"Are you gonna eat that food, or play with it?"

Dillon looked across the table at Adams and smirked. "You're the one who's always sayin' a man should only eat when he's hungry."

"Yeah, well, you look like ya need to eat, Festus is the one who oughta eat only when he's hungry!"

Dillon grinned, and then took a sip of his coffee. "How's Kendall?"

"Not too good, Matt. His heart seems to be laborin' and his fever's not goin' down much. When he does come to, he don't make much sense."

"Still no idea what's causin' it?"

"I stayed up all night readin' and I still can't lay my finger on it."

"You know Doc, I chased Kendall and his men across Colorado, until they doubled back on me and I found myself trapped in a canyon."

"I take it all of you escaped into different directions..."

"That's the odd part of it. I was tradin' gunplay with them, when all of a sudden it stopped."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. After awhile, I figured maybe they hightailed it outta there, so I finally moved around the rocks to check."

"And?"

"And Doc, I've never seen anything like it."

"Like what?"

"Kendall's men were all lyin' dead, by their own hands."

"What?"

"They killed each other, and Eli Kendall was gone."

"Well, we know where he ended up."

"But what could have caused such violence among his men?"

"Who knows Matt, coulda been anything. Argument over splittin' up their take, or how they were going to escape you...or hell, they coulda been arguin' over a woman!"

"But why not Eli Kendall?"

"Maybe he knew it was time to cut his losses."

"Doc, they killed his kid brother."

The old doctor's eyebrows furrowed. "Maybe Kendall killed them. If he ever wakes up, we'll ask him." Adams took a good look at Dillon. "Did you sleep last night?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You still look mighty peaked, Matt. I'd appreciate it if you took it easy today."

Matt grinned at the old man. "Got enough business already, do ya?"

Sure do; had to run out to the Cantwell place early this mornin'...Jesse came down with a wicked sore throat, hurtin' him so bad he could barely swallow."

"This heat alone could do that to a man."

Before Doc could respond, Kitty walked up to the table, laying each of her hands on a shoulder of her two favorite men in Dodge. "Well, I mighta known I'd find the two of you over here." She looked down into Dillon's barely touched plate, snagging a half-eaten piece of bacon for herself. "Food not too good this morning, cowboy?"

"Just too hot."

Russell looked down at the doctor's empty plate. "Doesn't look like it's botherin' Doc too much."

Matt wiped his mouth with his napkin as he stood. "He had a busier mornin' than I did. I'll see you two later, I've got some paperwork to catch up on."

Kitty touched his arm as he brushed by her. "Coming by the Longbranch later?"

"You bet."

Dillon put his hat on and left Delmonico's. Kitty sat down in Dillon's chair. "Might as well not let all of this go to waste."

Doc smiled mischievously. "Better hurry before Festus finds out about it!"

Kitty swatted the old man with her napkin. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Doc shrugged. "Maybe. But I ain't!"

By late afternoon, the Longbranch was packed with cowboys and sodbusters all seeking a place to cool off a spell, and the bartenders had barely been able to keep up with the drinks. Sam swallowed hard as he wiped the bar down yet again. His throat had been bothering him all day. He reached up and rubbed at it a little, and then poured himself another glass of water.

"Sam? You feeling all right?"

He nodded. "Of course, Miss Kitty, just a little parched is all. Hot day."

She reached a hand over and felt his forehead. "You feel warm, Sam. I think you'd better go up and see Doc."

"I'm all right, really." She looked at him sternly and he continued, "Besides, Doc has been busier than a bee in April today."

"It sure did seem like he either had a never ending stream of people in his office, or trips outside of town. Wonder if Eli Kendall's come to yet."

The big voice startled her slightly, "Not yet."

Kitty turned to see Matt standing behind her. "Hi Matt, how about a beer?"

"That sounds like a good idea, Kitty, thanks."

"So Kendall's still asleep to all the world."

"He's out cold in Doc's bedroom, and I don't think ol' Doc's had much time to check up on him today."

"Sam and I were just talkin' about that." Kitty took a long look at the marshal. "Matt, you look awfully tired."

"I feel pretty tired."

"Why don't you have Festus do rounds for you tonight, and you turn in early?"

He looked at her with a grin on his face. "Is that an invitation?"

She swatted him on the arm. "It most certainly is not! I mean it, Matt, you look beat. I think you should get some rest."

"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll speak to Festus about it in awhile."

She took a hold of his arm and guided him to a table. "In the meantime, how about we sit down; you look like you could stand a little extra attention there cowboy."

Dillon smiled. "I'd never turn down an offer like that, Kitty."