Jed and Pip tried to hide themselves at the back of the saloon. They even tried to buy themselves into a card game and convince the slightly besotted cowhands that they had just rejoined the game after only a few minutes.
Festus and Doc stood in the doorway and glanced over the crowd. "Which one, Doc?"
Doc took his time and then nonchalantly pointed to Jed. "That big one at the back with the dusty black hat and blue shirt."
"You stay right here." Festus warned the doctor as he stepped down into the smoky room and wove his way through the chairs, table and people. He was sure that Matt had closed the Bulls' Head down once before for over crowding. But this was not his concern tonight.
Festus finally reached the table and looked down at Jed. "I'd like you to come with me."
"Oh?" Jed's low barbitone voice sent a slight shiver up Festus' back.
"Yer under arrest fer killin' a fella tonight." Festus stood his ground and watched Jed stand. The cowboy was almost Matt's height and build. Festus swallowed and then pulled the gun out from Jed's holster. "Move."
Unfortunately for Jed, there was little he could have done. He moved to the door like the deputy said. That's when his eyes locked on to Doc's and a scowl covered his face. He sneered down at the doctor as he stepped passed him and out onto the street.
Matt had heard of the commotion and joined Festus in taking Jed to jail.
Doc looked back into the Bull's Head and he felt all eyes were on him. A shutter ran over his body. Slowly he backed away and followed Matt and Festus to the jail house to tall Matt what he'd seen.
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Morning came and Jed had practically paced a trench in the floor. Brown looked at his jail chum. "The marshal had a right lockin' me up. It was a stupid thing you did, Jed."
Jed lunged at the bars. "I didn't mean ta kill him! I only meant to teach him a lesson on keepin' his mouth shut. And then that ol' pill pusher saw me..."
"What are you planning on doing then?" Templeton Brown was now on his feet and standing opposite his right hand man. The cold iron bars separating them.
Jed's head sank. "I dunno..."
"Make fer two of us. All the talkin' in the world, with Doc Adams' testimony. You're as good as dead...sorry boy. Sometimes in life you have to let things go. They aren't worth fighting for...and in this case you didn't."
Jed's head jerked up. "Boss! You ain't gonna let me hang is ya!" For the first time in a long time fear filled his soul.
"I'll do my best boy." Brown pat Jed on the hand that clenched the bar.
With the click of the latch, Matt opened the adjoining door and stepped into the small hall. "Well Brown, I can't hold you on anything. Your free to go." Matt unlocked the door and pulled it open.
"Obliged, marshal. What about my man?" Brown inquired.
"I'm afraid I have to hold him until Judge Brooker gets here and a proper trial is held." Matt looked at Jed who was clinging to every word. Matt moved Brown out to the office and closed the door behind him again.
"Marshal. I'd like to apologize for last night. I drank too much and well, I was just out of control that's all."
Matt sat on the edge of his desk and nodded. "Maybe next year you'll remember this."
"Yes sir..." Brown said as he left the office and met up with his men who waited in the street for him. "Come on boys, lets get back to our outfit."
Pip stopped Brown. "Boss? What about Jed?"
"He's gotta stand trial for murder..."
"Well, can't we do anything fer him?" Pip's plea was sincere.
"I don't know just yet. We'll have to see what happens when Judge Brooker comes to town."
Templeton Brown and his men walked sombrely down Front Street. Only a small hand full of Jed's friends stayed behind. Pip waited until Brown was out of sight. "I'm gonna talk to Jed."
"How do you know the marshal will let you?"
"Well there ain't no harm in asking..." Pip took off his gun belt and handed to Jerry. "You wait here. I'll see if Jed has a plan." And with that, Pip headed to the jail house and entered the building.
"Marshal? I was just wondering if I could have a word with my friend?" Pip was a smaller man and looked younger than his years.
"I can't see why not. But don't be long." Matt smiled and opened the wooden divider door and returned to his chair at the desk.
Pip slowly made his way to the back cell. "Jed?"
"Pip! They let you in here?" Jed was on his feet and holding the bars in front of him.
"Jed. We need to know how to help you. You could hang fer this..." Pip said in a whisper.
Jed nodded. "I know. The only way you could help is to make that pill roller go away. He's the only eye witness, and without him they couldn't hang me..."