Matt and Kitty reached the shack first and went up on the small porch. An old comfortable rocking chair was by the door, with a soft, thick cushion beside it. A much-chewed knotted piece of rope lay on the cushion.
"Now everyone stay back until I check inside! Chester?" The tall lawman scanned the crowd for his lanky young assistant.
"Here I am, Mr. Dillon!" Chester called as he worked his way through the crowd, the small doctor in his wake. Both men joined Matt and Kitty on the porch.
Matt knocked on the door a few times, then turned the unlocked knob and looked back at his companions on the porch.
"Wait here until I come back out. Chester. Keep everyone away."
"Yes Sir, Mr. Dillon!" The slim young man stood tall and determined as he turned to face the chattering townspeople.
"Now you all heard Mr. Dillon! Ya jest gotta wait 'till he comes back out!"
Once inside the shack, the Marshal carefully looked around the small main room with a tiny kitchen nook off to the left. The room was neat, clean, and sparsely decorated with an old braided rag rug, an upholstered chair, and a small table and chair. On the floor between the worn chair and a small potbellied stove was a soft cushion with a chewed-on rag doll lying on it.
"Mr. Abbey? MR. ABBEY?" Matt called as he slowly approached the only other room, a small bedroom in the back with the door ajar.
Pushing open the door, the young man cautiously looked inside.
The old soldier lying on the bed was fully dressed in his usual uniform jacket with medal over a clean white shirt, soft grey pants, and carefully shined, cracked leather boots. His blue cap was at the foot of the bed.
The equally old dog, now almost completely white, lay with her head on her master's chest, his arms holding her close. Both were cold to Matt's tentative touch.
Matt removed his Stetson and walked back to the open front door. As soon as he stepped out, the impatient chattering of the crowd ceased, and all eyes turned towards his.
"Hold on another minute, folks," he said in a loud voice, holding up one large palm. Then he turned towards his friends on the porch.
"Doc. Kitty. Come inside." His voice was low and Kitty saw the sadness in the eyes she could read so well. Chester looked at his friend and employer questioningly, but knew his assigned duty came first, and he stood straight and firm, guarding the entrance with his slender body.
Matt silently led the way into the back room, then stood aside with Kitty as Doc examined the old man and his dog.
"Yes, they're both dead. I'd say about two hours ago. I knew Ralston had a bad heart and I think it finally gave out." The old doctor stood back up and pulled off his glasses, still looking down at the kind old man on the bed.
Kitty's big blue eyes were full of tears as she looked from Ralston and Sugar back over to Doc.
"Doc? What about Sugar?'
"Well, Kitty, I may be wrong, but I think they died within moments of each other, and, well, I think old Sugar's heart just broke in two after Ralston died."
The tears now spilled from Kitty's eyes, and Matt put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close for a moment and squeezed. Then he handed her his clean bandana and cleared his throat.
"Doc. I'm going to go tell that crowd now. Chester and I will make sure you're not bothered in here. Come on Kitty. I'll take you home."
Kitty nodded, sniffed once, dabbed at her eyes, put her head up and bravely smiled. She followed the tall Marshal out of the room.
After the announcement, the stunned and saddened crowd slowly and quietly dispersed, making their way back to town. Only Wilbur Jonas remained, motionlessly staring at the small shack. A few minutes later, he too turned and slowly walked back to his store and the now soggy crackers in the small dish of milk.