"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it."

Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

Chapter 8: Love and Hate

Matt finally finished taking care of the horses and pulled his mind back to the present as he left the stable and headed down Front Street. His eyes, seemingly of their own accord, wandered up to the second floor of the Long Branch. He smiled as he focused on the candle lighting the window.

The involuntary frisson of anticipation that shot through him at seeing the light burning in the second floor room wasn't unexpected, but he still had trouble accepting everything that went with that feeling. Someone loved him, worried if he was safe, waited for him to come home, wanted to be with him. And he loved someone, worried if she was safe, wanted to come home to her, wanted to be with her. He tried to tamp down the heat that followed those thoughts, but his body had its own ideas. It had been three long weeks.

He briefly wondered what Chester thought on those nights when he didn't show up at the jail to climb into his cot until the early morning hours or, as was happening more and more, didn't use his cot at all. Most nights, when that happened, he figured Chester was sound asleep and didn't even notice, and, other nights, he figured Chester just thought he was busy with his rounds and responsibilities. But on nights like this one, when the whole town was shut down, and when he knew how tired the lawman was, Matt thought Chester must have some suspicions. He figured Chester suspected what he was up to, but maybe not with whom. Of course, Chester was a gentleman and would never say anything, and Matt sure wasn't about to bring it up.

It had only been a couple of months since he had committed himself to Kitty, and he had never been happier. As a lawman, he knew he couldn't afford emotional entanglements, but somehow, he sure had gotten himself into one. He just hoped he never had to pay the price for this entanglement, because it would kill him. He wouldn't mind the dying, but he wasn't sure he could stand the hurt or the guilt.

The niggling fear deep inside him that something might happen to her never ever went away, but he had learned to live with it, and he had pledged himself to do everything within his power to keep her safe. He thought he'd learned the price of loving someone as a boy, but only now, when he was in love with Kitty Russell, did he really understand how high that cost could be. But somehow, the possibility of losing her couldn't compete with the wonder of having her.

As he approached the Long Branch, he glanced up one more time at the candle in the window, then paused to assure himself that the key was safely stored in his pocket. When he was away from her, he would wonder how she could possibly love him, a man with a chancy job, not much money, and a lot of dead men on his conscience. The key was his physical reminder of her love. The light used to let him know it was safe for him to visit, but, now, like the key, it was a well-appreciated reminder that she loved him and was waiting for him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Early the next morning, Matt had reluctantly untangled himself from Kitty's arms and slipped out from under the sheet to face the day. He dressed quietly before leaning over and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Then he stepped over the squeaky floorboard, quietly slipped out onto the landing and carefully locked the door behind him. It was still dark out, and it had been a mighty short night, especially the sleeping part. But, with a murderer locked up in his jail, he figured it would be a busy day.

Once at the jail, he was surprised to find Dunbart already awake and loudly complaining about his treatment. Chester was somehow still asleep despite the racket. Matt, somewhat needlessly, considering all the noise, opened the door to the cells to assure himself his prisoner was safe and still locked behind the bars. He stepped into the cell area, both to let Dunbart know he was back and to tell him breakfast would be along later. At his appearance, the prisoner rushed to the bars screaming obscenities. He pushed his face up against the bars, calming as an evil grin settled itself across his features. "I'm gonna kill ya, Dillon. If it's the last thing I ever do, I'm gonna do it. Ain't nothing gonna save you."

Matt took a deep breath. "Well, I see a night in jail hasn't done much to alter your mood. Like I said, breakfast shortly." And, with those words, Matt closed the door and went to his desk to prepare for the trial and work on his arrest report until the town businesses opened. Dunbart continued with his threats making it difficult for him to concentrate even though the heavy door at least muffled them. Not for the first time, Matt wondered precisely what was behind the man's white-hot hatred of him. Eventually he managed to block out the noise, focus on his paperwork, and plan his day. By the time the sun was up, he had pretty much everything in order and his report nearly finished. And Chester was awake if somewhat bleary eyed. "My goodness, Mr. Dillon, that prisoner in there hardly let me get a wink a sleep last night. He's plumb crazy is what he is."

"You don't have to tell me, Chester. I was stuck listening to him for that whole ride up from the Indian Territories. "

"Did you do something special mean to him or something cause he sure has a powerful hate for you. "

"I dunno, Chester. I suppose me arresting him and bringing him back to Kansas to a probable hanging could be the reason. But he's also pretty upset about something I did during the war. I just don't know exactly what that was. He ranted about it a lot, but never provided any real specifics."

"Well. Mr. Dillon, he did mention to me that you were a disgrace to Texas and that bein in the Union army during the war made you a traitor. He said you oughta hang for that, but if he couldn't hang you, he was sure gonna kill ya. If'n I was you, I'd be real careful around that fella." Chester scrubbed at his face and looked over at his boss before he added, "It don't make no sense to me though. The war's been over a long time."

Matt took a deep breath. "That's true, Chester, but a lot of men are still carrying around the hurt from that war. The thing that bothers me though, is how does he know I'm from Texas, and that I fought for the Union. That's not even common knowledge here in Dodge. And he said he was gonna kill me for what I did in the war, but I don't ever remember seeing him before."

"Well, forever more, I didn't even think about that. Why you got more'n enough trouble from them Texas Drovers already without them know'n that. They already hate Kansas law and Kansas lawmen."

"Yeah, Chester, and Dunbart mentioned hating Kansas lawmen to me a time or two on the trip into Dodge. Seems that, in his mind, I have a lot of strikes against me." He sighed. "Well, nothing I can do about it except get him tried and out of my jail. As soon as you get yourself up, how about heading over to Delmonico's and getting him some breakfast while I finish up my report."

"Sure thing, Mr. Dillon, although it don't seem to me he deserves no breakfast."

Matt grinned at his assistant. "Starving him is pretty tempting, but I figure he might take it personal if I didn't feed him, and I sure wouldn't want to make him mad."

"Aw, Mr. Dillon, you're just a joshin me. I'll head over to Delmonico's now."

"Ok, Chester, and, as soon as you get back and can keep an eye on the prisoner, I'm going to wire Judge Brooking and find out when he'd like to set the trial. Once I know that, I'll see about bringing in the witnesses from Jetmore."

Matt was pleased when the Judge set the trial for Friday. Since today was Wednesday, there was just enough time to get the witnesses in and all the evidence in order. It was exceptionally quick, but he was glad of it. Despite his best efforts, Dunbart's constant threats were definitely wearing on him, and he hoped to get everything taken care of without Kitty hearing about this personal vendetta Dunbart seemed to have against him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The witnesses came in from Jetmore by horseback around noon on Thursday, and Matt saw to it they were put up at the Dodge House. The Judge came in on the evening stage, and Matt met with him to go over the witnesses and the evidence. It looked like an open and shut case.

The next morning the Judge convened the court. The jurors listened to the evidence and testimony. After deliberating for less than fifteen minutes, they returned with a guilty verdict, both for robbing the bank and killing the teller. Matt was glad to see the trial proceed so smoothly. He was surprised and glad that Dunbart sat quietly through the proceedings.

Judge Brooking turned to the defendant. "Floyd Dunbart, you have been found guilty of robbery and murder by a jury of your peers. Please rise for sentencing.

Dunbart stood and turned his eyes briefly on Matt, then on the jury.

The Judge continued, "Do you have anything to say before I pronounce sentence?"

Dunbart ignored the Judge and kept his eyes glued on the jury, a faint sneer on his face. "Maybe I did kill that one man, but your high and mighty Marshal here is the one oughta be on trial. He's a traitor and a murderer, and I'm gonna kill him and ain't none of you, nor nothing, gonna stop me. How many Texans you reckon he murdered?"

At that point the Judge started banging his gavel and demanding order, and Dunbart finally shut up.

Judge Brooking locked his eyes on the defendant. "I sentence you, Floyd Dunbart, to hang by the neck until dead in Hays City, Kansas, at 8 AM on this Tuesday. May God have mercy on your soul. Marshal Dillon, please escort the prisoner back to his cell."

At the Judge's word, Matt stood, firmly grasped Dunbart's arm, and led him back to the jail. As he locked the man back in his cell, Dunbart threatened to kill him yet again. Matt ignored him as he focused on his two main concerns. The first was that after that outburst by Dunbart in court, Kitty was definitely going to find out that the prisoner he was escorting to Hays had a powerful desire to see him dead. The second was that in order to get Dunbart to Hays in time for the hanging, he was either going to have to leave this afternoon or early tomorrow. He decided pretty quickly that it would be the next morning. He wanted another night in Dodge. Besides, three days was enough time to get to Hays and two nights guarding a prisoner like this one out on the trail was more than enough.

Matt quickly left the cell area and was pleased to see Chester already waiting for him. "Mr. Dillon, I was thinking you're gonna want me to go along with you to Hays City, ain't ya?"

Matt raked his fingers through his hair and shook his head in the negative. "Chester, I wouldn't mind having you along, but it's not possible. The Pinkertons are coming in on the Monday train and bringing in those train robbers they caught. They're expecting to leave them in our jail cells overnight, so somebody has to be here to see that everything goes smoothly."

"Goodness gracious, Mr. Dillon, you ain't thinking of taking that Dunbart fella to Hays alone. That's just not a good idea at all." Chester's concern for his friend and boss was plain on his face.

Matt struggled to keep his irritation at Chester's concern from showing. He knew it wasn't Chester causing his aggravation. Dunbart was wearing on him, and he didn't like it. But that didn't keep him from snapping, "Well I tell ya, Chester, I got him here from the Indian Territories all right. I don't see why I can't get him to Hays."

Chester tried to make amends, but Matt could tell his opinion hadn't changed one whit. "Well, I know that Mr. Dillon. Why, I've seen you escort three or four men to Hays with no help at all. But this Dunbart fella, he ain't right in his head. And you see his eyes. They ain't got no light in em, almost like he was already dead. He's just creepy is what he is."

"Ummhmm. I do need you to watch over him the rest of today. I plan to head out by first light tomorrow." Matt wasn't about to admit that Dunbart had him worried too. He just couldn't figure how the man knew so much about him. Chester was right, Dunbart was creepy, but just now Matt wanted to get over to the Long Branch and see Kitty. He just might need to do some damage control.

"You figure that'll give you enough time, do ya?"

"Yeah, Chester, three days should be plenty of time, and I don't want to spend more than two nights out on the trail with him." Matt kept it to himself where he did want to spend tonight.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Matt paused at the batwing doors of the Long Branch taking time to both locate Kitty and listen to the talk that was going on. He figured the talk would be about Dunbart and him, and he was right. As soon as he stepped through the doors, the conversation quickly faded away and then picked up again as the men found something else to talk about.

"Hello, Kitty. I sure could use a drink."

"Sure thing, Matt. Sam, bring the Marshal here a beer."

"Looks like business is booming. At this rate, you're gonna be a rich woman."

"Yeah, Matt, nothing like a murder trial to set men to drinking and talking. Especially when the defendant accuses the Marshal of murder and makes it real plain he plans to kill him."

"Ah yeah, well, about that, Kitty, I wouldn't worry too much. Floyd Dunbart is locked up safe and sound over at the jail. I don't think he'll be doing any more killing."

Kitty raised her eyebrow and nailed him with her gaze. "Don't patronize me, Matt. I know you're taking him to Hays, and I don't like it."

"Look Kitty, it's my job. It's not like I get to pick and choose which prisoners I escort to Hays." Matt pulled his eyes free and took a sip of his beer then looked up, again meeting her eyes. "Besides, don't you figure every man I take to a hanging has probably got it in his head to kill me if he gets a chance? I can take care of myself."

"That's what I keep telling myself, but I still worry. Before you came in here, these men were saying some crazy stuff about Dunbart, the war, and you being a murdering traitor."

"I know, and I'm real sorry you have to hear things like that."

"When are ya leaving, Matt? Some of these men say you'll have to go this afternoon."

"Nope." Matt smiled at her. "I don't plan to leave till first thing tomorrow. Three days should be enough time to get there." He knew that in the past he probably would have left this afternoon to make sure he had a cushion in case he was delayed somehow on the trail. But he saw things a little different these days.

She looked up at him, searching his face for clues to his feelings, her fear for him painfully evident in her expressive eyes. "You're going to take Chester with you, aren't you? You don't dare try to take this man by yourself."

Matt lifted his glass and drained the remaining beer in a single swallow before returning the glass to the bar. "I gotta go, Kitty. I have a lot to get done before tomorrow." He lowered his voice. "I'll see ya tonight."

As Matt exited through the saloon doors, he could almost feel her eyes following him. He was pretty sure he hadn't done much to alleviate her fears.

To be continued…