The next morning, Matt walked with Kitty alone outside and out of Doc's hearing range under the guise of wanting fresh air. "Did you get a reply from Newly," Kitty asked as Matt nodded.

"He's going to Cimarron today to question Cooper's deputies."

"Matt," Kitty said looking up at him. "You've got a plan, don't you? In case things don't work out for Doc."

"Yeah," Matt said with a gentle squeeze of her hand. "Festus and I are going to take care if it!"

Newly rode into the town of Cimarron and stoped in front of Sheriff Cooper's office. Sliding off his horse, he opened the door to the jail and stepped inside. The badges pinned to the two men within indicated they were the Sheriff's deputies. "Morning," Newly said with a smile. "Sheriff Cooper here?"

"Not right now," the older of the two said with a nod. "Who are you?"

"Newly O'Brien," Newly said looking from one man to the other. "I'm Marshal Dillion's deputy and I'm representing Doctor Adams in absentia."

"I'm Carl Dawkins," he said looking at the other deputy. "That's John Martin."

"Sir," Newly said with a nod before looking at both men. "I'd like to ask you both some questions about what happened the day Ben Turner died."

"Sorry, mister," Martin said picking up his hat from a peg in the wall. "I didn't see nothing. When I got there, yer Doc had already killed Ben!"

"Alright," Newly said quietly before watching the man leave. "What about you, Mister Dawkins?"

"Yeah," Dawkins replied uneasily. "What he said, that goes same for me."

"Are you sure, you didn't see anything, sir?"

The door behind them suddenly opened as Sheriff Cooper and Deputy Martin returned. "I already told you, mister!" Dawkins said brushing past them. "I didn't see anything!"

Newly frowned as Dawkins left the office but then he turned his attention to Sheriff Cooper. "Deputy," Cooper said angrily. "If you're not here to tell me that that you have Doctor Adams in custody then I suggest you stop wasting my time and get out there and find him!"

"No, sir," Newly said with a frown. "Doctor Adams is still missing but there's no law that says, I can't try to clear his name."

"You'll get no help here," Cooper said dismissively as Newly nodded.

"Thank you for your time, Sheriff," Newly said tipping his hat as he left.

Mounting his horse, Newly rode out but Dawkins caught his attention from the road just outside of town. "Mister Dawkins," Newly said when the deputy rode up beside him. "Something, I can do for you?"

"Look," Dawkins said before looking around. "I can't let an old man hang for something Cooper's responsible for."

"What do you mean, Mister Dawkins?"

"The Turner's ran this town," Dawkins said angrily. "Cooper's the Sheriff because he did what they wanted and now with them both dead, he knows he's got a lot to prove!"

"So he wants to use Doc as an example," Newly said as Dawkins nodded. "Would you be willing to testify to that in court Mister Dawkins?"

"Well, yeah," Dawkins replied with a smirk. "I don't have anything to hide or lose!"

"Thank you, sir," Newly said smiling broadly. "I'll let Marshal Dillon know!"

"He knows where the Doc is, don't he?" Dawkins asked as Newly nodded.

"We'll be in touch, Mister Dawkins. As soon as Marshal Dillon deems it safe for Doctor Adams to return," Newly said tipping his hat as he left.

Afterward, Dawkins returned to town and stopped at the jail as Cooper stepped outside. "Did he take the bait?"

"Hook, line and sinker," Dawkins said as Cooper smiled. "You'll have that old coot in custody any day now!"

"Good job," Cooper said excitedly. "Now, all we have to do is watch Dodge for them to return and arrest them the moment they get back into town!"

Matt laid a steel trap and jumped back as it suddenly snapped shut.

Festus laughed loudly as he smacked Matt on the shoulder. "When it comes ta Marshaling Matthew yer da best but ya better leave the trappin ta me or we'd starve ta death fer sure!"

"I think your right," Matt said stepping back to watch Festus expertly set the trap before moving on to the next one.

"I would have had these all set already if it hadn't been fer this bad shoulder," Festus said before setting the last one. "When ya headed back ta town to check on Newly's telegram?"

"Tomorrow," Matt said with a grin. "I'd take you with me but, your a wanted man!"

"Ain't the first time, Marshal," Festus replied with a smirk. "I can stay hidden well enough ta not get myself caught, Matthew."

"Well, alright," Matt replied with a nod.

That night, Matt and Kitty talked quietly over a cup of coffee while Doc and Festus engaged in a rancorous game of checkers. "Are ya gonna move or ya just gonna sit thar staring at the board all night?" Festus said scrunching up one eye.

"Don't rush me now," Doc said angrily. "I'm trying to think! Now let me see here," he said making his move as Festus smirked.

"I got ya now ya ol scudder!" Festus said before jumping several of Doc's game pieces to sweep the board and win the game. "How's about another game?"

"No," Doc said tugging at his ear lobe. "I think, I'd rather just talk."

Festus looked over at Matt and Kitty before returning his gaze to Doc. "Alright," he said quietly. "Whatcha wanna talk about, Doc?"

"I know you and Matt are planning on going into town to check on a telegram from Newly but I've decided that no matter what it says, I'm ready to go back now and I'd appreciate it if you all wouldn't give me no arguments about it!"

Matt nodded as Festus looked as though he'd just lost his best friend but he followed suit and nodded his consent as well but Kitty closed her eyes before taking a deep breath. They all knew this moment would eventually come, Doc was to much of a man of integrity to run from the law forever even if he didn't commit the crime.

"Kitty?" Doc said patting the chair next to him. "Come sit down."

Kitty moved next to him as Doc swiped nervously at his mustache. "I have to have your support, I can't do this if I don't and you know why, I must."

Kitty nodded as she held back the tears that threatened to fall. Squeezing his hand, she managed a slight smile before she said. "I support your decision, Doc."

The next day while Matt rode alone into the shanty town to the telegraph office, Festus stayed out of sight just off the trail into town until Matt arrived. The hill man could see by the look on Matt's face that the news was good. "Well," he said excitedly. "Are ya gone make me guess what that there telegram says or are ya gonna tell me!"

"Newly found a witness," Matt said with a sigh. "He's willing to testify against Sheriff Cooper!"

"Doc'll be real happy ta hear that, Matthew," Festus said with a broad smile. "I know, I am!"