Matt read the message again just to be sure of what it said. Not only was he temporarily suspended from his Marshaling duties, but an investigation had been opened and Judge Clayton had been appointed the investigator.

Matt knew what that meant, evidence or not, Clayton could rule against him and submit a report that could not only get him fired but charged with aiding and abetting a known fugitive.

"Thanks, Barney," Matt said softly. There will be no reply."

Barney nodded and turned to go as Matt handed the message off to Newly.

"There's no way, I'm going to be able to take Abelia to Festus now. Clayton's probably got some one watching all of us."

"We have to tell Doc and Robert," Newly said as Matt nodded.

Doc shook his head in disbelief as they spoke in hushed tones.

"I really want to help, Doc," Matt said meeting the physician's eyes. "But there's no way we'll get out of town unknown to Cooper and Clayton."

"I know, Matt," Doc said quietly. "I know."

Cooper had the trackers spread out to the different ways out of town as he and Cy question several people about the night Festus left.

Hank ignored Cooper's questions until the young attorney handed him a warrant for his arrest with Clayton's signature on it.

"Now," Cooper said taking one step closer to the livery worker. "Where did the deputy get the horse to leave town?"

"You'll have to ask the Marshal," Hank said stiff lipped.

"Dillon?" Cooper asked as Hank nodded.

Cooper left the stable before turning to Cy. "Let's go see Clayton!"

(Doc's Office)

"So that's the situation," Matt said looking at Kitty, Doc and Robert as Newly stood by his side. "Newly's the acting Marshal for now."

"What are you going to do, Matt?" Kitty asked looking at her husband with worry.

"I don't know yet," Matt said thoughtfully. "Every telegraph I've sent to the Governor or Judge Brooker have gone unanswered."

"Do you think Clayton and Cooper have anything to do with it?" Robert asked curiously.

"I'd bet money on it," Matt said angrily.

Doc shook his head slowly. "We can't let on about any of this to Abelia," he said worriedly. "At least not right now, I'm just going to tell her, we've been delayed."

"Good idea," Kitty said as Robert agreed.

A knock at Doc's office door gave them all a start as Doc walked over to answer it.

"Doctor," Judge Clayton said with a nod as he stepped though the door.

"Can I help you?" Doc said squaring his eyes.

"No," Clayton hissed while making eye contact with Matt. "Marshal, I believe you know what this is!" he said with a smirk as he handed Matt a piece of paper.

Matt took it and scanned it before handing it to Newly.

"An arrest warrant?" Newly said looking at Clayton.

"For aiding and abetting a known fugitive," Clayton said angrily. "I have a witness who will testify the Marshal set deputy Haggen up with a horse to leave town."

"No!" Kitty said looking from the Judge to Matt.

"And," Clayton went on while never taking his eyes off the Marshal. "I think he knows where he's at!"

"Marshal," Newly said looking at Matt as Clayton turned to him.

"You're the Marshal!" Clayton said with a sneer. "Now, do your job or another one will be appointed!"

Matt knew that if he fought, they'd all be in danger and at the moment, the only one that was a target was him and that's the way he wanted it.

"He's right, Newly," Matt said looking at the younger man. "You're the Marshal now and he's also right about Festus! I gave him my horse to get out of town and I know exactly where he's at!"

Clayton laughed like a man who thought he'd won the biggest game of poker before Matt turned to him.

"But that doesn't mean I have to tell you or anyone else where the location is!"

"Take him to the jail!" Clayton ordered looking at Newly. "Maybe a few days locked up will make you change your mind!"

"Matt!" Kitty said as Newly took Matt's arm.

"It's alright, Kitty!" he said meeting her eyes. "Stay with Doc!"

The out of town reporters descended upon them as Newly pushed past them to lead Matt to the jail.

All the while, Cooper watched from a distance as Clayton talked to the news people.

As a lawyer, Cooper had no jurisdiction in Kansas but that didn't mean he couldn't get things done the way he wanted.

"Let's go," he said looking at Cy as Clayton returned to his office.

"What are we going to do now?" Kitty said looking at Doc and Robert.

"I don't know," Doc said swiping his mustache nervously as Robert smiled.

"I got an idea," he said as Doc and Kitty both turned to him. "What we need is someone to get a message to the Governor himself in Topeka."

"Well," Doc said with a nod. "Yes, but who and how would they get past Cooper and Clayton?"

"Doc," Robert said evenly. "They couldn't possibly stop a doctor from making house calls, now could they?"

Doc and Kitty smiled as Robert discussed his plan to take Doc's buggy out of town.

"Once I'm a safe enough distance away," Robert said quietly. "I'll unhitch the buggy and ride into Topeka."

"You sure, your up to this?" Doc asked as Robert nodded.

"I'm positive," he said firmly. "I can make it!"

"You better be," Doc said tugging at his ear. "Anything happens to you, your father will have my head for letting you pull such a fool stunt!"

"Don't worry about it," Robert said evenly. "Besides, it's my idea."

Newly shut the door to the cell and locked it.

"Now what?" he said as Matt sighed.

"I'm all out of ideas," he said as the door to the jail opened and Doc walked in.

"Doc," Newly said quietly. "What's going on?"

Robert put his black Doctor's bag into the drivers seat of Doc's buggy before climbing into it.

"Doc," Hank said as Robert turned around.

"Hank," he said after noticing Cy watching from the livery. "Doc's tied up with patients here in town so I'm going to make his rounds for him today."

"Oh," Hank said with a nod. "Alright then. Be careful!"

"I will," Robert said grabbing the reins, he smacked the horse's back to get it moving.

Cy watched the buggy a moment before looking at Hank.

"You got two doctors in this town? he asked surprised.

"He's fresh out of medical school," Hank replied curtly. "What difference does it make to you!"

"Who is he?" Cy asked as Hank remained silent.

Cy grabbed the older man by the shirt and pushed him against the wall of the livery.

"You better start talking old man!" he said with a sneer.

"Doc," Matt said clinching his jaw. "You shouldn't have let him go! We don't know who we're dealing with here or what they're capable of!"

"I know, Matt," Doc said uneasily. "But it was his idea and we've got to try something."

Robert checked behind him several times before stopping on the side of the road and unhitching Doc's buggy.

Opening his black bag, he took out the gun he had been hiding there and slipped it into the waist band of his pants before climbing onto the horse's back and nudging it forward.

"Robert Clomely is Haggen's son," Clayton said as Cooper turned to Cy.

"Dammit!" Cooper said angrily. "Go and you'd better bring him back!"