Dodge City was a buzz of excitement as the scheduled Friday baseball game grew nearer. Towns' folk hung banners of all colours on buildings, over the street and around just about every lamp pole was adorned. Kitty Russell stood in the doorway of the Long Branch as she watched Sam Noonan finish with the banner she had for the saloon. "That's just perfect," she smiled at sam as he stepped down off the wooden ladder and looked up at the red and white cloth that swooped down from the balcony.

Their admiration was briefly interrupted by the town doctor as he stepped into the room and looked at Kitty and Sam, "Getting into the spirit, I see," Doc smiled.

"Well, I just wanted the place to look cheerful. Whether we win or not," Kitty said as she walked to the back of the bar. Sam followed and continued to dry the many glasses that he'd washed earlier.

"Well, the whole town sure has caught on the growing excitement. I can't tell you when I last saw such goings on," Doc said as he ambled toward the bar and leaned on it.

"How do you think we're going to do?" Kitty leaned over the back of the bar and rested her chin on her hand.

Doc shrugged, "I don't honestly know. I know we are going to give it the best shot we can. It's all that we can do. I know Jonas thinks we can beat the White Stockings," Doc stated.

"I hope for Jonas' sake, and ours, we win," Kitty said as she pushed herself off from the bar and opened one of her ledgers to look at the next order.

"I guess we'll know in a few hours time," Sam stated as he looked at the clock on the wall at the end of the bar. Both Kitty and Doc looked over to the clock before they exchanged glances.

Kitty closed the book and sighed. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm getting nervous," Kitty added.

"Me too," Doc chimed in. "And me," Sam added. Almost as if on cue, Wilbur Jonas appeared in the doorway of the saloon. He didn't speak a word as he moved slowly to the bar while holding his hip.

"How you are feeling today, Jonas?" Doc asked.

Jonas' intense blue eyes shifted to the doctor, "I think I'm going to be sick," he said in a hushed voice as he parked himself at the bar.

"Nerves, huh?" Doc asked as he winked at Kitty to get Jonas a drink. Jonas nodded to Doc's question.

"How's the other," Doc didn't want to pry about Jonas' injury?

Jonas sighed, "It kept me up most of the night. Thanks for asking," he looked at Doc and then to Kitty who slid the glass across the bar toward the store owner. "Oh, thank you, Miss Kitty," he looked relived to see the drink which was gone in one swallow. Doc's eyebrows rose to his hairline - he'd never seen Jonas take a drink like that.

Kitty pursed her lips, trying not to snicker at the look on Doc's face. "Would you like another drink, Mr. Jonas?" she quickly changed facial expressions.

"Oh, I don't know," Jonas stammered and felt slightly embarrassed.

"It's on the house," Kitty said as she poured more whiskey into the empty glass. "Thank you, Miss kitty," Jonas said again. This time he'd take his time with the spirits.

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Coach O'Connor chewed on the stump of his cigar, "I can't wait to get out of this town," he said as he looked down at Front Street from his hotel room. "It is beginning to give me the willies," he stated as he looked back over his shoulder toward the hand-full of White Stocking baseball players who stood and sat across the room.

"You aren't the only one, Coach," Pearson said.

"I checked with the engineer and he said that the locomotive is ready to go, so as soon as we beat this bunch of cowpunchers, we'll leave this hel-hole," O'Connor said with a strange smile on his face. "I'll love to see the sad looks on their faces as we roll out of here later today," he laughed.

Pearson balled up his right hand and pounded into his left palm, "I can't wait to rub the whiskers off the smug deputy," he growled.

"Now, boys, I don't want this to turn into a melee," O'Connor warned. "I think once you whip them, you'll feel better. I know I sure will. This will be like leading calves to slaughter," he laughed and poured himself a half glass of whiskey from the decanter from the table next to the window. O'Connor watched citizens of Dodge continue to decorate the street and buildings. A slight uneasiness swept over him.

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Festus Haggen walked briskly back to the jail house and found matt sitting in his chair at the office, "Wall, Matthew, we got the baseball ruby all set up, just like Mr. Jonas asked," he smiled as he poured himself a cup of three-hour old coffee.

"The baseball 'ruby'?" Matt looked up at the hill man.

"Yeah. That's what the ground is called where the game is played," Festus explained.

"Are you sure it isn't called a diamond?" Matt countered as he stood.

Festus twisted his mouth in thought, "Could be," he said while still thinking. Matt smiled, "I'm heading over to the Long Branch. I'll be back as soon as I know when the official start of the game is," he said as he plucked his hat off the wooden peg near the door.

"I want to see the looks on those White Stockings' faces when we rub their noses into it," Festus said to no one in particular as he focussed himself for the game.

Matt's left eyebrow rose, "Well, you have to beat them first, Festus," he said as he opened the door.

Festus slowly looked over to the marshal, "On my great-uncle Willy Herkel's grave, I'll give it every thing I can to do jist that, Matthew," a slow smile crept over the hill man's face.

Matt drew a breath. He wondered what was going to be left of his town once the game was over and the dust settled.