Confounded by Dillon's silence, Kitty stepped toward Timmonds. "You stay away from him! No one has been chosen, you bloodthirsty animal!"

Timmonds smiled at her. "The Doc here seemed pretty sure about it."

"You're damned right," Adams interjected, "we discussed it, and the decision is final."

She couldn't keep the desperation from her voice, "Stop it, Doc!"

Suddenly coming to his senses, Matt grabbed hold of Kitty's arms and pulled her away from Timmonds, and behind himself. "I haven't made any choice, Timmonds. Doc here is mistaken."

Adams allowed a layer of anger to fill his timbre, "Confound it Matt, you know damned well--"

"--Now, now," Timmonds broke in, "it looks like you fellas don't agree a-tall on this here thing..."

Adams voice turned caustic, "The hell we don't. It's me, and it's done. That's that."

Timmonds smiled. "All right then."

The outlaw moved toward Doc, and Kitty screamed. Dillon rushed the man, shoving him into the wall. Timmonds broke loose and hit the marshall across the head. Matt grabbed the man hard by the arm, and Timmonds fired his weapon. Matt cried out and went down, cradling his right leg. Kitty knelt down next to Dillon, and Timmonds grabbed Doc by the shirt, hauling him up roughly. He pointed his gun at Matt.

"Let's go, Dillon."

"Where?"

"Outside, both of you."

Kitty helped Matt up, and putting her arm around his waist, she gently guided him toward the front door. Timmonds practically dragged Adams toward the door, the old man barely able to move one foot in front of the other. After Matt and Kitty stepped out onto the porch, Timmonds roughly shoved the doctor out, sending Adams tumbling face first into the dirt. Kitty reached out for Doc, but the outlaw pushed her out of the way. Matt made a move toward the man, but the gun leveled at his chest stopped him.

"That's far enough, Dillon. Now, I want you and your woman to back up a mite." He held the gun on them until they complied. "Good." He grabbed Doc by the scruff of the neck and pulled him up, causing the old doctor to cry out in pain.

"Stop it!" Kitty screamed, "Don't hurt him!" Matt held onto her tightly, fearing she would try to rush the outlaw and get herself killed. She beat Dillon's chest with her fists trying to break free. "Let me go, Matt!" But the marshall of Dodge held on to her with all his might as she continued to struggle against him.

Timmonds laughed. "I wouldn't worry none, missy, in another minute, this old coot ain't gonna be feelin' no pain nohow." He glanced at Matt. "You make sure you watch this now, Marshall, I'd hate for you to miss any part of it."

Dillon's voice was low and dangerous, "Timmonds, I'm warning you--"

"--You so much as twitch, and I'll kill your woman and this old man." He turned to Adams. "If you haven't already, make your peace, Doc."

Adams glared at him, but said nothing. He then looked at Kitty, sadness and regret for hurting her plainly displayed in his pale blue eyes, along with a deep love unspoken, and she couldn't keep the tears from running down her face. Matt swallowed hard when Adams turned his gaze upon him; but there was nothing in the steel blue that held anything except for a father's pride and a friend's respect. And Dillon was barely able to keep the moisture in his eyes from falling.

Kitty watched in horror as Timmonds pointed the gun at Doc's head and pulled back the trigger.

And there was no time left to consider outcomes.

Matt pushed Kitty clear and lunged for Timmonds. The gun went off, Doc went down and Kitty screamed. Matt and Timmonds struggled for the gun on the ground, pounding each other with their fists. For a moment, Timmonds had the upper hand, but Matt rolled on top of him, pinning the man's hand down, and Kitty thought it was over; but the outlaw kicked Dillon in his wounded leg, and the marshall grunted, losing control of the man. Timmonds pushed his way over Matt, and the big lawman grabbed the man's wrist, keeping the gun barrel from nearing its intended target.

From some distance away, Chester had watched the frightening events unfolding in front of the cabin. Several times he had taken silent aim with his rifle, but couldn't get a clear shot at Timmonds. And now, as Dillon struggled for control of the pistol, Goode found himself without a shot to make yet again. It was then that Timmonds wrestled the gun from Matt and stood, taking aim. Chester fired, the force of the rifle sending him flying backward, dead. Dillon grabbed the gun as Goode stepped out from behind the bushes, just as Rand, Marlow and Rolley came running out of the cabin.

"Hold it!"

But the men didn't heed Dillon's command. Rand fired at Dillon, who lunged behind the horse trough. The three men scattered, and Chester dove toward Kitty, taking her with him behind the well, although she tried to run for Adams.

"Doc!"

Goode took a hold of her and pushed her behind him. "Now Miss Kitty, you can't go out there like that, you'll get killed!"

"We can't leave Doc there... I don't even know if he was hit! Chester, please!"

Chester took aim in the direction of Rolley and fired but missed. Dillon caught the flash of Rand's shirt behind a tree and waited for a moment. The man leaned out to shoot and Matt fired, sending Rand to the ground. Rolley ran from behind a barrel, and Chester fired, watching the man collapse. Realizing he was the only one left, Marlow threw his gun out from behind his hiding place in the bushes.

"Dillon! Dillon, I give up! Don't shoot!"

He came out, and Matt went to him, checking for any other weapons. Kitty ran to Doc, leaning over him, crying.

"Doc? Oh Doc..."

Chester walked toward Dillon. "You all right, Mr. Dillon?"

"I'll be fine. Chester, make sure this one doesn't go anywhere, will ya?"

Goode took Marlow hard by the arm.

"Yes sir, Mr. Dillon." Chester's voice turned soft and filled with fear, "Mr. Dillon, is Doc...?"

"I don't know, Chester," was all Matt could manage to say.