The night passed quickly and Festus was all ready for the day's ride. Matt finished his coffee and poured the remainder of the pot's contents on the small fire. He stirred the ashes around with his boot making sure that there were no active ambers.

Matt still held concerns about his deputy. Festus hardly spoke a word all night. Mat drew a deep breath and walked over to Festus who was saddling Ruth. "Festus. Something wrong? I mean you've been pretty quite."

Festus' eyes met the marshal's. "Matthew. I'm plum worried about ole Doc and I have a heap of hate building in me for that Johnny Garrett and that fella name Red. I sware if I lay my hands on them two...Matthew. I'd get on them like an ugly on a ape..." Festus shook his head at his own anger.

Matt placed a hand on his deputy's shoulder. "That's why the two of us are gonna stop them together. You want them to pay for what they did, don't you?"

Festus looked up at Matt. "Thar ain't nothing more certain in this whole world I want right now." He spoke with true conviction in his voice - so much so his clenched jaw ached. Festus' loyalty to his dearest friends ran deep and still and should one be in danger there was nothing he wouldn't do to set it right.

Matt pat him on the shoulder again. "Good to hear. Now lets find them." Matt walked back to his horse and lifted his saddle over the animal. As he fastened the buckles and tightened the straps he looked over his shoulder and watched Festus. Only a slight edge was taken off the deputy with his discussion, but at least he knew Festus was aware of his concern.

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Garrett and Red were ready to ride. Garrett shifted uncomfortably in his saddle and looked over his shoulder. "Their out there...I can feel it. Come on, lets put some land between us and them." He spurred his horse hard - the animal grunted and jumped to a gallop. Red followed.

They decided to leave the other horses behind rather than having to care for them.

It was going to be another long hot day in the saddle, if Garrett was right. Red's indifference to the man was building. They barely got the money from the bank robbery and two good men were now dead at the very hand that hired them. Garrett's name was all over the place, just maybe, Red thought, maybe he should be the final one. The only one that could associate him with the robbery was the old doctor which he was certain was long dead back in the old ghost town.

Red's mind continued to sift through the thoughts in somewhat of an eager pace. The heat, the ride and lack of food was starting to take their toll. Red glared at the back of Garrett's head.

Garrett pushed hard and the harder he did made Red that much more anxious. They had five thousand dollars from the heist. What more could a man want - all of half? Red rode hard up beside Garrett and pulled his gun. With a single shot Garrett fell from the running horse. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Red grinned with greed before he burst out laughing. After he caught hold of Garrett's horse he stopped and got his bearings. He longed for a hot bath and a good meal. Dodge wasn't that far away.

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Matt and Festus halted their animals. "It came from over thata way, Matthew." Festus pointed off into the hills.

"I think you're right. Come on. Let's see what it was about." Matt nudged Buck to move and the two lawmen headed toward the sound of the single shot.