Avery McBride stood and walked past the window of their room. A shadowy figure caught his attention causing him to pause and try to get and better look. He wasn't sure what he was really looking at and blinked hard to clear his eyes. He looked down at the bottle on the floor and then back out to the street. He then rubbed his eyes with his knuckles as he refocused on the figure.

McBride leaned closer to the window pane and watched as another figure joined the other one. The way the one turned, he was certain that it was a badge. "Jeremy. Get up!" Avery whispered.

"Huh?" Boyd moaned from the bed.

"I said get up. I think that mangy deputy is down there. And it looks like he's got someone with him," McBride stated.

"You're drunk," Boyd said.

"I might be, but I'm telling you, that deputy is down there!" McBride pointed out the window.

There was something in McBride's voice that finally stirred Boyd, "Let me have a look," he grumbled as he roll off the edge of the bed. Boyd staggered to the window, half asleep and half drunk. He looked at McBride and snorted, "Where?" he asked and looked out the window.

"Right there. I think I even saw his badge," McBride pointed again.

Boyd pressed his nose to the window and starred down into the darkness, "Huh," he grunted. "Maybe they're here to pay us a visit," he said looking over to his friend.

"Well, I'm not going to be here," McBride said as he gathered his hat and gun belt. "You'd be wise to leave too," he said. Boyd nodded, "Well I am not going to be the one to greet them at the door," he said as he followed McBride to the door.

"Wait," McBride held his hand out. "Maybe we should try going out the window, once they move," he said. "I still hear voices down in the saloon," he stated.

Boyd quickly moved to the window and lifted the sash. He peered further into the night; "It looks like they have moved!" he whispered and carefully climbed out onto the cat walk that led to the fire escape stairs at the end of the building.

McBride stepped through the window and leaned over the railing to see if he could spot the deputy. "I think I just saw him go into the saloon," he said as he nudged Boyd to move.

"Close the window," Boyd pointed.

McBride nodded and slid the sash closed then followed Boyd quietly along the walkway. Both men hastily climbed down the stairs and disappeared into and alley.

Matt decided that with Boyd and McBride's capture a sure thing, he'd make his presence know, despite the rumour of his death in the fire. Some of the men in the bar were happy to see him, others not so much.

The clerk watched the law men walk up the stairs to room twelve. Matt held the rifle out and Festus was ready with his gun. Matt rapped loudly on the door, "Open up. You are under arrest," he ordered. No sound came from the room.

"Maybe they're drunk," Festus offered.

Matt was not humoured by the deputy's comment – he pounded harder on the door- still there was nothing. Matt grabbed the doorknob and turned it. The men had not locked their door. Both Matt and Festus pounced into the room with their firearms ready. "They aren't here," Matt growled as he quickly looked around. "Damn," he cursed loudly.

"I didn't see them leave," Festus said.

"Neither did I," Matt stated as he left the room and walked quickly down the stairs with Festus on his heels. All eyes in the saloon were on the two lawmen as they made their way through the saloon looking for Boyd and McBride.

Matt stopped and looked around, "We'd better get back to Doc and Ambrose," he stated. "I don't like this," he sneered and stepped past Festus. The lack of sleep and his injured shoulder and arm were not making him more miserable by the moment. Festus' mood wasn't much better.

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The night was slowly giving into day and the sky was slowly growing brighter. The smell of smoke was heavy throughout Dodge and people who hadn't been on the street watching the fire where now stopping at the shell of the jail house pointing and talking. Word quickly spread that Matt and Ambrose perished in the flames.

People who were close to Matt stood in shock as they watched men pick through the smouldering rubble looking for bodies. Wilbur Jonas stood holding his bowler hat in his hands as he clutched it to his chest. "I never would have thought he'd go like that," the store owner stated.

Sam Noonan stood near Jonas, "It's hard to believe," he sighed. "Unbelievable," he said with a heavy heart.

"How's Miss Kitty," Jonas looked over to the barkeeper.

"Doc left this note on his desk that he was called out of town on an emergency but that he had given her something to help her sleep," Sam said as he held up the piece of paper.

Jonas shook his head, "The poor thing," he said and slowly turned away.

Sam looked down again to the note and a lump formed in his throat, he too turned and walked away.

Louie Pheeters stood in the middle of the street with tears pouring down his weathered cheeks, "Oh, marshal," he whispered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matt and Festus reached the carriage shop and were relieved that Boyd and McBride where nowhere near the building. The marshal gently rapped his knuckle on the door, "Doc?"

Doc stirred and listened.

"Doc, it's me, Matt," the marshal said in a loud whisper. "Open the door," he ordered.

Doc struggled to his feet. He hadn't slept on a floor since his time in Libby, "I'm coming," the doctor grumbled as he ambled across the floor, glancing down at Ambrose as he went by. Doc drew his hand across his moustache and ticked his head, What a night," he mumbled.

Festus kept a watchful eye, "I sure wish I knew where those two bushwhackers were at," he growled.

"We'll find them," Matt said. "I'll have you form a posse and we'll comb this town until we do," he added.

Doc unlocked the door and let Matt and Festus in. Matt looked down to Ambrose, "How is he?" he asked then looked up at the tired doctor.

"He'd be better if he wasn't on the floor in an abandon carriage shop. It's a good thing he lost consciousness a while ago. I ran out of laudanum a while ago," Doc quipped.

Matt understood, "Unfortunately, you'll both have to stay here a little longer," he told the doctor.

"You didn't catch them?" Doc asked as his eyebrows knit together.

Matt shook his head no, "I thought for sure we had them. Either someone tipped them off, or they were watching for us," he grumbled.

"Well, I can't stay here much longer. I need to check in on Kitty, and Ambrose needs that leg set. This environment isn't good for him either," Doc protested. "For me either," he grumbled as he arched his aching back.

"I'm sorry Doc, but it has to be this way. I'll have Festus to tell Newly to look in on Kitty, and get you some more medicine. Do you need anything else?" Matt asked.

Doc looked down at Ambrose, "A couple of blankets and if it isn't too much of a bother, some food," Doc snapped as he looked back at Matt.

Matt nodded and took Festus aside, "You go and find Newly. You can tell him what happened, but don't tell anyone else. If people ask about the food and supplies from Doc's office, tell them he can't get them himself," Matt said.

"I left a note on my desk to say I had a medical emergency to attend to," Doc interjected.

Matt looked over to the doctor, "Good," he said. He looked back at the hill man, "Be careful and watch out for Boyd and McBride," Matt warned.

"Oh, I will," Festus growled as the hill man left the carriage shop.

"What are you going to do?" Doc asked Matt.

"Look for two bushwhackers," Matt stated as he too left.

Doc stood looking at the open door and he ticked his head, "I sure hope this works out," he said as he closed the door and locked it.