Festus fussed with the tin coffee pot. For some reason the clatter finally got to Matt who was hunkered down at his desk trying to complete a report that was long over due. "Festus! Must you play with it?" He clipped.

Festus quickly set the pot on the little wood stove and stepped aside. "Sorry, Matthew. I didn't think I was makin' too much of a racket. Maybe it's jist too darned quite in Dodge and you kinda took notice of a little dab of extra noise."

Matt nodded. "Yeah, I took notice alright." He stood from his desk and stepped toward the part time deputy. "So. With all that clatter, is there any coffee?"

Festus pushed the pot further onto the stove. With a slight sheepish look on his face the turned to the marshal. "I'll have some ready in a lick..."

Matt could only smile. "Listen. While your finishing making that coffee, I'm going up to the telegraph office to see if there's any word on when the rail line to Wichita will be repaired. I bet Doc and Kitty would have rather taken that then the stagecoach." Matt placed his hat on his head and opened the door. "I expect that to be a good cup..." he pointed lazily to the pot on the stove.

Festus nodded eagerly. "Sure will be Matthew. You can count on that!" Festus' demeanor changed to a more solemn one. "I sure wish that Miss Kitty and Doc were back were anyhow."

Matt hesitated. "You just want to go fishing..."

Again the sheepish look washed over Festus. His eyebrow arched. "Maybe I do...but Dodge ain't the same when they're not here."

Matt nodded. "I know what you mean." He adjusted his hat and stepped out onto the boardwalk pulling the door closed behind himself. "I know what you mean..." he repeated quietly to himself as he walked up the street.

Both Doc and Kitty were too tired to carry on any kind of conversation, so they just sat back and enjoyed the scenery. Every now and again one of them would point out something of interest. That was before the rocking motion of the carriage finally put Doc to sleep. Kitty smiled at the man sitting across from her - she admired and loved him more than her own father. After a few moments, her gaze shifted to the countryside and all it's splendour. She wonder if Matt was correct in saying that one day there would be house dotted all over the land that seemed so free and void. Somehow that thought saddened her, and yet part of her knew that it meant the country was growing. She sighed and tried to close her eyes to sleep as well.

Several hours had passed and Kitty awoke to Doc patting her hand. She stirred and looked out the window at what he was pointing at. In the distance was a growing storm. "Looks like we might that rain we need after all." He said matter-of-factly.

Kitty ran a hand over her cheeks. "Looks like it. But is doesn't have to deliver a years worth of rain in one go. That looks like a bad one."

Doc nodded in agreement. "Looks just like the one we had a few weeks back that knocked out the rail line. Seems to me, these storms are getting worse as the years go on. Can't imagine what it will be like in the future."

Kitty smiled. "You've been read too many journals. You sound down right depressing!" She chucked.

Doc shrugged and adjusted his hat. "Just a fact of life, I guess." He said as he pulled his pocket watch out to read the time. "We should be getting into the over night stop any time soon. And I'll be glad of it. I think I have a kink in my back..." He tried to adjust his sitting position.

"Oh, come on. You're not gonna complain about that sofa again, are you?" Kitty leaned forward to look at him.

Doc pursed his lips. "I might. And I have a right too." He grumped as the stage turned and pulled into the stage stop and rolled to a halt. "Suppose I get the cot again tonight?" Kitty giggled. "Oh, Doc. I'm sure that they have beds for more than just one rider."

He looked at her with mistrust on his face. "I recall that line from the last place." He opened the door and let Kitty out and helped the driver with her. He followed and stretch his back as he stood next to Kitty. Kitty pat him on the shoulder. "Come on softy. Let's find you a real bed before you get any more grumpy."