Matt and Chester were sitting outside the Dodge House watching the street when an unknown man who'd been in Dodge a week came up the street and crossed to sit outside the Long Branch.
"Been here near a week nobody even knows his name," Chester said.
"I asked him the other night what he was doing here," Matt said. "He said resting."
"For what I'd like to know."
"Yeah or for what?"
"Well if you think he's up to something why don't you run him out of town?"
"Well he hasn't done anything since he's been here except sit on the street, walk over to the stable to look at his horse once a day."
"A man who don't work bound to get into trouble somehow. Maybe I ought to run you out of town then."
"Ah Mister Dillon."
Chester's interest peaked as a young man on a bay horse rode up to the Long Branch the unknown man sat up and took notice.
"Who's that?"
"I never saw him before."
"Some trail hand come in to lose his wages."
"Probably."
The young man dismounted tethered his horse and went in shortly followed by the unknown man,
"So that's what he's been waiting for," Chester said.
Buck standing saddled and ready outside the office watched as Matt went in followed by Chester and a young man. He pricked his ears he was bound to hear something interesting.
"Trouble sure came running after you in a hurry, didn't it?" Chester said.
"Well I wasn't in hurry after it. What's a man supposed to do in this town stand there and take a belly full of bullets? Ain't he a got a right to defend himself?"
"You're not under arrest."
"I'm not then why are you keeping my gun?"
"I want to know why that man went after you?"
"I don't know I don't even know him."
"You mean you killed a man you don't even know."
"I never saw him before."
"You got no idea why he drew on you?" Matt asked.
"He wanted to kill me, maybe he was crazy."
"He was crazy all right."
"Where are you from fella."
"West of here, my name's Andy Travers."
"Where'd you learn how to use a gun?" Matt aked.
"That man had his half way out of the holster before you even bothered to start."
"He did say I'd like to have seen that," Chester said.
"Well I saw it and I have seen few men to equal it."
"All right! Well what's that got to do with taking my gun, bringing me over here."
"It happened to me once Andy and it's happening to you. Anybody who can use a gun the way you can has to make a choice. You can go on using it or you can quit before you get blood all over you."
"You think I like killing?"
"No I don't."
"Well I don't like getting killed neither."
"How'd you get so handy with a gun?"
"Practice, all my life. It was kind of fun at first, d'you know? But it ain't fun no more."
"Why don't you quit wearing it?"
"I don't know I'd feel kind of naked I guess."
"5 minutes after you hit Dodge a man you never saw before tries to kill you. The bartender's already telling everybody in town how fast you are. He's up there right now building you a reputation. Soon enough somebody else is going to try to cut you down for it you down and you're going to have to kill him and then it will be somebody else. You're going to have to go on killing all the rest of your life. However long that is."
"It's … It's too late already Marshal."
"No it isn't."
"You don't understand."
"Don't understand what?"
"Nothing. Look I told you I don't like it."
"Well it's going to be one man after the other from now on. You're going to have to kill whether you like it or not. But I'm not going to watch it. Now you leave that gun off or you get out of Dodge and go do your killing somewhere else."
Matt putt Andy's gun on the table, Andy picked it up and studied it.
"All right I give it a try and I don't like it do I get this back?"
"It'll be here any time you want it."
"Well it's not wanting it I'm worried about so much as may be needing it."
"Nobody's going to go after an unarmed man."
"I hope not."
He handed the gun to Matt and took his gun belt off.
"Well maybe it ain't so bad being naked. I sure don't aim to starve too. I need a job Marshal."
"Moss Grimmick's looking for a man over at his stable," Chester said.
"Do you want to show me?"
"I'll be glad to."
Chester and Andy left the office. Chester untethered Buck from the hitching pole while Andy retrieved his horse.
"I like your horse."
"Buck's not my horse, he belongs to Mister Dillon."
Buck studied Andy closely finding that he liked the young man. Andy followed Chester to the stable. Chester introduced Andy to Moss and left them to it having unsaddled Buck.
Matt had been away and was keen to see Kitty so he cantered Buck up to the stables.
"Didn't expect you back until tomorrow Marshal."
"Well I got homesick Moss."
"You mean you didn't find nothing."
"Oh a couple of old man Bent's steers walk off and he starts hollering that the country's alive with thieves. Took me 2 days to convince him he was wrong,"
"Yeah he's crazy,"
"Hello Marshal. Want me to put your horse up."
"Yeah thanks."
"Good trip?"
"Oh not bad,"
"Hey he looks about bed rocked."
"I'll have him back in shape in a couple of days. We don't feed thistles anymore. I made Moss buy some grain."
"Yes and I'll be bankrupt in a week."
"He's all right, huh."
"I wish he was my son. Say you want to go fishing?"
"What?"
"Me and Chester's going he's out digging up worms somewhere right now."
"I never heard of you going fishing before Moss."
"Well I never had anybody I could leave the stable with before."
"Well I'd like to go but I got some paperwork to do. I'll see you later."
"You work too much Marshal."
"I'm the laziest man in Dodge and you know it."
Beecher the town bully passed Matt on the way to the stable, Matt turned to watch him.
"Hey Travis in there?"
"Andy."
"You must be the wrong man. From what the barkeep at the Long Branch tells me I was expecting something on fire. Your name is Travis, ain't it."
"Yeah it is."
"You don't look like no tiger to me. Where's your gun?"
"Just a minute," Moss said stepping forward.
"Stay out of it Moss."
"I know this man he rides into town every now and then just to find someone he can bully. Well he ain't going to come down here and make trouble for you. Not while I'm around he ain't."
"Let me handle it Moss. It's no good if you don't."
"You going to answer my question? Where's your gun?"
"I took it off."
"Why?"
"My reasons."
"Go get it."
"You got any particular reason for prodding me Mister?"
"I never heard of you before today but I didn't like what I heard."
"That so?"
"You got yourself a reputation but you ain't going to keep it."
"I don't want it."
"You killed a man then you take your gun off so nobody else can give you a try. You know I don't like that."
Andy turned to go inside the stables.
"Where you going?"
Andy threw the sacking he was holding to the ground and turned back to Beecher.
"Listen you're wasting your time I quit fighting."
Beecher grabbed Andy as he made to leave.
"I said I quit gun-fighting. You want to take that off I'll oblige you some other way."
Beecher got rid of his gun belt and landed a punch on Andy's chin. Andy got up and landed a punch on Beecher's chin. The fight continued until Beecher pulled his knife. Andy grabbed his wrist and forced him to drop it, he threw it to the side and got up. Beecher rose slowly as Andy returned to the stable.
Matt smiled from where he'd been watching and turned to go to the office. He met Doc as he crossed the street.
"Matt!"
"Hi Doc."
"Well you look about as pleased as a rat in a grain bin. What happened government finally send you your pay?"
"Now what would I do with money, Doc?"
"You owe me $20."
"10."
"Interest."
"Where'd you learn doctoring in a pawn shop."
"Doctors are human we like to eat too you know?"
"Try the stable."
"What?" Doc asked grumpily.
"There's a job waiting for you over there. Fella needs a little comforting."
"Who?"
"That bearcat Jim Beecher."
"Somebody finally shoot that bully."
"That's why I'm looking so pleased."
"Well I don't understand you."
"You will Doc," Matt turned to go to the office.
Doc turned to look towards the alley leading to the stables as Beecher came around the corner clinging to the wall for support.
Chester entered the office just after Joe Kite left.
"Who was that Mister Dillon?"
"Joe Kite came in to tell me was going to kill a man don't know who or why?"
"You mean he came in just to tell you he was going to shoot somebody."
"He was here when I got back sitting in my chair drinking my coffee out of my cup."
Chester's face was a picture he could well understand Matt's reaction to Joe Kite's usurping his place in that Matt was like a wolf defending his territory.
"I just come to tell you that I was heading off fishing with Moss unless you want me to stay."
"No Chester you go fishing enjoy yourself."
Chester grinned and left he told Moss about the arrival of Joe Kit while saddling Bob, Buck rolled his eyes as he thought about what he'd have done in Matt's place.
Later that night Matt saw Joe Kite standing by one of the posts at the top of steps going up from the street to the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch. He ignored him and entered to see Kitty who was sitting at her table talking to Andy. Chester was at the bar enjoying a beer.
"Well a man spends a hard afternoon off fishing he deserves a little relaxation afterwards."
"Yes sir."
"Where's Moss?"
"Oh he went back to the stables so Andy could come here."
"Oh,"
"Anything you want me to do now, Mister Dillon I mean right now?"
"Stay here and finish your beer I'll pick you up when I leave."
"All right sir."
Andy rose as Matt approached.
"Sit down Andy."
"No I have to get back to the stables. I just come in for a beer."
"Well that's a compliment," Kitty said.
"Oh Miss Kitty I didn't mean for it to sound that way."
"I know I'm kidding. It was real nice talking to you."
"Come back when you can,"
"I will thanks."
"You know something Marshal. You were right about me not wearing a gun. I'm glad I took it off."
"Good."
"Bye Miss Kitty."
"Goodbye Andy."
"See you later Andy," Chester called as he left.
Andy was raking the straw in a stall when Joe Kite came in the stable.
"Hello Andy."
"Who are you?"
"It don't matter who I am. It's Andy Haker that counts."
"Bounty hunter. This how you make your living?"
"My duty as a citizen Haker."
"You're more turkey buzzard than citizen Mister."
"You can't rile me."
"You ain't taking me."
"I'm taking you right now."
"No."
Andy forgot that Matt had his gun and dropped his hand to his side. Joe Kite fired once mortally wounding Andy. The horses trumpeted their displeasure. Buck stared at Joe Kite wishing he could aim a well-placed hoof at Joe Kite's backside. Joe Kite bent over Andy staring at him as Matt came in.
"You going to use that gun again?"
"No of course I ain't."
"That's too bad I almost wish you'd try it."
"Marshal that man's wanted I got a reward coming."
"Throw that gun over there."
Joe Kite obeyed after all he didn't need it anymore. Matt walked further in to kneel at Andy's side. Chester followed him in with some other cowboys.
"I forgot. Forgot about my gun. I went for it before I remembered. There's a reward out for me Marshal. I quit the gang too late."
"I'm going to get you over to Doc's right away."
"It's too late for that too. Didn't work out so good did it, Marshal not so good. Just cause I forgot and went for my …"
Matt checked him to see if there were any sign of life. He sighed and rose to his feet.
"He went for his gun I had to kill him."
"No you didn't kill him I did."
Buck recognized that Matt was feeling guilty about the whole thing.
"What are you saying? That don't make sense. You're trying to cheat me out of the reward money. That's what you're doing you're trying to cheat me."
"Get out go steal yourself a mule and ride out of town,"
"No."
He looked around as the others closed in. Joe Kite backed out of the stables and ran away.