Do I need to count it?"

"No," Kitty said slowly making eye contact with the woman. "However, we do have one demand of our own!"

"And," Susie said crossing her arms. "What would that be?"

"We were able to come up with ten thousand more," Abelia said handing her a separate bag. "For the life of the one you wanted to kill, it's yours if both our men come back alive!"

Susie stepped away from the table and paced the small office deep in thought. "As appealing as that is," she said locking eyes with Abelia. "I don't think I will take the offer."

Kitty's face paled as Susie turned away. "How much," Kitty said softly. "How much would it take to save the lives of our men?"

"You couldn't raise it," Susie said turning around. "Frank meant more to me than any dollar amount!"

"Please," Abelia said softly. "It's Christmas Eve, I have children!"

"That's your problem," Susie said stepping out the door. "Let's go, we've wasted enough time!"

Pete and Hank took the twenty thousand and followed the woman out the door as Abelia sank into a chair at the table and Kitty lowered herself into another.

"They're gone," Newly said looking at Doc. "Sam and Burke will be waiting for me at the Livery. As soon as I know something, I'll let you know."

Doc nodded as Newly headed out the door and the physician turned to comfort the two distraught women.

Matt and Festus stood up as the door to the windowless room opened and Susie and Pete stood in the door way.

"C'mon whiskers, let's go," Pete said motioning Festus forward.

"Wait," Matt said stopping Festus from leaving. "Where are you taking him?"

"Your women paid the ransom," Susie said evenly. "I'm letting him go first, then you Marshal. I don't want the two of you coming back together, you understand?"

Matt nodded as he looked at Festus. "I want you to go straight back to Dodge, don't come back."

"Will do Matthew," Festus said with a nod as he stepped out the door.

Pete closed the door before pushing Festus forward. "We got a horse waiting outside," he said leading the hillman to the stable.

As Festus stepped inside, he was over powered by Pete and a few of the other men. Tying him up, they put him in the back of a wagon and Pete climbed up into the drivers seat.

A short time later, Susie opened the door and let Matt out. "You'll understand if I leave you shackled Marshal," she said with a smile.

Matt nodded as he stepped outside to a waiting horse, climbing up, he nodded at the woman and turned the horse toward Dodge.