Norton came out of the ticket office and headed for the saloon, pausing at the sight of Festus leaning against a post outside the swinging doors. "Why ain't you inside wettin' your whistle? It's gonna be a long ride to Wichita, you know."
Festus shrugged. "I know that. You get the tickets all right, did you?"
Norton held them up, grinning. "First class all the way."
"When does the train leave?"
"In about an hour." Norton started through the swinging doors. "Sure you don't want a drink?"
Festus' eyes ranged up and down the street. "I'll do my drinkin' in Wichita when we get that money."
"Suit yourself." Norton went inside and joined Watson and O'Hara at a table near the doors where they could see Festus.
Watson asked, "Don't he want to come in?"
Norton shook his head. "Can't say as I blame him. I wouldn't be too eager to drink with somebody who was gonna shoot me."
O'Hara was surprised. "We ain't said nothing to him about that."
"Don't you think he can figure it out for himself?" asked Norton in exasperation.
"I been thinking about that," said Watson. The other two looked at him and he fidgeted in his chair. "All I mean is, well...something about Haggen don't seem right. I thought that marshal was supposed to be a friend of his."
"What of it?" asked Norton roughly.
"I don't know," Watson said slowly. "Me, I woulda shot that man, not left him tied up there to die slow like that..."
"I didn't hear you complaining none when we left," said Norton.
"I ain't complaining, exactly," said Watson.
Norton got to his feet. "I don't want to talk about it no more. I'm going over to the station and catch the train to Wichita. Are you coming?"
He headed for the door with O'Hara, and after a moment Watson followed them. The light was very bright after the dim interior of the saloon and the three men waited to let their eyes adjust before stepping down into the street.
"Hold it."
Norton's eyes widened in surprise and fear as Matt stepped out from the alley next to the saloon. The marshal's gun was drawn and the three men froze. Festus was still leaning against the post and he grinned as Norton looked back at him. "I b'lieve I tolt you fellers Matthew warn't a easy man to get."
"You lying, sneaking, dirty double-crossing..." Norton snarled. He whipped around to face Matt and the marshal cocked his gun. For a moment the five men were very still, then Norton's hand fell to his holster.
Matt took him down, then dropped O'Hara. Watson had his gun out and was firing point-blank at the marshal when Festus landed on him, sending the bullet wide. Matt watched helplessly as Festus and Watson struggled savagely for the gun, then there was a shot and the deputy fell to one side. Watson grinned in triumph, raising the gun towards Matt, then looked down at the spreading stain on his own chest. He dropped to his knees, pitched forward on his face, and lay still. Festus got to his feet, breathing heavily, and stumbled to Matt. "You all right, Matthew?"
The deputy's bruised face was filled with concern for his friend and the marshal's throat tightened. He took a moment to collect the guns, then said huskily, "I would have been here sooner if this was sharper." He passed Festus the pocketknife the deputy had pressed into his hands the night before while he was checking the ropes.
Festus took it, running his thumb over the edge. "Well, you dulled it up real good, so I s'pose I'll have to sharpen it now." Townspeople were collecting and the local sheriff pushed his way through the crowd. There were explanations, accompanied by shaking heads and raised voices and waving hands, then the bodies were removed and Matt and Festus were free to go.
The marshal handed Festus his badge and the deputy pinned it on, saying softly, "I got to tell you somethin', Matthew, 'bout last night..."
Matt cut in. "You don't have to say anything, Festus. I already know you didn't mean what you said."
"I figgered you did, but them fellers wuz fixin' on killin' me oncet they got their money." The deputy smiled a little but his eyes were desolate. "I been thinkin' what a sorry thing it'd be if'n those wuz the last words I ever said to you."
"It wouldn't have been a sorry thing to me, Festus." Matt blinked away his tears. "Not when I had the rest of my days to remember that what you said saved my life."
