Matt took a deep breath once the surgery was over and Festus was soundly sleeping.

"You did a good job, Marshal." Ma Smalley patted his arm reassuringly, "Let me take over now. You have a job to do."

"Thanks, Ma."

His eyes darkened with resolve as he strapped on his gun belt. But as he dashed down the stairs he quickly got worried. Where was the search party? If they'd finished, where was Kitty and Doc?

"What happened here?" He skidded to a stop upon entering the jail, "Where's the search party?"

"I'm sorry, Matt." Burke was stooped against the wall, holding his side, "Mark had a gun. He made me—."

"Where's the search party?"

"I don't know." Burke reddened as he watched the Marshal add a rifle to his arsenal, "They got me back there." He paused, "Uh...h-how's Festus?"

"Sleeping." Matt tried not to snap; Burke was a sorry sight, "Ma is with him." Turning to leave, he gestured at his cot, "Why don't you get some sleep? When I get back, I'll have Doc take a look at ya."

"Thanks, Matt." Burke hung his head, "I-I'm sorry."

"Me too."

Buck was already saddled when Matt got to the stable and Hank told him the posse had headed west over an hour ago.

"Marshal!" Sam called out as Matt put Dodge behind him "Boy, am I glad to see you. Is Festus alright?"

"He is." Matt nodded, "What'd ya find, Sam?"

"Not a thing, Marshal." he shook his head grimly, "We split into teams. We've been circling between here and the cabin. Thad headed east."

"Let's see if we can pick up his trail."

⁓*8*⁓

"What took you so long?" Strom folded his arms over his chest, glaring at his youngest son, "You should've been here—"

"They had a damn search party scouring the town, Pa!" Mark gestured angrily, "I had to turn around and hide the horses a half mile out. Then we almost ran into it and had to hide." He gestured again, "They've got a damn posse out there now!"

"I'm sure he was leading it!" the Judge gestured at Thad, "And he beat you here!"

"If this is a trial," Knowing they needed to stall for time, Thad wanted to change the subject, "I'd like to testify." Forcing an affable smile, he said, "I witnessed what happened that night."

"We don't need to listen to this!" Cal's hands tensed on his rifle, "I told ya what happened. Rick and Mark are here. It's sentencing time." He licked his lips, "Go ahead, Pa."

Doc opened his mouth to protest. He was willing to try anything, but terrified it'd be counterproductive.

"I haven't rested my case." His voice was barely audible.

"This is my courtroom, doctor." Strom bristled, "Cal's right. I said he could tell us what happened that night but I don't see the need to rehash the same events over and over. It's quite clear what Miss Russell intended to do and I intend to see that she pays for it."

"Judge, please—"

Doc wasn't above begging as Cal shoved him against the wall.

Mark and Rick took that as their cue to try Thad. The tall deputy met them head on and the struggle that insured made Kitty think she was on the verge of witnessing her friends' deaths.

"Stop!" she cried, "All of you. Just stop!" She looked frantically at the Judge, "Please...I'll do anything—"

"Alright, boys!" Strom spoke only when his boys began getting the upper hand, "Miss Russell has admitted to her crime. We will take our restitution and go home."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Doc kept struggling.

Thad almost broke free. "Over my dead body!"

"Thad!" Kitty's eyes were white-rimmed with fear.

"Enough!" Strom thundered, "I will pronounce the sentence and it will be carried out immediately."

"Judge!" Doc couldn't give up, "If any of you lay a hand on this woman, Matt Dillon will never give you rest. He'll hunt the four of you to hell and back. If you had any sense of duty to the law or to your family, you wouldn't do that to your boys. No sir, Judge, I—"

"Miss Russell is hereby ordered," Strom seemed to go into a trance; his voice still booming, "to render the service that Rick wanted that night. She is further ordered to pay damages to my family by rendering the same service to my other two sons until they're satisfied!"

Kitty, Doc, and Thad were too dumbstruck to move but Rick sprang forward, grabbing his victim and throwing her on the floor.

She shrieked as he clammored over her, kicking and thrashing. "Get off me, you filthy pig!"

The crack of her hand across Rick's face knocked Thad out of his stupor. His fist found Mark's mouth but before he could catch Cal another voice came on the scene.

"Everybody freeze!" Matt had murder on his mind.

With their rifles pointed at the Judge and Rick, Sam stood beside him. Now it was the Stroms who were dumbstruck and Thad took advantage. Putting Mark and Cal on the ground with two powerful blows, he picked up his gun and held it on them.

"There's more of us outside." The bartender added for good measure.

"Let's go." Matt's voice was hard.

Much to everyone's surprise and relief, the Stroms did as they were told. When they stepped outside, the hostages saw that the little sod house was completely surrounded by the men of Dodge.

In less than twenty minutes, the Marshal had his prisoners tied to the haywagon and Kitty felt a reunion was long overdue.

"Thank goodness, you're safe." he murmured, wrapping his arms around her with no intention of letting go.

She gave him several quick kisses. "I love you so much. I-is Festus alright?"

"He is, sweetheart." He lifted her off the ground and swung her in a circle, "Let's get you home."

"I-I'm sorry, Matt..." Thad interrupted, "I didn't mean to put them in danger."

"You didn't." the Marshal grasped his hand firmly, "The Stroms did. If you hadn't gotten here, we might not have made it in time." His mouth tweaked upward, "I'm indebted Thad. Thank you."

"What are you gonna do with 'em, Matt?" Doc asked, as he and Sam took up driving the wagon.

"Take 'em back to town." Matt sighed.

"Can't we let 'em walk?"

Author's Note: LeighAB14: Thank you!