Matt settled into the back of the stagecoach seat and watched out the window as Grand Bend slowly became part of the horizon. His eyes shifted to Kitty who was reading a book she'd brought along. Then the marshal's eyes lifted to the two men who sat opposite him. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought that they would have become friends in any shape or form. Matt smiled to himself - it was a pleasant sight for a change.

Doc and Jonas were discussing the trial and both men were happy that both Bower and Foster were spared an execution. "I just hope that they learn from their past, that's all," Jonas stated.

Doc nodded as he screwed his index finger into his ear, "I hope you are right," he then ticked his head in thought, "but fellas like that, sometimes just don't learn," he stated. Jonas had to agree and settled back. Jonas looked out his window and wondered what Ellen was doing back in Dodge. He could only imagine all the comments she was facing about the store being closed for yet another week. Jonas sighed.

It was an early autumn day and the shadows were getting long and a familiar chill was in the air even thought the sun was still high in the sky. Before long the north winds and winter would be sweeping across Kansas and the rest of the country. This was part of Wilbur Jonas' angst as he knew how many people relied on him and his store for supplies to get them through the winter. And he too relied on them.

Doc leaned his elbow on the window ledge on his side of the coach and rested his chin in his hand. He was wondering what was waiting for him in Dodge with Festus in charge. A slight smile curled under his greying moustache.

Everyone inside the coach was exhausted from the events that led up to the trial and the trial itself. Not many words where exchanged at this point as they all focussed on their personal lives back in Dodge.

Stagecoach driver, Malcolm Sage, handled the team with skill and years of experience. The thing that was spooking him was the locked strong box under his seat. Only the army that sent it knew it was on the stage and the Sargent at Fort Dodge. Sage didn't even tell the marshal of Dodge about it because it was so top secret.

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Trooper Dwight Hodgson stopped short of Frank Elcombe and laughed, "You know if you kept your mouth shut now and again, you would be spending the day peeling potatoes," he nudged the basket of potatoes with his toe.

Elcombe looked up from under his cap, "Go and jump off the wall, will you," he sneered at his friend.

"Is that any way to treat a friend who has come to relieve you or your kitchen duties?" Hodgson said as he looked around the fort.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Elcombe asked curtly as his hands drooped between his knees while still clutching the knife and a potato. His eyes where locked onto Hodgson.

Hodgson smiled brazenly and his eyes slowly came to rest on his friend, "Sergeant Williams has asked me to select two men to pick up a large payroll at Dodge the day after tomorrow. We have to leave today," he smiled.

Elcombe stood and dropped the knife and potato into the basket, "Let's get moving then!" he smiled.

"Hold your horses. I have to see if Jimmy-boy wants to join us," Hodgson stepped past Elcombe and walked toward James Doris who was busy chopping firewood.

"Jimmy-boy!" Hodgson said loudly.

Doris brought the axe down hard through the piece of wood sending the sections in two different directions. He stared at Hodgson, "You know I hate being called that," he growled.

"I know, but it does get your attention, doesn't it?" Hodgson laughed. Doris glared at his friend.

"Are you tired of being on the business end of that axe?" Hodgson asked as he kicked a piece of firewood toward the pile.

"Hell, yeah," Doris said as he straighten his back and wiped his brow while looking at the split pipe of wood he'd just finished. "What's up?"

"Williams wants me to take two men on a job to protect a large payroll coming into Dodge the day after tomorrow. You and Elcombe came to mind," he smiled.

"Well, that's mighty neighbourly of you," Doris said as he whacked the axe down hard into the stump. "When do we leave?"

"This afternoon, so get some things together and we'll leave in about two hours to get us a good jump on the afternoon. I'll let Williams know whom I selected. I'm sure he'll be thrilled," Hodgson snorted as he slowly walked back toward Sergeant Williams' office. Elcombe and Doris patted each other on the shoulder as the walked toward their bunkhouse to prepare for the trip to Dodge City.

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The rocking motion of the stagecoach had put Wilbur Jonas to sleep. For that, Doc was thankful knowing that the store owner hadn't had a good rest since the fire and robbery of his store. Everyone in Dodge was anxious for Jonas to reopened, which then would have him run off his feet.

Matt looked across to Doc, "You look deep in thought," he said in a hushed voice trying not to wake Jonas.

"Not really," Doc smiled. "I'm just thinking how wonderful it will be to crawl into my own bed for a change," Doc stated.

Kitty looked up from her book, "Amen to that too," she smiled.

"We're about an hour away from the next stop. We'll have to stay the night," Malcolm Sage hollered down over his shoulder to his four passengers inside the stagecoach.

At the sound of the driver's voice, Jonas' eyes fluttered open and he quickly straightened himself in his seat feeling slightly embarrassed for falling asleep. He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles and then yawned, "Sorry about that," he said to Kitty, Matt and Doc.

Doc smiled, "I was glad you were able to get some sleep," he looked over to the store owner who was fighting another yawn. "We're all tired," Doc spoke softly. "I just hope this stage stop has more than one bed," he said to no one in particular, however both Kitty and Jonas nodded in agreement.

As the afternoon wore on, the air grew cooler.

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Sergeant Williams saluted the three troopers as they rode through the gate and out onto the prairie. Trooper Hodgson spurred his mount and galloped down the road followed closely by Elcombe and Doris. It was going to be a good rest from regular army life, at least as Hodgson saw it.