Festus stopped his mule at the top of a ridge. He stood up in the stirrups, stretching higher to see further, "I think I spotted yer friend over there," he pointed. Sergeant Cox pulled his horse to a stop beside the deputy's mount.

Cox strained his eyes and saw a lone rider in the distance, "Lets get him," Cox said as he jabbed his heels into his horse's flanks and burst forward. Festus huffed and shook his head s he sat down and nudged Ruth with his spurs, "Come on Ruth, that yahoo is gonna get himself shot ifin he don't slow down," the hill man stated as he followed the sergeant across the meadow nd up the far hill. Festus was thankful that it appeared that he and the sergeant were gaining on sergeant Williams, at least.

Hodgson slowed his horse near the stream and then stopped allowing the animal to drink. "This would be a good spot to stop for the day," he smiled over to Elcombe.

"I don't know," Elcombe said as he stepped down from his horse and led it to the stream, "I think Williams and the others are too close to us by now," he said as he watched his horse drink from the cool stream.

"We've put too much distance between us and them. And furthermore, look at the sky. It's going to open up at any minute and will wash out our tracks," Hodgson said as he too stepped down from his horse. "We can string a tarp between those trees and keep dry. Plus there's enough wood laying around that would make a good warm fire," he said nudging a branch with this toe.

Elcombe sighed, "I guess you're right. The horses could use a good rest anyway," he said as he began to unsaddle his mount. "It sure will be great to get into some town somewhere and drink us up a storm, huh?" he said over top of his horse to Hodgson who was busy with this own saddle.

"Yeah, it sure will be," Hodgson said just as an ominous role of thunder rumbled overhead. "I guess we'd better hurry," he said as he pulled hi saddle free and began to lay out the tarp to string between the trees.

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"Now matt, I don't want you wandering all over town like that!" Doc scolded the marshal as matt stepped to the door.

"Doc, I like you a lot, but I can't spend another minute in this office," Matt said as he pulled the door open and a gust of wind swirled in.

Doc twisted his lips in thought, "Humph," he grumped at Matt's comment, "Just be careful of those stitches," he warned as Matt left the doctor's office. Doc shook his head in dispar and turned back to his desk. He paused a moment as he saw a flash of lightening and a clap of thunder. He wondered where Festus was and whether he was all right. Doc rarely admitted to anyone that he cared deeply for the hill man, despite their constant bickering.

The doctor sat down and read through his mail.

Matt eased his way down to the street and got tangled up in a group of women who were all nattering at Wilbur Jonas for one thing or another. The store owner tried to answer questions as he placed more produce out on the stands, but the questions and dissatisfaction seemed to be growing. Jonas was clearly exasperated.

Matt drew a pained breath and waded into the crowd, "You okay Jonas?"

Jonas looked at matt like he has kittens coming out his ears, "Far from it, I'm afraid," the store owner said as he finished handing off a package to a women, who then complained he'd forgotten her sugar. Jonas scrambled for the sugar sack and quickly handed it to the woman who left in a huff. Jonas looked frazzled.

Several other partons waited for their orders as the mood in the store grew more grim. Matt saw enough, "Folks," the marshal said holding up his hand, "Hold everything. You to Jonas," he said. The crowed muttered amongst themselves.

"Look, Mr. Jonas as been through a lot of personal trials lately, would you just go easy on him for a while? Winter isn't here yet. Let him get back in the swing of things, will you?" Matt sounded irritated.

Jonas watched the marshal with bewilderment. Never before had Matt stuck up for him like he'd just did. A slight smile grew under the store owner's silver moustache. "Thank you marshal," he said softly - almost embarrassed. Jonas was likely the last person in Dodge to ask for help of any kind. There was murmuring in the crowd as people realized they were being too demanding. A few people even apologized to Jonas who seemed even more embarrassed.

Matt winked, and began to move back through the crown. There was a definite change in mood.

Matt made his way over to the Long Branch Saloon in hopes to see Kitty Russell up and about, however, as he peered over the swing doors he didn't see the redheaded saloon owner. Matt pushed through the doors and stepped down into the establishment and walked to the long dark wooden bar, "Sam," he smiled at the bar keep.

"Good to see you up and about," Sam smiled.

"Believe me, it is good to be up and about," Matt smirked and made a face with his eyebrows raised as his comment was an indication that he had enough of Doc tender loving care for the time being. Sam chuckled, "Miss Kitty is still resting up in her room," he said as he moved back down the bar to serve a customer. Matt nodded and walked to the stairs. It had been quite a few days since he'd seen Kitty.

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Festus and sergeant Cox were now only about a half a mile behind sergeant Williams. Williams wasn't a very good tracker and was now slowing his pace to follow the tracks made by Hodgson and Elcombe.

Festus was following all three and with more speed, "We will almost be on top of them in a while," Festus said.

"Hopefully before that storm hits," Cox said as he looked up at the dark clouds. The sergeant's eyes drifted back to the deputy who was deeply focussed on the tracks. "You can be sure we'll find your sergeant friend, at the very least before the storm comes in," the deputy said without missing a beat.

Cox felt a chill run up his spine. He didn't like the tone the hill man spoke in nor did he like the idea of facing his friend in this growing awkward situation. "I guess will see what comes along, huh?"

"It'll be coming along sooner than you know it," Festus looked up and spotted sergeant Williams on his horse only a hundred feet ahead. Williams was preoccupied with whatever he had his eye on. Festus quickly pulled Ruth to a stop and stepped down, pulling the mule into the brush. The deputy motioned for Cox to do the same and he did. "What do you think he's doing?" Cox asked.

"I'd bet my Uncle Herkle's wooden leg that he's got those other two troopers of yer's in sight," Festus spoke in a hushed tone.

"Do you want me to go and talk to him?" Cox asked in an equally quiet voice. Festus shook his head no, "He don't want you nor anyone else to know he's there. He's making plans and we'd better too," Festus stated.