When the Marshal wearily unfolded his big body from the 9AM stagecoach at 10:30AM, he was surprised not to see Chester leaning against a post, waiting for him. It was something neither had ever arranged or spoken about, but it was an understanding between the two close friends. Matt enjoyed his assistant's cheerful welcoming, and his updating on what had occurred in Dodge during his absence.
"Oh well, maybe he gave up after an hour. He's probably over in the Long Branch having an early beer on this sultry day with Doc and Kitty," he thought to himself as his carpetbag was handed down to him.
"Kitty." Even saying her name increased his eager anticipation to see her and then to hold her in private. It had been a long two weeks. He headed for the saloon instead of first dropping off his bag and checking in at the office.
The slight smile on his face broadened with every step, but his grin suddenly disappeared when he saw Doc fling open the saloon doors and hurry towards him. The old doctor was unshaven and looked weary and worried. He had taken a moment earlier to go back to his office home for a white shirt, string tie, socks, and his trusty old vest.
"Matt! Matt! Get over here, quick!" He stood on the boardwalk where the saloon building ended next to the alley near his own upstairs office. The fewer ears around, the better.
"Doc. What is it? What's wrong?" The tall lawman, wearing his best suit jacket, string tie and dress slacks, took off his best Stetson and wiped his brow with a bandana. His piercing blue eyes bored into Doc's unusually soft-looking gray-blue ones.
"Kitty." Matt felt a stab of deep knowing. "Doc, what's happened to her?!" His large hands grabbed the small man's upper arms tightly.
"Matt! Calm down, now! She was assaulted early this morning by a man who broke into her room. She fired a pistol once and apparently that shortened the attack since he must have known people would be responding."
The small older man winced a little as his young friend tightened his grip.
"Was she…did he…" The tough, fearless Marshal's voice was almost a hoarse whisper now.
"No, he DID NOT, Son. She said he tried but was…unable to perform. Unfortunately, she unthinkingly laughed in relief, and he took out his frustrated anger on her."
Matt suddenly let go of Doc's arms and whirled around to head up to Kitty, but the surprisingly strong small man now quickly grabbed his young friend's right arm.
"WAIT! I gave her something and she's finally asleep. She's sore and bruised and he broke her left wrist, but she will be fine!"
Matt looked at Doc and slowly nodded his head, but shook off the doctor's hand.
"I won't wake her, Doc, but I HAVE to see her!" he said through gritted teeth.
"MATT! Hold on! Her attacker was STOBO! And Chester is out looking for him!"
Stunned, the Marshal thought back to last year when he had thrown hot grease in the huge cowboy's face before capturing him, then beating him fiercely before throwing him out of Dodge forever. Stobo had almost killed Chester, and Matt still felt guilty for unthinkingly sending his assistant to do his job of chastising two cowboys being obnoxious to the town women. Matt had no idea that the one cowboy, Stobo, was as tall as Matt and broader and heavier.
Even now, a year later, when Matt looked at Chester's cheerful, smiling face, he sometimes thought of how close the slender young man had come to dying. Chester was one of his closest friends, and one of the only two men in Dodge he trusted totally. And needed. Doc was the other one.
The dedicated lawman knew he had to delay his deep need to see Kitty and had to do his duty to find Chester and Stobo as soon as possible. Minutes could make all of the difference, as they had one year ago. He would never let his loyal assistant down again.
Taking in a deep breath, Matt flipped the side of his "courting" coat away from his pistol, and strode away in search of his close friend and the terrible brute.