Matt and Festus had almost reached the Hayes' farm when they spotted a group of men on horseback riding hard toward them, "Hold up Festus. This might be the posse from Spearville," he stated. The two lawn men waited in the middle of the road as the group approached. "I'm Matt Dillon, Marshal from Dodge," he said to the group of horseman once they arrived and stopped.
"I thought I recognized you Matt," Chip McLean reached forward and shook Matt's hand.
"It's been a while, Chip. What's up?" Matt asked for clarification.
"The bank was robbed yesterday. The sheriff is in a bad way, and deputy Hoffman isn't much better," McLean replied. "One of the bank tellers was killed on the spot."
"Do you know who did it?" Matt asked. Festus watched on.
"No, but one of the other tellers go a pretty good look at the three men," Chip stated. "What brings you out here? News about the bank just got out this morning," he then asked.
"I'm looking for Doc Adams," Matt said. "He's over due in Dodge, but he was looking after a sick boy. Once I find him and send him back to town, we'll join your search," he added.
"That would be great, Matt. From what I know they're headed south. The teller said that the one man had a deep southern accent. They might even be in Oklahoma by now," he sighed.
"Alright, we'll see you soon," Matt said as he tipped his hat and then nudged Buck. Festus did the same with Ruth and the two lawmen continued on their way, as did the posse. Not a word was exchanged between the two men as they continued to the farm.
Martha Hayes was hanging out laundry and Thomas was just leading a horse to the barn when Matt and Festus rode up the lane.
"Well, hi, marshal," Thomas smiled and paused. Martha joined him. "What can we do for you?" the farmer asked.
Matt looked around not seeing Doc's buggy, "How's your boy?" he asked.
Martha smiled, "Better. Doc got his leg straightened out and I think the swelling is going down, thank you for asking," she added as he tightened her shawl over her shoulders.
"What brings you out here, Matt?" Thomas then questioned.
"Is Doc still here?" Matt asked.
"Oh, heavens no. He left here yesterday afternoon," Martha stated. "Around three in the afternoon," she added the time. "Is everything all right?" The words hit Matt in the stomach like a lead weight and kept sinking.
Matt forced a smiled, "I'm sure it is, ma'am," he tipped his hat. "Doc sometimes likes to take his time coming home, stopping to fish or hunt," he tried not the raise any fear or worry with the Hayes'.
Festus was about to say something when Matt turned and cut him off, "Let's go Festus. I bet Doc has a big fat cat fish waiting in Dodge for us," he smiled. Festus frowned but followed his boss to the end of the lane, "Matthew? Ole Doc wouldn't have gone fishin' er huntin' if he knew Jonas was waiting for him in Dodge," he stated. "And if you saw Jonas' hand you'd know what I mean," Festus shook his head. "I surely believe that Jonas has a busted bone in there, somewhere," Festus lamented.
"I do too, Festus, and I'm sure Doc's feeling pretty bad about that right now," He spoke of Jonas' hand. Then Matt focused on the main issue – Doc was missing. "Doc would have also taken the most direct route to and from the Hayes' place. We must have missed something on our way out here," Matt sighed. "Come on. I think Doc's in serious trouble," he said as he spurred the big buck-skin horse.
There was an uneasy feeling in the Long Branch as Newly and Kitty talked over their coffee, "These characters aren't ones to tangle with," the deputy stated as he looked down at the telegram that Matt had given him. "Hopefully we will get some description of them," he lamented as there was no wanted poster available yet – the robbery was so recent.
"Maybe Matt and Festus will run into them on their way out to the Hayes place," Kitty said offering some hope.
"That would be ideal," Newly nodded with a slight smile on his face.
"They will more likely met Doc on his way back to town, and won't they feel silly," Kitty joked.
"I can just hear Doc now," Newly laughed before he took a sip from his cup. His comment caused Kitty also laugh and she playfully swatted his shoulder, "You're getting as bad as the rest of them." Newly nodded in agreement, but chose not to say anything.
It was then that Louie Pheeters appeared in the doorway of the saloon. He looked over the swing doors as his eyes scanned the room until he found Newly. With his usual confidence, Pheeters pushed through the doors and walked over to the table, "Good day, Miss Kitty. Newly," he smiled.
"Hello Louie," Kitty smiled back. "What can we do for you on this fine day?" she asked.
"I just brought this in for Newly," Louie said as he handed him the freshly delivered wanted poster that was put out on the three men.
Newly quickly unrolled the paper and looked at the drawings, "They sure look mean," he sighed.
"Well, hopefully they will just keep on riding. We don't need anymore trouble in town," Kitty stated woefully.
"I hear ya," Newly said as he stood up. "I better get this posted. Thanks for the coffee, Miss Kitty," the deputy smiled and left.
"Would you like a coffee, Louie?" Kitty asked. He was happy to join her for a drink, "That would be awfully nice on such a cold day," the old man sat down as Kitty motioned for Sam to bring Louie a cup of coffee.
Indeed, Matt and Festus backtracked, this time a little slower. For Festus it was easy to follow the buggy wheel marks. After about twenty minutes, Festus pulled Ruth to a stop, "Matthew, look at these here tracks," the hill man said as he stepped down off his mule and crouched down to examine the muddle of tracks. "Looks like Doc stopped here for some reason," he pointed out. Matt was quick to join his Deputy. Both men then looked around further. Matt followed the depressions in the grass of the side of the road. He and Festus walked, with their mounts in tow as they got near where Jeb was lay wounded. Matt looked around – there was no one in sight. His eyes then spotted the blood on the ground, "Festus!" he said as he reached down and touched the sticky red substance.
The hill man knelt down and look, "Someone's hurt. And hurt bad," he looked up at Matt.
"Are you sure those were Doc's buggy tracks?" Matt had to make sure.
"I'd bet Ruth on it," the deputy stated as he stood up.
Matt drew a deep breath. "We have to find Doc," he said as he gather his reins and prepared to mount the big buck-skin horse.
Festus paused, "Do you smell that, Matthew?"
Matt sniffed the air. There was a faint hint of smoke, "Someone has a fire lit," he said. "The only place I can think of is the old Taylor place," he stated. "Let's check it out," he suggested as he nudged the horse. Festus was up in his saddle in a lick and the two lawmen quickly rode to the old cabin in the woods.