Derrick Warwick pulled his horse to a full stop. "Handsome Dan" stopped beside him, "What's up?" Dan asked.

Warwick looked around, "I just accrued to me that no posse has been seen as of now," Warwick scratched his cheek.

"Well, maybe they had trouble finding a posse," Dan laughed. "After all we shot the marshal on the way out of Dodge and I surely didn't see any deputies," Dan scoffed.

"That's what has me thinking," Warwick said as his eyes scanned the horizon before resting back on his lone partner.

Dan's eyes narrow, "Thinking what?"

Warwick smile maliciously and looked at "Handsome Dan", "If they don't have that many people for a posse, all the able ones will have been selected by now and are likely in the saddle," he smiled.

"So?"

Derrick was ready to hit Dan, "So?" he mimicked. "If the able ones are after us, there's a whole lot left of Dodge to be got," he chuckled.

Dan thought for a moment and then smiled, "I like it."

"Good. Because we are riding over that ridge and right back into Dodge. I saw a fancy saloon as we were riding out, and I bet it turns a good profit," Derrick sneered with a lust for more money in his voice. "After all we did shot the marshal as we where leaving," the looked at Dan. "There can't be that much law left in Dodge at the moment and not everyone will know who we are," he snickered.

"Handsome Dan" nodded his head in approval, :"I like it," he said nudging his horse in the direction of the hills. Derrick was quick to follow. Not only was the money making him thirsty, but so was the booze and women.

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Doc had finished with Matt's leg and tidied up the bandage. The doctor ticked his head, "Well, Matt, you might just be lucky this time," Doc said as he stood. Of course the marshal didn't hear him as he was unconscious.

Doc collected his instruments and placed them on a tray and then pulled a sheet up to cover the marshal. The physician quietly picked up the tray and left the back room. Kitty and Wilbur Jonas sat in the office waiting to hear how Matt was doing.

Doc sat the tray down on a small table at the side of his office and then turned to the two people in his office. He didn't say anything as he walked to his roll-top desk and eased himself into his chair. Doc ran his hand through his unruly hair and rested his arm on his desk. "I think he'll be just fine," Doc said in a hushed voice as he looked at Kitty. "But his isn't going to be up and about for at least four or five weeks," Doc stated.

"That bad, huh?" Jonas asked. Kitty looked at the store owner and then to Doc as she awaited his answer.

"Well it isn't good," Doc drew his hand across his moustache as he looked over to Harry Bodkin. Slowly Doc lifted himself from his chair and walked over to the examination table. He looked at the banker's placid face before he took the man's wrist to check his pulse. Doc seemed satisfied and placed Bodkin's arm back down on the table before he adjusted the sheet that covered him.

Doc drew a deep breath and walked to the door of his office, "It's best if you two get on with your day," he said as he opened the door.

Jonas stood and cupped his hand under Kitty's elbow, "If you need anything Doc, just call us," Jonas said as he guided Kitty to the door. Doc nodded in acknowledgement, "I'll keep you up to date on their conditions ad the day goes on," Doc smiled weakly. He could see the pain and concern that Kitty was feeling. "Thanks, Doc," Kitty said solemnly as she took another quick look over her shoulder to the back room where Matt rested.

"Go on now," Doc urged.

Kitty nodded, "Thanks, Doc," she looked the older man in the eyes. "I'll have a drink ready for you," she tried to smile. "I'll look forward to it," Doc winked.

Jonas and Kitty walked down the stairs. "Well, I guess I should get to the store," Jonas said.

Kitty looked at him oddly, "Shouldn't you make your presence known as the interim deputy?

Jonas looked down at his badge and then back at the saloon owner, "Do you think it's needed?"

Kitty's eyebrow arched, "People expect to see someone with a badge on," she sighed. "Do a round and the stop in and see me," Kitty patted Jonas on the upper arm. Jonas watched the saloon owner turn and leave for her saloon. Jonas then looked again at the badge he had pinned to his vest. Slowly his intense blue eyes lifted and looked around the street. He didn't know where to begin. Upholding the law on a town committee was far different from upholding on the street with a tin badge pinned to one's vest and a gun tucked into one's waistband.

Reluctantly, Jonas stepped down off the boardwalk and crossed the street. He decided to check in with Percy Crump.

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Festus and his small posse seemed to making good time. The ground was dry, but no wind allowed the hill man to track the outlaws without too much difficulty, "I figure they are now about three hours ahead of us," Festus stated as he stopped and looked around the horizon.

"If we push a little harder, we might just catch up with them before dusk," Sam suggested. Festus nodded, "That we might," he said.

Nathan Burke rolled his eyes, "What about the horses?"

"What about them?" Festus looked at the shipping clerk.

"We can't keep pace with them! They are on the run and who knows how far they really are ahead of us!" Burke said.

Festus narrowed his eyes, "The more we sit around jawin' about this, the more they are getting ahead," he said glaring at Burke. Burke felt the ridicule, "I was only saying," he added.

"Maybe you should keep that to yourself," Sam said. "There's a lot of people in Dodge depending on us right now," he scolded. Sam nudged his horse forward following Festus.

Burke shank in his saddle, "No-one ever listens to me," he growled and tapped his horse on the flanks to catch up with Festus and Sam.