The next day, Burke greeted the passengers as they came off the stage one by one as a tall man on horse back rode by.

The freight office manager just barely got a glimpse of the shiny silver badge pinned on the man's vest.

Stopping in front of the jail, the tall man climbed down off his horse and tied the reins to a post before taking out some papers from the saddle bag and then headed to the front door.

Newly looked up from Matt's desk as the man nodded in his direction.

"Can I help you Mister?"

"I'm Marshal Sanders," he said handing the papers to Newly. "I'm here to replace Marshal Dillon."

"Yes, sir," Newly said as the front door opened and Festus walked in. "We've been expecting you. I'm Newly O'Brien and this is Festus Haggen. We're Marshal Dillon's deputy's."

Marshal Sanders nodded as he looked around. "I work alone," he said taking out a cigar. "Unless I have to form a posse, I won't be needing your services. You can turn in your badges and go."

Festus looked at Newly as the new Marshal lit the cigar and headed over to the area of the jail where Matt kept his personal belongings.

"Have someone remove these things before you go," he ordered as Festus nodded.

"I'll see ta Matthew's things," he said taking up a wooden crate.

Afterward, Festus and Newly headed over to the Long Branch with Matthew's clothes and toiletry items which Festus handed off to Miss Kitty.

"I figured, you'd look after Matthew's things till he come back," Festus said as Kitty nodded.

"Thank you, Festus," she said placing the crate in her bedroom. "Can I buy you boys a beer?"

"Much obliged, Miss Kitty," Festus said quietly. "But I don't think I'm in a drinkin mood."

"I understand," Kitty said turning to the younger man. "What about you Newly?"

"I don't think so," Newly said following the woman down stairs.

Stopping at the bar, Sam nodded as Doc walked in.

"Doc," Kitty said with a slight smile. "Come to join the party?"

"I heard," Doc said looking from Newly to Festus. "News travels fast when Burke's around."

Kitty sighed exasperated as the double doors of the saloon opened and Marshal Sanders walked in.

Sanders stopped at the bar and looked at Sam before looking around. "You're the owner," he asked as Sam shook his head.

"That would be me," Kitty said stepping forward. "Something I can do for you?"

"No ma'am," Sanders said tipping his hat. "I just came to speak to you about how you run your establishment."

"How I run my establishment is my business," Kitty said harshly.

"Just so you know," Sanders said sternly. "I don't tolerate drunken brawls or cheaters!"

"Neither do I," Kitty said angrily.

"As long as we understand each other," Sanders replied tipping his hat again. He nodded at Doc, Newly and Festus before turning around and leaving.

"Wal, I sure do miss Matthew," Festus said out loud what Kitty and the others were already thinking.

Mike drove the wagon into town later that night. The deserted and darkened streets of Dodge offered little help.

Peering into the darkness, her heart skipped a beat when she seen the wooden sign hanging over the stairs leading to Doc's office.

"G. Adams," she said stopping the wagon at the bottom of the stairs. Turning around, she put a hand on Dan's forehead and brushed his sweat dampened hair away. "Hang on, I'm going to get you some help!"

Doc opened his eyes and sighed when he heard the banging on his door. "If that's Festus..." he groused angrily.

Shuffling to the front door, he opened it and was surprised to see a woman he'd never met before standing on his landing.

"Thank god," she said breathing a sigh of relief. "I wasn't sure if anyone was here!"

"I'm Doctor Adams," Doc replied putting on his glasses. "What can I do for you?"

"I've got a wounded man in my wagon downstairs, we've come a long way because I think your the only one who would treat him right.

"Oh," Doc said quite confused. "What makes you think that?"

"Because," Mike said evenly. "The wounded man is Matt Dillion!"