"Really," Mike replied hotly. "So what's going to be the story. How will you get away with explaining my death?"
"Well," Sanders said taking her arm. "I think an escape attempt is the most plausible, don't you?"
Mike's eyes went wild as Sanders pulled her from the cell and forced her out the door leading to the alley where a horse was waiting.
"Let's go," Sanders said lifting the woman by her waist onto the horse before climbing up behind her and riding away.
Doc looked up a few moments later when Burke rushed though the door. "Where's Newly," he said breathlessly as the young deputy came from the other room.
"Right here," he said as Burke turned around.
"You told me to keep an eye on Sanders," Burked said swallowing hard. "Well, I just saw him and that woman that brought the Marshal here, ridding out of town on one horse."
"What?" Newly said turning toward Festus and Doc. "Festus, can you ride?"
"Darn straight, I can," Festus said standing up to grab his hat.
"What's this about?" Doc asked as Kitty came to the door.
"Barney told me about a telegram from Starcourt's son," Newly said excitedly. "It seems he's wanting to make a deal with Sanders to get rid of Mike so he can have her land and water rights!"
Kitty gasped as Burke nodded his head. "And that Marshal just took off with her!" he said excitedly.
"C'mon Burke," Newly said taking the man's arm. "We'll need your help to!"
"Kitty!" Matt yelled as the woman scrambled back to his side. "What's going on?"
"Now don't worry," Kitty placated. "Newly and Festus have everything in hand Matt. There's no reason for you to go getting upset."
"Upset about what?" Matt asked looking her directly in the eyes. "Please, tell me what's wrong?"
Kitty didn't want to tell Matt what happened but she knew there was no way to hide it, sooner or later, he was going to find out.
Once she told him about the telegraph from Starcourt's son and that Sanders has taken Mike out of town the stubborn law man reacted just as she figured he would.
"Matt," Doc hollered as the Marshal sat on the side of the bed. "I told you what will happen if you get up. Please let Newly and Festus handle this for once in you life, listen to reason."
Matt shook his head as he met Doc's eyes. "It's my job!"
Standing up, he took a step forward and nearly toppled over before catching himself on the bureau against the wall.
"There," Doc admonished angrily. "You see! Why, you're so darn weak, you can't even walk out of this room! How are you going to get on a horse and ride after them?"
Matt shook his head as he slowly realized, this time at least, Doc was right.
"Here," Festus said getting to his feet. "One set of tracks all right and weighed down."
"Double rider," Newly said as Festus climbed back into his mule, Ruth.
"That has ta be them," he said following the tracks with Newly and Burke behind him.
Sanders stopped just outside of town and looked around.
"Well," Mike said sullenly. "What are you waiting for?"
"It has to be the perfect setting," he said spurring the horse forward into the canyons. "I can say, I caught you here, at a dead end and when you tried to run again..."
"You shot me," Mike finished as the man nodded.
"This looks as good as any place I'll find," he said stopping the horse and climbing down bringing Mike with him who decided to bolt but the law man was ready.
From the corner of her eye, Mike caught a glimpse of the Marshal as he drew his gun and braced herself for what was next.
Scrambling up the side of an embankment, she stopped suddenly when she heard the sound of gun fire.
Expecting to feel the searing pain of being shot, she took a deep breath when she realized, she was still alive.
Turning around, she saw Sanders sprawled out by his horse with a large wound in his chest and not moving.
"Mike!"
She looked up as her name was yelled and saw Festus atop a ridge just a few hundred feet above them and smiled when Newly and another rider entered the canyon and stopped at Sanders horse.
Mike slowly made her way back down to where Newly was. "You alright?" he asked worriedly as Mike nodded.
"I am now," she said looking down at the Marshal. "Is he dead?"
"Yes," Newly said as Festus rode up.
"Burke," Newly said once they arrived back in Dodge that evening. "Can you get the body over to Crump's place."
"Sure thing, Newly," Burke said leading the Marshal's horse toward the under takers as Newly slid down off his.
"Let me help you down," Newly said reaching for Mike's hand as the woman nodded.
"Thank you," she said gratefully. Between the time in jail and being rode out to nowhere and thinking she was going to die, the woman was exhausted and as she got down off the horse, it was apparent, especially to Newly who kept a tight hold on her arm.
"I'm alright," she said shakily. "Just need to sit down."
Newly didn't realize she had fainted until she started to fall. Scooping her up into his arms, he headed for Doc's office as the hill man followed.
"Doc," Newly yelled as he entered the physician's office.
Putting Mike on Doc's exam table the doctor came out of his spare room and hurried over to where Mike was started to come around.
"What happened," he said giving her a cursory look over. "Is she hurt?"
"I don't know," Newly said watching Doc take her pulse. "I think she just fainted!"
Doc nodded as he met Newly's eyes and saw Festus come in behind him. "I'll take care of her, you two just go take care of that Marshal!"
"He's dead," Newly said with a side ways glance aimed at Festus. "We have to let Matt know what happened.
"Alright," Doc said with a nod. "Tell him and then get."
Kitty side stepped out of the way before making her way over to where Doc was ringing out a clean cloth of cold water and put it on Mike's forehead.
"How is she?" Kitty asked quietly.
"I think she'll be alright," Doc said as Mike opened her eyes.
"How'd I get here," she said looking from Doc to Kitty.
"Newly brought you up," Doc replied evenly. "You fainted again."
"I did?" Mike said thoughtfully as Doc checked her pulse again.
"I ain't never shot no law man, Matthew," Festus said worriedly as Matt pursed his lips.
"I don't think it's going to be a problem getting a judge to understand why, Festus," Matt said looking at Newly. "Especially when Newly shows him that telegram from Starcourt's son to Marshal Sanders."
"That's right," Newly said with a wiry grin. "And we all seen him aiming right at Mrs. Yardner!"
"I'm just glad your aim was good," Matt replied with a grin.
"Phaw," Festus snorted. "I was aiming fer his head. It went into the chest instead!"
Matt smiled as he looked at his two deputy's proudly. "You boys did good, I think it's time you put those badges back on."
"Will do, Matthew," Festus said as Newly nodded.
"Better?" Doc asked a short while later as Mike rested in his bed.
"Much," she said with a smile as he took a seat beside her.
"You still planning on leaving?"
"Yes," Mike said with a quick nod. "Just as soon as all this is over and Matt's better."
Doc nodded before he spoke. "When the time comes, will you let me know?"
"You want to know if it's a boy or girl?" Mike said with a grin as Doc nodded. "I will."
