Brown pulled the racing buggy to a halt in front of his house and locked the break with his foot before jumping out. He clutched his aching chest again and noted some swelling. He winced as his hand poked at the bruise - something was crack or broken. After all the cast iron skillet had some weight to it. He looked quickly down the lane wondering if anyone was following him. Satisfied that he was alone for the time being he rushed through the front door of his farm house, slamming it behind him.

Once he reached the centre of the room his eyes cast around in search of the shotgun he used to hunt with. He had hid it some years ago for safety reasons and now had forgotten for a moment what he'd done with the gun. Then his mind snapped to the answer and he hurried to the sofa and pulled it hard from the wall. There along the baseboard was the gun, wrapped in a sheet. His now shaking hand reached for the weapon and pulled it up into view. Slowly and methodically he unwrapped the dingy white sheet and held the gun in his hands. Slowly he walked to the desk and then jerked open the drawer almost spilling its contents onto the floor. His hand clutched at the box of shells. He shook it violently spilling the contents onto the desk. His eggar hand grabbed at the shotgun shells and stuffed them into his vest pocket and loaded two into the chamber. With a sigh of relief he slowly closed the desk drawer.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matt, Kitty, and Festus helped to sort Doc out from his near "accident". Kitty held on to his medical bag as he dusted himself off. The his eyes looked up into both of the law men that stood before him. "You know it was Tom Brown, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do Doc." Matt made a face of disapproval for the farmer that almost ran his friend down.

"I take it you'll be going out to his place..."

Matt nodded.

"Watch your back. I think he's in need of some medical help...he's just not right, Matt." Doc finished brushing the street dust off his shirt. "I don't trust him..."

"And so you shouldn't, Doc! He's taken two runs at you now!" Kitty interrupted

Doc drew his hand across his moustache and nodded. He reached out for his medical bag from Kitty who was about to give it to him. "Where you headed, Handsome?"

Doc grunted and gave Kitty a look, "If you must know, I was on my way over to see Jennie Brown."

"I'll go with you." Kitty held out her elbow for Doc to take and slowly he did.

"Doc. Kitty. I want you to stay at Ma's until I get back. I'll have Festus keep an eye out for Tom." Matt said as the two walked up the street and Kitty acknowledged.

Matt then looked to his hill man deputy. "Festus, I need you to stay alert. Watch out for Brown."

"Sure thang Matthew. I'd like ta get my hands on his carcass myself..." Festus gently rubbed his jaw. "I feel I owe him and thanks fer this..."

Matt nodded. He knew what Festus meant. "Maybe another time. Kitty and Doc are more important at the moment,"

"Shucks, I know that Matthew...I was jist sayin' that's all."

"I know you were..." Matt's eyes lifted from the hill man's to the wagon that stopped in front of the jail house. "Matthew, that's that nice couple who are going up north. What do you suppose they want with you?"

"Let's find out." Matt started down the street and greeted the couple. "What can I do for you folks?" Matt held the bridle.

"Marshal! It was terrible!" Marie blurted.

"Oh, now, Marie..." Jim tried to calm his wife. "You see marshal, we were camped just out that way and this fella came barging into our camp waving this gun at us..." Jim pulled the rifle from behind him and handed it to Matt.

Perplexed that the couple looked to be in good health Matt asked, "What did this fellow look like and how did you come by this?" He looked down at the weapon.

"He was tallish, older with and unshaved appearance. He was earing tall boots and a vest...oh, and a brown hat."

"Why Matthew that sounds jist like Brown, don't it!? Festus asked.

"Sure does, Festus." Matt said before looking back to the O'Connors, "How did you get this?"

"I threw old "Bessy" at him and hit him square in the chest!" Marie said gleefully.

"Old "Bessy"?" Matt leaned forward in confussion.

Jim rolled his eyes. "That's what she's named the cast iron frying pan. She hurled it at that fella and knocked him flat. I ran over and took the gun and then he ran off..."

"I see." Matt nodded. "I think for your own safety, I'm going to have to ask you to stay in town tonight."

"Is it that bad marshal?"

Matt nodded, "I'm afraid so."