Unshown Moments for The Wreckers (4)

AN: This is for Phoenix and MissLizzyJ

Festus rode quietly and stealthily down the trail, following Miss Kitty's buggy tracks. Though several of the town's people had wanted to go along, Festus had resolutely turned them down. Well, all but Doc and Sam.

Considering Sam's feelings towards Miss Kitty, Festus couldn't tell him no. Besides, he figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone with him that he could trust. And he surely knew he could trust Sam. And though Festus had initially told Doc no, that didn't stand long against Doc's logic of Matt and Kitty or even he or Sam maybe needing medical care and Dodge being too far away to get it.

"Festus, don't you think we're going a little slow?" Doc called when Festus stopped, climbed down from Ruth and inspected the ground for what seemed the hundredth time.

"Yeah, we shore are, Doc." Festus nodded. "We got to. You heard Miss Kitty. Them fellars are liable to be watching her back trail. We cain't let em see hide ner hair of us. A course," he gave Doc a squint eyed glance, "me and Sam could go a mite faster if'n we was alone."

"NO!" Doc glared up at him. "Although I still think Kitty's the only chance Matt has of getting out of there alive, I also think that if they do, at least one them is going to need a doctor's care. Kitty didn't complain much about her ribs, but I could tell she was in a lot of pain. And if I know Matt Dillon, he'll probably get himself shot trying to protect her and get the outlaws."

"Prolly right, Doc." Festus grunted as he climbed back up in the saddle. "But if yer to treat em, I'm to track em and I cain't do that a standin' here. Come on."

As Festus led the way down the trail, Sam and Doc following closely, he considered what'd he do if he were to find things as Clete suggested. Though he'd come a long ways to respectability since coming to Dodge, thanks to Matthew and the rest of his friends, there was still a part of him that rebelled a little at the law's intrusion into matters of right and wrong.

He didn't say anything to Doc, knowing how the physician would react, but he knew that if he found Matthew and Miss Kitty hurt in any way, it wouldn't be the law that would handle Tate Crocker and his gang. It would be a Haggen and it'd be handled the Haggen way. He wasn't too worried about how Sam would feel about it as he wasn't too sure the bartender wouldn't agree with him.

As Doc slowly followed Festus, his mind was in turmoil. He understood Festus' caution and even agreed and yet a part of him wanted to whip his horse into a froth in an effort to get there and hopefully protect or at least quickly tend to two of the people he cared about most.

Doc was not a man to show affection too often or to too many people so he maintained a gruff exterior as he drove his buggy slowly down the trail after Festus, but if he'd allowed himself to, he'd have tears in his eyes as he considered the situation Matt and Kitty were probably in and imagined all the things that Crocker and his thugs might do to them.

But stowing his emotions away, Doc squared his shoulders and continued down the trail. If Matt and Kitty were hurt when he got there, it would be the physician side of him they would need. Not the fatherly side.

Sam rode behind Doc and Festus, watching and listening intently but saying very little. There was very little to say. A woman that he cared a great deal for and a man that he revered were both in danger and needed help. Sam was intent on providing that help in whatever way he could.

When Festus first announced, despite Doc's protests; that he was going to follow Miss Kitty, Sam and quite a few others jumped at the chance to go with him and help. But Festus refused them all. His reasoning was logical and sound and one by one the volunteers had accepted it and left.

But Sam didn't care how logical it was. He wasn't about to sit on his hands at the Long Branch, worrying and waiting. Fortunately, Festus had understood and agreed to his coming, but Sam had been determined to go no matter what the deputy had said. Now here he was, riding into God only knew what and he didn't care. Two people who were important to him were in danger, and he was going to help.

Festus called a halt to their progress again and was just about to dismount to look at the tracks he saw when gunshots were heard.

"Festus…" Doc called but didn't need to finish.

"Let's go." Festus reseated himself and kicked his mule into high gear, Sam close on his heels and Doc right behind.

They were closer to the hideout then they knew and as they topped a small knoll all three men practically whooped in relief. Standing tall in the farm yard was Matt Dillon, holding Kitty Russell tightly to him with one hand while holding a gun on a man who had a bandana wrapped around his leg and his arms out wide.

As they rode into the farm yard, Doc, Festus and Sam exchanged grins. The details of who did what would be found out later. Right then, the only thing that mattered was that the Marshal and his lady were safe.

END

AN: I am going to leave this episode here. There are several people who wrote ATC's for this episode and did such a wonderful job that I can't imagine anything else that could be shown. I encourage you to read one of those or perhaps you might have an idea of your own and will write one to share with us. In the meantime, Happy New Years everyone. Thank you for the friendship and kindnesses of this year and heres to more next year! Cheers!