Matt rode hard toward the camp where he found Judge Strom earlier.
Riding into the encampment, Matt surveyed the scene and clinched his jaw tightly.
Surrounded by a circle of torches, was a scaffolding where Kitty and Festus stood bound at the hands and feet with black hoods on and a noose around their necks.
"Judge," Matt said stopping in front of the gray haired man, a rifle cocked and ready. "The first man that moves is dead!"
Newly cocked his rifle as well from Matt's side as the Judge looked at Cal.
"What about my son, Marshal?" the Judge asked.
Matt sighed and then pursed his lips deep in thought before he replied. "A trade," Matt said indicating Festus and Kitty. "I'll trade your son for them."
The Judge raised he head as he looked at Cal. "That's only one life for two Marshal," the Judge said with a wan smile. "I'll offer you the woman in exchange for my son! I want the man that killed my son to hang!"
"I can't do that Judge," Matt said leveling the rifle directly at Strom. "We do it my way or your a dead man."
"I already am," Strom said laughing. He raised his hand and Matt watched the two men on the platform move toward the levers that would open the trap doors below Kitty and Festus feet.
"Newly," Matt yelled taking aim at the one standing near Kitty while Newly did the same with the one standing near Festus.
Festus and Kitty could only listen to the conversation taking place below.
Defenseless to do anything but wait for the out come, the hill man worked at the bindings of his hands.
Just as he was able to free one hand, he heard Kitty start to cry as suddenly all hell broke lose.
The Judge lowered his arm and took off running toward the edge of the forest as Matt and Newly fired their rifles.
Matt's aim was true and the man fell backward off the scaffold dead before he even hit the ground.
Newly's shot felled his target but not before he pressed the lever opening the trap door below Festus feet but the hill man was ready.
Grabbing the noose around his neck, he let himself fall to the ground and then pulled off the black hood as Newly ran up to him.
"You alright," he said as Festus nodded while untying the rope from his feet.
"Where's the judge?" Festus asked looking around.
"Ran off into the woods," Newly said watching Cal struggle against the shackles. "I'll be right back!"
Festus turned his head sharply at the sound of movement near the forest edge and followed it.
Kitty screamed as Matt touched her hands to untie them. "Kitty! It's me," he said taking the noise off from around her neck before yanking off the black hood.
"Oh Matt!" she cried throwing herself into his strong open arms.
"You alright," Matt said disentangling himself as the woman nodded.
"Where's Festus?" Kitty said looking around as Newly ran up to them.
"Festus went after the Judge," he said pointing toward the forest.
"Stay here with her," Matt yelled running toward the direction his deputy had gone.
The hill man tore blindly though the under brush as he followed the Judge who was much slower than he was.
When Festus finally caught up to him, the Judge laughed uneasily. "What now Deputy?" the judge taunted. "Will your killer instinct kick in, will you kill me like you did my son?"
"Like I tole you years ago," Festus said angrily. "If anyone needed killin it was those youngin's of yourin and you!"
The judge laughed. "In a few months you'll get your wish, I'm dying."
"Wal, that there is sorrowful news but it don't change the fact that what you did here was wrong and it ain't gonna matter ta no Judge neither," Festus said turning the man around as Matt ran up to them.
"I see you got him," Matt said tipping his hat up.
"Sure did Matthew," Festus said pushing the Judge forward. "What about the others?"
"Two dead, two captured along with Strom's son, Cal," Matt replied taking the Judges arm. "I got him, you've had enough excitement for one night!"