Buck was outside saddled and waiting as Matt walked to the office. He turned as Jake Worth approached.

"Marshal, Marshal Dillon."

"Well its Jake Worth. I haven't seen you around in Dodge in 6 months that I know of."

"Well I'm here now."

"Trouble?"

"Marshal I know what people think of me a hard-nosed hot-tempered old goat. Got more money than he's got brains."

"I'm glad to hear you say it, Jake."

"Us Worths' are good men we work hard, don't cause any trouble. Only thing wrong with us is we're rich. We mind our own business we haven't learned how to ask for help."

"You asking for help Jake?"

"But I've got to ask for it my own way."

"Come on inside."

Matt opened the door and the two went in. Buck knew that Chester was at Delmonico's having breakfast.

"Want some cold coffee?"

"No, no thanks."

"What is it Jake?"

"If you ride south of town maybe 15 miles. There's a big cottonwood stump just off the road."

"I've seen it."

"There's a hole inside that stump near the bottom. I put a sack in that hole the sack's got $20,000 in it."

"That's a lot of money, even for you."

"It isn't if Hank gets back all right."

"Hank's your youngest son isn't he?"

"24 just last month. He didn't show up last night. The next morning, I found a note tacked to one of the corrals. It said leave the 20,000 and he'd be returned."

"It didn't say how he'd be returned?"

"I told you what it said."

"Come on Jake maybe we can get out there before they pick up the money."

"I told you I had to ask for help in my own way. All I want from you is to watch for anyone who turns up rich around here."

"Listen to me Jake."

"No you listen to me. I told you what I wanted you to do. There's nothing else going to be done until Hank's back safe on the ranch. Not one blessed thing."

"If they killed Hank you'd want to see them hang, wouldn't you?"

"I'd hang them myself."

"All right then let's get out to that stump."

"I already told you no."

"Jake I've got an idea that Hank's dead."

"What?"

"I think they've already shot him and he's already dead."

"Who's they?"

"I don't know."

Buck had overheard everything his hearing being sharper than any humans even through that thin office door. From what he recalled Chester saying Doc was in a right state over having to keep quiet about those 3 men. He knew Matt well enough to know that he would think of something to smoke them out.

"What are you talking about? Where's Hank?"

"I don't know."

"How come you figure he's dead? Marshal I've had just about enough of this."

"I can't tell you any more than what I think. Not until we get there."

"We'll get there and if you don't talk clearer than this maybe one of us won't leave there."

Buck was patient as Matt and Jake came out to mount their horses. They rode south out of town half an hour later arriving at the stump they dismounted. Jake pointed at the hole in the stump.

"I put it over there."

"It's gone."

"I'm glad it's gone."

Matt saw Hank's body over Jake's shoulder.

"No Jake you're not glad."

"It's him it's Hank. You knew it was going to be like this. His whole life to live. Why'd they do it I gave them the money?"

"Some men took your son. Hank tried to break. One of them shot him. But I'll get them Jake."

"I'll take care of them myself as soon as you tell me who they are."

"I don't know."

"There's a lot you're not telling. That's Hank lying there. He's been murdered. Why won't you tell me?"

"Well because the man who told me … well he had to promise not to name anybody."

"Promise nothing. What man? Who is he? I'll get it out of him if I have to cut it out."

"That's another reason I can't tell you who he is."

"What kind of lawman are you anyway? You know the man who could tell me who did this and won't even give his name."

"I can't Jake."

"Marshal I don't know much about words but I've heard the ones about obstructing justice. A lawman shouldn't be guilty of that."

"I've told you all I can Jake."

"Not yet all I know is you're the man who could tell me who did this. I'm giving you 24 hours to name him Marshal if you don't me and my two living sons are coming to Dodge. There's going to be blood spilt if you don't name him."

"I'll help you get Hank home now."

"Go on back to Dodge I'll manage here. Sundown tomorrow Marshal."

"I'll be there Jake."

"We'll find you wherever you be."

As Matt mounted Buck could tell that he was heart sick at having to refrain from giving Jake what he wanted but knew that he'd have been the same if anything happened to Doc maybe even more so. Buck wondered how Matt was going to find those men without Doc telling him who they were.

The next night standing in his stall Buck looked up sharply as he heard a gunshot followed by two shotgun blasts. If a horse could be said to have a human smile anyone watching him would swear that Buck was smiling as he realized that Matt had indeed had a plan all along and those men had found the hard way what it meant to mess with his master's friends.