Still shirtless from the whipping, his left arm in a sling, Matt stood with the horses impatiently waiting for Kitty. The Taylors would be looking for both of them now. He figured the best he could do, at the moment, was draw all their attention to him, and hope that Kitty was safe and could get away. He just had to think of some way, to get all of the Taylors focused on him.

"Matthew?"

Matt's first thought was he was going insane, but he turned towards the unmistakable voice. "Festus?" The deputy emerged from a narrow, overgrown path, followed by 2 men, a boy and Doc, all carrying rifles. "Festus how - never mind. I need a gun, and I want you all to spread out and hide behind rocks and bushes – quick. Festus, you'll know what to do." Without question, Festus handed over the pistol from his holster. The motley crew spread out and scurried back into the brush. Matt pointed the gun in the air and fired. As he expected, Spike and the other men came running.

The 5 Taylors skidded to a halt when they saw Matt pointing a pistol in their direction. Spike laughed, "Dillon, I don't know where you got that gun. That fool John probably left it in his saddle bag. Anyways, throw it down. We got 5 rifles pointed at you. You don't have a chance."

Matt shrugged. "Maybe, but I can put a bullet in one or two of you before you take me down. Besides, I've got reinforcements." Spike grinned and shook his head. "You take us for stupid?" A gunshot flew from the bushes and hit Spike square in the thigh. He crumbled to the ground and grabbed his leg.

"The rest of you, don't be fools." Matt's voice was firm, "An army of my men are in those bushes. You can't see them, but they can see each one of you. They'll pick you off one by one. Be smart and throw your rifles right over here." The men hesitated. Bullets flew from 5 different spots hitting the ground near their feet. One by one the men tossed their rifles away. Matt moved closer holding his gun on the Taylors. He called over his shoulder. "Come on down and arrest them." Festus and Newly came first followed by Sam, Tommy and Doc. Spike, on the ground grabbing his leg, and the others with their hands in the air, couldn't believe that the Taylor gang had been taken down by such a group. Matt nodded at Festus. "I knew you know what to do. That shot to his leg was perfectly timed. Now, just handcuff them, collect their rifles and hold them here. Oh there's another one somewhere around – used to be the leader. He's likely pretty beat up. Handcuff him too. And if you see a woman with a long dark braid, grab her. I'm going to look for Kitty. Matt turned to walk away and Doc saw the lacerations on his back. The old man shook his head. "I still amazed by what men will do to other men." He sighed and looked down at Spike. "I'm gonna see to your wound, and ease your pain. Think about that."

Several yards away, hidden from sight, Kitty and Marlene rolled through bushes, branches, dirt and twigs. Marlene smacked Kitty's face and sneered, "You whore." Kitty spit in her eye. "Who you calling a whore." Marlene shook away the spit and yanked Kitty's hair, "At least I'm married." Kitty elbowed Marlene in the stomach "At least I'm faithful." She elbowed her again, this time harder. Marlene gasped for air. Kitty felt her weaken. In a quick move she got free, pushed Marlene's shoulders down and sat on her stomach.

"Kitty!"

The red-head looked up. She was scratched, bruised, a total mess and sitting on top of a woman. Matt was quite a sight himself, after the last two days. Kitty nodded and smiled as if he'd just walked in to the Long Branch for a beer. "Hello Cowboy."

Matt shook his head. A crooked smile touched his lips. "You know Kitty, some years back, I mentioned something about getting a woman deputy. You didn't want the job. Change your mind?"

"Nope." Kitty pushed herself to her feet and pointed to Marlene. "She's all yours." She smoothed her hair back. "I- um – somehow assume everything else is under control."

"Yep. Festus found us. I don't know how, but he's here with Newly, Sam and Doc, and that boy from the stable, Tommy. I don't know how he got involved."

"I've got a pretty good guess. I'll tell you about it later." Kitty turned to Marlene, still lying in the dirt. "Don't just lie there, get up. Let's join the others. You can have your pick, John or Spike. Doesn't really matter now, you'll all be going to jail."

Marlene scrambled to her feet and gave Kitty a sour look. Matt nodded. "Kitty's right Marlene, take your pick. John's all beat up and Spike's got a bullet in his leg. Both are in handcuffs by now. Let's go." Marlene shuffled along in front of them, head hanging down. Kitty walked beside Matt and looked up at him. "Are we taking them all back to Dodge?"

"Yep. We've got enough armed men to keep them in line." He smiled crookedly, "And we've got you for back up. When we get there, I'll lock the men in jail cells. Marlene can stay in room at Ma Smalley's with a guard at the door. If we head out pretty soon, we'll be there before dark. First let's get some food and water into you."

"Sound good. Let's also have Doc put some salve on your back. It still looking might raw. And, I'm gonna find a shirt for you to wear." She reached in her pocket and pulled out his badge. "I've been carrying this for long enough, you need a shirt to pin it on."

Matt stared down at the badge in the palm of her hand. It had been torn from his shirt, and used to entrap her. "I've been wearing that badge for a long time, Kitty, a very long time. I never had much doubt, over all that time, I was the right one to be wearing it." He sighed heavily and took the tin star from her hand. "Let's join Festus, Doc and the others. It sure will be good to be home.

TBC – To the final chapter.