Burt Morrison and his posse sat at the round table at the back of the Double Duce. He was leaning forward and playing with the half empty glass of whiskey in his hands. He twisted his mouth in thought.
"So what are we going to do?" Hiram Nielsen asked.
Morrison looked over at his friend, "I don't know. It seems to me that Dillon has something good on Fowler and McClellan to wave that telegram in my face," he sneered.
"You know folks in Pratt want justice," Nielsen stated.
"I know that. And I've been thinking a lot about it," Morrison snarled.
"It seems to me we should let Dillon have his way. That way Pratt won't have the expense of the trial, hanging and burring of two piles of horse manure," Wally Baker said as he leaned back in his chair.
Morrison looked across the table at the deputised man, "You know Wally, sometimes you actually make sense."
Wally Barker leaned forward, "Thanks, Burt. Now how about another drink?" he said sliding his glass toward Morrison who was next to the partial bottle of whiskey. Morrison snorted, "You drink what you want," he said pushing the bottle into the middle of the table. "If we're in agreement that Dillon holds the trial here, I'm going to bed," he said trowing back the last of the whiskey in his glass.
"Yeah, I think we're in agreement," Jim Marsh stated.
"Good. I'm getting a room and hitting the hay. I don't want to see my horse until morning," Morrison stated. "We'll ride back to Pratt tomorrow, well, I mean in the morning," he corrected himself. "There we will wait for Dillon to get the trial organized. In fact," Morrison said leaning on the table as the alcohol began to take its effect, "I'll stop by and tell Matt that myself, tomorrow" he said wavering on his feet before pushing off to the service counter to get a room.
"I'm tired too," Marsh said and stood. Baker quickly poured another drink and downed it just as quickly, "Me too," he said getting to his feet.
Within minutes, the posse from Pratt had retired for the night.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Newly pushed himself up from the roll top desk in Doc's office. He assumed that he had fallen asleep there, but he had not recollection of it what's so ever. O'Brien yawned and stretched his arms out the sides before he rubbed his eyes with the knuckles of his hands. Again he yawned.
Slowly Newly stood and walked to the little wood stove, and placed a small log on the fire. The room, was still comfortable, despite the cold weather outside.
Newly ran his left hand over his face as he tried to wake himself up. The part time deputy looked over to the door that led into the back room where the doctor lay. Newly wet his lips and walked slowly to the door. He didn't hear a sound all night. Newly stepped to the door and looked down to the bed where he saw Doc's chest rising and falling as it should. Newly let out a quite sigh.
Carefully O'Brien stepped into the room and lowered himself to the edge of the bed where he placed his hand on Doc's forehead. Newly ticked his head, as he felt that Doc was running a slight fever. Carefully he pulled back the blankets and checked the dressing over the wound in Doc's side, "Looks like I need to change that," he spoke to himself as he gently placed the blankest back over Doc. He stood and walked to the outer office where he watched Kitty Russell come though the door.
"Miss Kitty?" Newly asked.
Kitty smiled, and placed a tray of food onto the desk, "I'm sure you are starving by now," she said stepping to the door and looking down at Doc. "How is he?" she asked.
Newly joined her, "He's got a slight fever and I need to change the dressings, but I think he's doing really well," he smiled and looked at Kitty. Kitty's eyes lifted to Newly, "Thank you," she smiled weakly.
"How's Festus?" Newly asked as he returned to the desk to look under the gingham napkin at the food.
"You know Festus," Kitty snorted. "He's had breakfast and is wanting to know when he can get back to work," she smiled.
"You tell him from me, that it will be a few weeks before he's going to get back to work," Newly said as he nibbled on a piece of toast.
Kitty shook her head no, "I'll leave that to you," she said and moved to the door.
Newly sighed. "Thanks for brining this up," he said looking down at the tray.
"Let me know if you need help with Doc, later," she smiled before she turned away to leave.
"I surely will," Newly said chewing on more toast.
By the time Kitty got to the bottom of the stairs, Wilbur Jonas was out front of his general store. He was watching the posse from Pratt as they rode down Front Street toward the jail house. Kitty stopped at Jonas' elbow, "What do you suppose they want?" Jonas asked.
"Matt says they want the prisoners," Kitty answered.
"They can't take them like that!" Jonas protested and turned to get his shoot gun out from under the counter of the store. Kitty watched the store owner, "What are you going to do?" she asked as Jonas rejoined her on the boardwalk.
"If they give Matt a hard time, I'll be here to back him up," Jonas said with the gun draped over his forearm.
Kitty tried to hide her smiled, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that," she said as she looked Jonas in the eye. He was determined to help. "Me too," he said staring down the street watching the men dismount and one by one entering the jail house.
Matt stood with his arms folded across his chest as he stood between Morrison's men and the wooden door that led into the holding cells, "I thought I told you men to go home," Matt growled.
Morrison put his hands in the air, "You did indeed tell us that, and we're here to say we're going. My men and I didn't want to ride through the night," Morrison stated. Matt nodded.
"However, marshal, we want to know when the trial will be," Morrison said.
Matt slowly relaxed and walked to his desk, "I'm trying to arranged to have Judge Brooker here by the end of the week. I've sent him a report and once he gets here, we'll have time to go over the case, at which point I will send for you," he pointed to Morrison.
"What about my men?" Morrison asked.
"If they want to watch the court case, they are welcomed to, but it's you that will be taking the stand," Matt said.
Morrison pursed his lips, "I've done nothing wrong!" he huffed.
Matt took two steps toward the Pratt deputy, "I didn't say you did," he said quietly. "Now get on your horses and leave Dodge," he ordered.
Morrison glared at Matt and finally turned, "Let's get home," he said to his posse and pushed passed his men to get out to his horse first. Quickly Morrison was up onto his horse and rode up the street with his men straggling behind.
Kitty and Jonas watched on, "Well what do you make of that?" Jonas asked.
"I don't know, but we can find out," Kitty said and side stepped the store owner on her way over to the jail house.
Matt fussed with the fire as both Kitty and Jonas stepped through the door. Jonas still had the shot gun in his hands, "I suppose you want the prisoners too?" Matt snapped at the store owner. Jonas' mouth dropped open, "Well, no," he stammered.
"Matt what happened?" Kitty quickly jumped in to save Jonas.
"I told Morrison to get out of town last night after they wanted the prisoners. They finally came to their senses and are leaving," Matt huffed. He looked at Jonas, "I assume you were going to be my back up," he said with a slightly mellower tone.
Jonas looked down at the gun in his hands and then back to Matt and only nodded.
"Thanks, Jonas," Matt smiled.
Kitty took Matt by the arm, "I think you need a good meal," she said and guided him to the door. Matt made a face that indicated that was certainly a good thing. He stoped and looked over to Jonas, "Seeing how it's still really early and you have that gun, would you mind watching over things?" Matt asked.
Jonas swallowed and once again looked down at the but before he could offer an answer, Matt and Kitty had left him alone in the jail house. "Well," he sighed and looked around nervously.
