Matt and Festus carefully rode up to the Miller place. They pulled their mounts up beside the widow's buggy and her horse, who was still hitched, acknowledged the other two animals. Slowly Matt and Festus stepped down from their saddles. Festus quickly joined Matt at his side.

"Peers there's someone in there, Matthew." Festus concluded as the table lamp was still lit.

"I think you're right Festus." Matt sighed. He was still unsure on how to handle this situation. He drew in a deep breath and motioned for Festus to follow him up onto the wooden veranda. Their hard leather soled boots resinated sound all around the area. Festus' spurs added a tinny jingle.

Matt straightened his back and pulled back his shoulders before knocking on the door. He could see Beth Miller through the lace curtain. She was rocking frantically in the old rocking chair that faced the hearth. Matt motioned with his head and eyes to have Festus take the back entrance. Festus nodded and before he left, he slipped the spurs off his boots and tucked them into his coat pockets. Then he was gone into the night.

Matt waited a few minutes before he knocked. It was time. With another deep breath, Matt placed his large hand on the door knob and knocked with the other. At first there was no sound from inside. Perhaps the widow Miller had fallen asleep. He knocked again when he heard a sinister voice from within. "The door is open Marshal."

Matt slowly turned the knock and pushed the door open. The room was quite dark with the one lamp lit. There was a staleness in the air. "Mrs Miller. I need to talk to you about tonight."

"What about it? They're like any other night ain't they?" She remained seated and facing the fire in the hearth.

Matt worked his way into the room and over to where the widow could see him. "Tonight was not just any night. You stabbed Doctor Adams. He said you were in his office to kill Louie Pheeters, just like you did the other three men." Matt watched Beth Miller's demeanor change.

"Is that what that old quack said?" She stood and faced Matt who nodded yes. She then spotted Festus from the corner of her eye. He stood in the doorway to the kitchen and then slowly moved into the room, almost opposite Matt.

"I'm afraid I have to bring you into Dodge. You're under arrest for three murders and two attempted murders..." Matt's voice cut through Beth Miller. She wailed and turned away. "They were all useless drunkards that cluttered the streets at night! Can't you see that? I was doing them a favour!" She continued to wail.

Matt asked Festus to get the shackles from his saddle bag. He felt that once Beth Miller came to terms with her fate she would make a formidable foe - after all she had the strength to kill three men and having run a farm by herself, she was by no means a weakling.

Festus sauntered back into the house. His shoulders dropped as he dread doing what he was about to do, but it was his orders. "Mrs Miller. I'm afraid I have ta put these here irons on you."

Beth Miller scowled at the deputy. "I never liked you, deputy. Your work ethics are terrible and I don't see why the marshal keeps you on. You look like a tramp and mix it up with the worst of them..."

Matt stepped forward. His physical size ceased her verbal lashing she was giving Festus. Festus nodded in appreciation and as he locked the handcuffs onto her wrists mudded under his breath, "Feelin's mutual..."

Matt followed Festus and Beth Miller out of the house. He blew the oil lamp out and pulled the door behind them. In the distance a summer storm was brewing and it looked like it could be a big one.

"Come on Festus. You take the buggy and Mrs Miller and I'll have Ruth tag behind. Let's get back to Dodge before that storm hits." Matt quickly stepped up into his saddle and waited for Festus to load Mrs Miller into the buggy. With a flick of the reigns and a nudge of the spurs they were on their way back to town.

Beth Miller's rage built and she finally bellowed out, "Take this place off the earth! Smite this land! Drink has poisoned the water!" She thrust her clenched fists into the air, willing the farm to disappear. Festus looked at the woman like she had crawdads crawling out of her ears. He huffed in disapproval of her actions. She finally slumped back in the seat and covered her face with her hands and sobbed heavily. Festus looked at Matt who said nothing about the woman's actions.