Darkness had finally fallen across the land, and the snow continued to fall.
"Well I better get going. Ellen is going to wonder if I got lost in the snow," Wilbur Jonas joked as he swallowed back the remainder of his drink. "I'll see you later, Miss Kitty," the store owner smiled as he placed his empty glass on the bar. Kitty smiled back, "I hope you don't get lost in the snow," she half laughed. "I may need a shovel tomorrow," she joked. Jonas chuckled as he headed to the door.
"I'll see he gets as far as his store," Matt stated. "I need to do a round without Festus here, anyway," he noted.
"I'll see you later, Matt," Kitty smiled warmly as she watched the marshal leave the saloon with the store owner. As soon as the main doors were opened a gust of wind and snow blew in. Matt quickly closed the door closed.
"It's really coming down out there," Kitty said to Sam as she then walked to the window and looked out. The street lamps across the way were lit, yet barely visible. The oil lamps out front of the Long Branch flickered with the wind. Strangely enough, the blowing snow looked a little brighter with the lamps. She watched Matt and Jonas walk along the snow-covered boardwalk before they stepped down and out of sight.
Kitty turned back to Sam, "I sure hope Doc and Festus are safe," she said with a hint of fear in her voice.
"You know, Miss Kitty, both Doc and Festus know enough not to chance a storm like this. We'll see them as soon as the snow lets up," the craggy-face barkeep stated as he gathered the used glasses from the top of the bar.
"You can stay here tonight, Sam," Kitty kindly offered, for which Sam was grateful.
Out on the blustery street, Matt and Jonas strolled along just as the buffalo hunters drove by and stopped in front of the Long Branch. Matt looked at the store owner and then back to the three men, "Can I help you?" he asked out of curiosity and walked toward the wagon.
"We need a place to stay," Morrison stated.
Matt looked the men over. "Where are you from?" he then asked.
"We've been travelling," Kirkland said, "a long time. We're just passing through, but with this weather, like to stay the night," he added.
As Matt and the men were talking, Jonas' eyes spotted the rear wheel. He knew it wasn't a wagon wheel as it was a lighter make, not for a heavy wagon. He stepped closer for a better look.
"What are you looking at?" Morrison snapped as he watched the older man at the back of the wagon.
Matt looked over to the store owner, who looked like he'd seen a ghost. Matt indicated for him not to say anything. "Nothing," Jonas weakly stated and backed away from the wagon.
"There's a boarding house on the edge of town, that way. Lloyd Shaw's place. As far as I know, Ma Smalley's place is full, so you will have to try Shaw's," Matt motioned to men to go down the street. He had a feeling they were the wanted buffalo hunters, but he had no way to prove it yet. Furthermore he wanted them out of Dodge.
"Is there a saloon that way," Kirkland snapped.
"There's a few," Matt calmly replied. With that the men moved along and out of sight. The marshal walked toward Jonas, "What was that about?" he asked. "You looking to get your head blown off? Buffalo hunters don't like people poking into their business."
"The back wheel on that wagon is from Doc's buggy!" Jonas exclaimed.
Matt frowned, "Are you sure of that?" he moved closer to the store owner making sure it wasn't the alcohol talking.
"I most certainly am, Matt! I've seen that buggy in the alley next to my store hundreds of times. Of course I recognize it!" Jonas' voice was firm.
Matt's eyes narrowed as he looked up the street, "Well if that's Doc's buggy wheel, where's his buggy and more so, where is he and Festus?" he asked as he slowly looked back at the store owner.
"This ain't good, Matt," Jonas squeaked as his eyes also looked up the street.
"No. No it ain't," Matt sighed.
Festus made it back to the little camp and was happy the fire was still going. He was equally happy that the cold was numbing the pain in his arm. "Doc?" the hill man asked as he moved closer to the lean-to.
Doc opened his eyes; "Festus! I heard shots. Did you get us a rabbit?" he asked as his stomach growled.
Festus said nothing as he draped the canvas over the bows of the lean-to, which helped to cut the wind down tremendously. Finally the fire began to feel warm. Festus crouched down near the fire, "I found this near the buggy," he said as he pulled the whiskey bottle from his coat pocket and handed it to the doctor.
Doc's hands shook from the cold as he took the bottle, "This should taste good, right about now," he said as he pulled the cork and took a big swig. He then eyed the deputy who had his hands held out to the flames, "I heard shots. Did you get us a rabbit or a bird?" the doctor asked again.
Festus' hazel eyes lifted from the fire, "No. Some yahoos stole one of yer buggy wheels," he growled. "I tried to stop them, but they took a poke shot at me. I might have got one of them, but I ain't sure," the hill man stated.
"Well, are you hurt?" Doc asked as he sat up a little more.
"It's just a scratch," Festus stated as he tried to warm up near the fire.
"I'm the doctor here, and I'll be the judge of that," Doc snapped. Suddenly he felt a little light headed after the alcohol hit his empty stomach, "Once I get a little rest, I'll look at your scratch," he said as he pushed the cork back into the bottle and place it near the back of the lean-to, "You might want a drink later," he said as he readjusted the blanket over his shoulders.
Festus nodded and then his eyebrows jumped up, "Hey, Doc. I just remembered," he smiled.
Doc looked over to the hill man wondering just what might come out of his mouth. He felt like he was being set up for some long nonsensical story of some insane Haggen rescue from a similar situation. "What did you remember?" he asked bracing himself for what was to come.
Festus continued to smile as reached into this coat pocket and pulled out a cloth that was folded up in a bundle, "A Haggen never travels without some of this," he stated as he unfolded the cloth to expose a mitt full of beef jerky.
Doc's eyes looked at what the hill man held and then up into his eyes, "Is that what I think it is?" the doctor shifted to get a better look.
"Ifin yer thikin' its jerky, you'd be thinkin' right," Festus smiled and moved next to the doctor who was more than grateful for the dried beef. Doc took a piece and began chewing on it. Festus smiled at his old friend before he too took a piece and began to eat. Festus sighed – at least he felt he got one thing right.