Elcombe caught up to Hodgson and laughed, "Did you see the old man salute?"

"Yeah. I was likely because of my half-assed salute to him. Frankly, I couldn't care if he dropped dead while were where gone," the trooper laughed.

"Well, he sure isn't my most favourite person on earth," Doris quipped as he caught up with the other two.

Hodgson slowed his horse down to a trot. He was clearly thinking something.

"What's on your mind, there, Dwight?" Frank Elcombe asked withy keen interest.

"I'm not sure yet, but I'm liking it the more I think about it," Hodgson smiled.

"Now come on. We've been friends for a long time. You have to tell us," James Doris added as he rode along side Hodgson who was flanked my Elcombe.

"Oh, I'll let you know when the time it right," he smiled. "We'll ride another hour and then make camp. That will give me some time to think things through," he smiled at his friends.

Doris looked over his shoulder to Elcombe. Both men were now extremely curious about what Dwight Hodgson was thinking.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The stagecoach rounded the bend in the road and the driver announced the stop, "We're here for the night folks," he said as he pulled the rig to a canter and then a full stop. Kitty sighed with relief. She could see the same expressions on the faces of her friends.

Grover Dolan, owner of the stop, opened the stagecoach door after he set a step down. For a man that ran a business of talking care of passengers, his manner was gruff. Kitty frowned at the older man as he didn't offer to take her hand as she stepped out the coach. Jonas noticed and looped his hand carefully under her arm as he followed her out.

"Thank you, Mr. Jonas," she smiled and then glanced over to the stage stop owner and huffed. The man was busy discussing something with Malcolm Sage, the driver.

Matt and Doc were the next two to get off the stage and Matt looked over to the two men. He wondered what had gotten under the stage stop owner's bonnet.

Matt glanced back at his travel companions and then strolled over to where the two me were talking. "Is there a problem?" Matt asked.

Sage looked sharply at the marshal, "No. Should there be?"

Matt shook his head no, "Not unless you have trouble that you aren't telling me about," Matt parted his suit coat to show his badge and gun.

"No. Nothing is wrong marshal," Dolan sputtered and turned on his heels and headed back to the building. He barked at Kitty, Doc and Jonas to follow him. Matt drew his lips tight thinking that something was obviously bothering the man. Matt's eyes shifted back to Sage's, "Now what's going on?"

Sage swallowed, "I can't tell you, marshal. It's top secret," he spoke in a hushed voice.

"Look," Matt warned, "If there is something on that stage that needs protecting, I need to know about it. There are three innocent people, who happen to be friends of mine, aboard," Matt said and his voice rose slightly.

Kitty and Doc watched from the doorway, before Doc patted Kitty on the shoulder and moved into the building out of the cool night air. "What do you tink they are talking about?" Kitty asked her dearest friend.

Doc shook his head, "Could be anything. Let's not worry about and get something to eat. I'm starved," he said as he guided Kitty to the table.

"Men," she said under her breath. "Always thinking of their stomachs," she half laughed. Doc looked up from his place at the table with a slight smile under his moustache, and what almost made him laugh out loud was the look on Kitty's face as Wilbur Jonas gleefully buttered a slice of home made bread and bit right into it, oblivious of the conversation that she and Doc were having.

Sage watched Dolan pulled the team of horses away and into the corral, the then looked sharply over to the marshal, "The army has sent a strong box with a larger than usual pay roll. They are brining in more troops to try and quell the gun running that is happening," Sage stated.

"Why wasn't I told of this?" Matt glared at the driver.

"I'm sure word must have gotten to your office, however, it looks like you aren't in your office," Sage said curtly and began to walk to the building.

Matt grabbed the driver by the arm and pulled him back, "Don't you dare breathe a word about this to anyone," his eyes grew black as he continued to hold Sage tightly be the forearm.

Sage pull his arm away from Matt's grip, "I want to make it to Dodge in one piece too," he huffed and then continued onto the building. Matt was left wondering why he wasn't watching the strong box with the pay load. Matt decided he'd better stroll over to the barn where Dolan was unhitching the horses and feeding them. He watched the stage stop owner for a few minutes before he cleared his throat to indicate this presence.

Dolan swung around on his heels, "Who are you?"

"My name is Matt Dillon. I'm the marshal for this area out of Dodge," he said while slowly looking around the barn.

"What brings you out here, Marshal?"

"For one, I was on that stage coach, and for two, I just want to make sure everything that is on that stage coach, stays there," he said as he stepped closer to Dolan.

"I'm not a thief. Wouldn't be much business for me if I was," Dolan grumbled. Matt couldn't argue with his there.

"I'll sit watch tonight marshal. I have a shot gun and don't mind sleeping in the barn. My wife will take care of you and the others," he ticked his head to the door of the barn.

Matt though for a moment, "If you need anything, call for me, all right?" he then spoke.

"Sure, marshal. Sure," Dolan said as he went about his business.

Matt drew a slightly less uneasy breath as he left the barn and headed back to the main building. The smell of the fire wood smoke mixed with the cool night air - any other time or place the scene would be quite romantic, however, a lingering uneasiness remained now that he knew there were a strong box and money on board the stage.