Stringer smiled at Peter Brooks through the bars of the Dode City jail, dangling the key to Brooks' freedom. Brooks snarled, "What are you waiting for?"

"Mr. Brooks your freedom comes at a price, $1,000."

"Stringer, this is your fault. If you had finished off that damn kid I wouldn't be here. You have the $1,000 I paid you for that job. A job you didn't do."

Gus laughed, "Tell you what Brooks, I'm a reasonable man. I'll let you out for an additional $500 to be paid when boy is dead. Agreed?"

Brooks nodded his grudging agreement and Gus unlocked the cell, "You're free Brooks but a fugitive. Once the boy is dead and unable to testify, your problems will be over. In the meantime, you have to hide. I'll find you a good hiding place for another $500.

"No deal Stringer. I already have a plan. Just lend me your knife, and make sure that boy is dead."

Stringer shrugged and handed Brooks his knife. They went out the back and parted ways.

Matt

Matt left Kitty and rushed back to his office with plenty of questions for Brooks. He pushed through the door to the cell area, stopped dead and cursed himself. Brooks had escaped, and had to have had help. That meant Gus Stringer was still in town. Matt cursed himself again. Chester could have Doc and the Clarks back in Dodge any time now. Doc would have had Chester set out from Mabel Johnson's real early. Brooks and Stringer had to be found before Felix got back.

Brooks

In his short time in Dodge, Peter Brooks had mapped out every inch of the town in his mind. He was a man of astute observational skills who noticed things few others did. For example, he was certain that few knew of an almost totally obscured door behind the Long Branch that led directly into Kitty's office. Covered with plant life, soot and dirt, the outline of the door was barely visible. Brooks knew that at one time it had been customary for the highest paid prostitute in an establishment to have a room on the ground floor. Her exclusive clientele would have access to a door that led directly to her room, to come and go at will. Brooks figured that long ago the Long Branch office served that function. Now the door was barely noticeable and long forgotten.

After cautiously walking down back streets and alleyways, Brooks reached the door. He cut the vines that covered it, and used his knife to dig around the edges and clear away the dirt and grime that had accumulated over the years. He leaned against the door, and pushed hard. Unused to physical exertion, sweat started pouring down his face, but the door didn't budge. He heard footsteps coming in his direction, the unmistakable strides of Dillon. He frantically pushed with all his weight, grunting hard. Suddenly it gave, and opened just a bit. He squeezed inside, closed the door behind him, and seconds later heard the footsteps go passed. He brushed the dirt from his hands and sat down to wait for Kitty.

Kitty

Kitty sat smiling at the words Matt had spoken as he left. With mock seriousness she'd asked if he thought she wouldn't fit in with kings and queens. You'd outshine them all, was his response. For a moment she pictured herself walking into an elegant ballroom wearing a beautiful gown and tiara, on the arm of the tall, handsome Dodge marshal. She giggled a bit. Matt wasn't much for dressing up, but he sure had a way of looking good. Unbidden, the image of his naked body came to mind and she felt her cheeks begin to redden. She quickly pulled herself back to reality and looked around the Long Branch. Offering free food hadn't been a total success. A few men were hanging around drinking and eating, but she'd have to carefully calculate how much she was spending on food. She got to her feet, "Sam, I'm going to my office to go over some figures."

The bartender nodded and Kitty stepped into her office and closed the door. She immediately sensed something odd. Hairs stood up on the back of her neck, "Is someone here?" Out of nowhere an arm whipped around her chest and a knife was at her throat, "Hold still Kitty. Your chance to accept the best offer of your life is over unless you play your cards very, very carefully."

Kitty gazed upwards and saw the cold, dark eyes of Peter Brooks.

He spoke smoothly and coolly, "We'll slowly walk out of the saloon and send someone for the marshal."

It all happened quickly. Brooks' knife was still at Kitty's throat and Matt was standing across from them.

Brooks smiled, "The mighty marshal, is not as shrewd as he thought. Toss your gun to the ground."

Matt did as he was told. He looked at Kitty, their eyes locked for a moment. He hoped Chester and his charges were nowhere near Dodge, it was time to act.

He looked at Brooks, "You can't get away. The boy will testify and you'll go to jail."

Brooks shrugged, "That boy is being taken care of."

"By who, Gus Stringer?"

"Exactly."

"You have a lot of faith in a dead man. Stringer drew on me. He lost."

Confusion swept Brooks' body and face. Why would Stringer be stupid enough to challenge Dillon. Where was that damn Felix?

Kitty felt Brooks lose focus. The arm across her body loosened slightly and his knife hand relaxed. Matt's eyes had said to look for opportunity and here it was. She kicked one foot back hard, hitting Brooks in the crotch. As he bent in pain she stomped a high heal into his foot. His hold on her was gone and she quickly ran towards Matt.

Matt reached for the gun he'd tossed on the ground.

"Leave it there Dillon."

Matt looked up and saw Gus Stringer holding Felix by the arm with a gun to his head.

Brooks sputtered, "Dillon, you said Stringer was dead."

"I lied."

Matt looked around. Time seemed to slow as his mind raced. Stringer had a gun at Felix's head, and surely planned to kill the boy. Chester and Doc stood nearby. Chester's rifle was on the ground in front of him. Stringer must have made him toss it down. Rita stood between Doc and Chester holding Molly, and each man had a hand on her arm to keep her from running to Felix.

Kitty wasn't far from him. He looked at the gun he'd tossed on the ground. It was so close that if there was a distraction he could dive, grab it and fire in mere seconds.

He felt Kitty's eye boring into him. He turned his head to look at her. She lowered her focus. He followed her gaze and saw a large stone on the ground by her foot. Her eyes moved to Stringer, back to the stone and then straight at Matt. He swallowed hard. Kitty would have to hit Stringer square between the eyes with force for it to work. If she missed he'd start shooting. Matt met her eyes and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

He looked at Stringer and spoke loudly to make the gunman focus only on him, "Stringer, you're a fool. What makes…" In a flash Kitty bent down, picked up the rock and threw with all her might at Gus Stringer's head. Like Goliath struck by David's rock, he staggered back. Unlike Goliath, he didn't fall, but his hold on Felix was gone and the boy ran. Matt dove to the ground and grabbed his gun, "Drop the gun, Stringer." Still stunned by the pain in his head, Gus let his gun fall to the ground. Chester quickly picked his rifle up and pointed it at Peter Brooks, "Just stand still there. Don't get no ideas or nothing."

Felix had his arms around his mother as she cried tears of relief. Doc put his arm around her. "Come on now. Let's get up to my office, and settle down. I want to do some tests on Felix's throat."

Chester and Matt started walking Peter Brooks and Gus Stringer to jail. Matt looked back at Kitty. Their eyes spoke of trust and love.

TBC