Both Matt and Festus were disturbed when they removed the bandanas from the two robbers in the dirt street. Both looked no more than nineteen or twenty years old, with peach fuzz faces.
Festus glanced over at the pained look on his friend and employer's face, and cleared his throat.
"Matthew, they was a tryin' to KILL us, ya know. We couldn't of did nothin' else!"
The tall Marshal, who felt eons older than his forty-three years, sighed and nodded his head. He then noticed the bloody tear in his Deputy's upper left sleeve that had left a painful crease in the arm.
"Come on Festus. We'd better have Doc look at your arm. Then we're going to get riding."
Festus had been studying the horses of the two dead robbers, and now bent down and lifted the front hoof of the nearer animal.
"Lookee here Matthew! Them boys are plumb smart and gonna be as hard ta track as a bird in the sky!"
Matt walked over and looked at the hoof. Both horses had covers over their hooves made of thick material that had been carefully hand sewn and attached with straps.
Dropping the hoof, the disgusted lawman shook his head and glumly headed towards Doc's with Festus. They would stop at Percy Crump's on the way to send him over to the bank as soon as possible. After Doc's they would gear up and head out on their search, no matter how difficult.
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"Festus, we might as well head back to Dodge. Those murderers could have doubled back, or headed in any direction. No one has seen them, and we can't track without tracks!" The Marshal was tightening the cinch on his saddle after another necessary rest for their horses after almost eight hours of searching. It was now close to midnight, and even the bright moon was of no help.
"Ain't nuthin' else ta do, Matthew. We're as tired out as Ruth an' Buck, I reckon. It'll sure be good ta git back ta my own bed."
They had only traveled about thirty miles, having crisscrossed the terrain for any clue in vain. Both men knew how useless going any further would be without any tracks. Resigned to failure, they dejectedly turned their mounts for home.
By the time Festus and matt had settled Ruth and Buck at the stable, it was going on 2AM. Festus gave a tired wave and headed for his small shack, spurs jangling.
Halfway back to the office, the tired and depressed lawman stopped in the middle of the empty street and looked up at the top corner window of the Long Branch. Kitty had left a small lamp lit, as she always did when he was out of town. "It's my heart welcoming you back, Matt," she had whispered to him once when she had thought he was already asleep after a grueling two days out on the prairie. But he had heard.
Glad that he had decided to leave his saddle and gear at the stable, the tall, trail-worn man quickened his steps as he headed towards the beckoning light and Kitty's warm heart.
Using his key to unlock her door, Matt slipped inside as quietly as possible and pulled off his boots. Peering across the room towards the big brass bed, he could see Kitty by the soft, dim lamplight. Luxurious tendrils of red hair framed her lovely face like a painting.
He padded forward, only wanting to look at her, when her luminous, large blue eyes opened and focused on him, followed by the special smile she only gave to him.
"Oh Honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. I only wanted to see you. You go back to sleep now," he said in the deep voice she loved. He tried to smile but it didn't reach his eyes, and the tall, slump- shouldered man turned to leave.
"Matt." Her voice was soft but insistent. Doc had told her about the tragedy of the Sharp couple and the dead young robbers, and she could see the pain in her man's eyes.
Turning his head, he saw her sitting up in a sheer, pink negligee, holding both arms out towards him, an enticing look on her face.
"Kitty, I can't. I'm covered with trail dust and sweat. I need a shave. I smell like a horse! I'll come by later on and take you to Delmonico's."
"Matt. Come here!" Her eyes were intense and voice was low and firm.
Hesitating, the big Marshal let out a long, pent-up breath, peeled off his dirty clothing, and looked towards the bathing room.
"Matt. NO! Come here Darlin.'" She pulled the negligee off over her head and her creamy softness drew him near.
Putting her slender arms around his big neck, Kitty pulled him down on top of her, and he engulfed her in his big, needy arms, squeezing her so tightly that she let out a small gasp.
Matt was a tall, broad-shouldered, big man, and usually was exceptionally careful to not be too rough with Kitty, but his need for her overwhelmed him. Tonight he wanted and needed to lose himself in her, to become one with the woman who already owned his heart.
The slim woman inhaled his manly scent that she loved, redolent of horse and prairie and sweat. She responded to his fierce need, grabbing his tangled curls and trying to pull the memories of the murdered old couple and dead beardless boys from his head.
Later, she looked up at her exhausted man's face as he peacefully slept, arms still holding her close to his chest. She hated the toll his job took on him, the terrible things he had to see and do, but had accepted it long ago as part of the man he was.