The unshaven Texan peered over the top of the Long Branch's swinging doors. Not seeing the beautiful redhead anywhere, he went inside and over to where the big bartender with the craggy face was stocking whiskey bottles behind the bar. All of the chairs were still on top of the tables, and the only other person inside was another barkeeper sweeping.

"Hey you! Barkeep! Where's the good-lookin' redhead with the big, beautiful br…er…brown eyes?" He had been smirking and holding his cupped hands out in front of his chest, then had seen the look in the big man's eyes before he changed what he almost said.

Sam walked closer and loomed over the man. "Her eyes are BLUE, MISTER, and any man who has ever seen them wouldn't easily forget. And she's not here, and won't be for a while. I'M in charge if you have any complaints." The six foot four, solid bartender clenched his fists as he glowered at the loathsome man in front of him.

"Uh, no, no. It was nothing important," Rex said as he backed towards the doors, smiling in relief. Without that worry he felt like celebrating, but not at the Long Branch, full of Matt's friends…and Matt. He would leave town as "The Marshal" dictated, but would ride back tonight and have his fun in the Bull's Head, a place more to his tastes.

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"Yes, Matt, I DO know where she is, why she is there, and how she is, but I cannot tell you! I made a promise! Don't you know how hard this is for me, too?!" The old doctor snatched his hat off his head and threw it across the room towards the cells.

Matt sighed and nodded his head. He would never ask any man to break a confidence unless a life was in danger, and especially would not want to pressure Doc. He trusted the man with his own life and the lives of everyone in Dodge, including Kitty.

Then there was the worry and disappointment over his old boyhood pal and hero, Rex Sullivan, who had turned into a man he no longer knew, nor cared to.

Doc stood up from the small table where the two men had been sitting, put his hand on Matt's thick shoulder, and squeezed.

"Take care Son. Things will work out." Picking up his old hat, the sad doctor rubbed his lower face and shuffled towards the door.

Before Doc could turn the knob, the door opened and Rex Sullivan came in, grinning.

"Hiya, doctor! You'll be glad to hear I'm heading out now," he joked. Then Sullivan saw the hatred in the old man's eyes, and his smile faltered.

Doc silently pushed by the man, not wanting to touch him. Sullivan came in and gathered up his gear while whistling. Matt stayed sitting at the table, shoulders slumped, looking down at his hands.

"Well, so long Matt! No hard feelings, I hope," the Texan piped, looking at his dejected friend.

"Good bye Rex. You certainly have changed, and not for the good. I wish you hadn't come here."

Matt had stood up and was looking at his old friend with a mixture of anger, disappointment, and sadness on his face.

Rex Sullivan's grin changed to an angry sneer. "You've changed too, MARSHAL! You used to be a smart kid! You could have a sweet life here! Every lawman I have ever known has a tidy kickback, payoff-for-protection deal going. And you could have all of the saloon girls you could handle, including that big-breasted redhead honey!"

He didn't even see Matt's rock-hard fist coming, and the next thing he knew, he was lying against the door seeing stars.

Matt strode over, grabbed the groggy man by his collars, hauled him to his feet, and threw him out into the street, followed by his saddlebags and bedroll.

Rex got up, dusted himself off, mounted, and slowly rode off, pondering his old friend's extreme reaction to his comments.

"Hmm…maybe that redhead, Kathy, Cissy, KITTY, means more to him than just a fun night. Makes me almost sorry for what I done to her."