As Matt discussed the details of the murders over dinner, Festus did his best to look interested but the truth of the matter was, he really wanted to be back at the hospital with Abelia and the baby.

"I'd rather be at the hospital with yer Ma," Festus said as Robert opened the front door to their house.

"I know that Pa," Robert said with a grin. "But, she'll be asleep all night. So you should get some rest now because once my sister comes home, you won't have much sleep."

"Wal," Festus said with a smile. "Ain't nothing we ain't did before."

"Sister?" Marianne squealed when she and Sally came out of their room.

"That's right," Festus said giving Abelia's oldest daughter a hug. "Yer Ma's had a girl!"

"I have to tell the others," she said running off to her siblings bedrooms.

"Are you going back to the hospital?" Sally asked as Robert nodded.

"I'm leaving my Pa here," he said checking the time. "I got to get going but I'll see all of you at the dedication in the morning."

"Alright," Sally said watching Robert leave before Festus realized how tired he really was.

"Guess, I will try ta get some sleep," he said as Sally nodded.

"I've got things handled here," she replied as Festus smiled at the blonde.

"Much obliged," he said with a nod before going to his room.

I got ta talk to my boy bout marrying that gal, he thought as he climbed into bed.

Matt walked Kitty and their son home after dinner and smirked. "I can't recall when I've walked a pretty lady home and kissed her goodbye in the moonlight."

Kitty smiled and returned the smirk with her own. "That's a good thing," she said as Matthew tugged on her arm. "Good night cowboy."

"Good night, little lady," Matt said tipping his hat before leaning in for a kiss.

"I'll see you in the morning," Kitty said heading up the stairs of the house.

"Yes, ma'am," Matt replied watching her open the front door. "And make sure you lock it!"

As much as he wanted to be in that house with his family, duty came first this night. Both he and Newly had agreed to take opposite ends of town and canvas the area looking for the killer or killers.

Matt felt confident that who ever it was, would slip up just enough that he could finally get close enough to catch them.

Festus sat straight up in bed when he heard what he thought was the front door being shut. The deputy in him made him rise and check for himself that everything was straight which he found to be the case.

Shaking his head, he went back into the bedroom he shared with Abelia but just couldn't bring himself to lay down again.

Changing out of his night clothes, he decided to head back to the hospital since it was almost morning anyway.

Matt checked down every alley way and behind every business in town but came up empty handed.

Checking the time, the Marshal realized it was quickly approaching the time of night that the other three murders had taken place which made him feel a sudden since of dread.

Festus left the house as the full moon hung highest in the night sky and started toward the end of town where the hospital was located.

At least the weather was mild on this March night, Festus thought as he rounded a corner and stepped off the boardwalk.

A lone figure standing against a wall just at the entrance to an alley caught his eye.

The face was hidden in the shadows but the long tresses of blonde hair and the short skirt betrayed the sex of the individual and Festus immediately felt his anger rise.

Matthew would never allow a woman to solicit anyone in Dodge outside of a saloon.

Turning toward the woman, the hill man walked over and grabbed her arms which had been hidden behind her.

Spinning the woman around, his eyes widened in surprise as hers did the same.

"Sally," Festus said angrily tightening his grip on her arms. "What in tarnation are ya doing out here?"

The girl screamed before jerking her arms from Festus grasp as the hill man thew his hands up for protection when she brought a shiny object down toward him.

Matt stopped in the center of town as Newly slowly approached him from the opposite direction.

"Anything?" Matt asked as Newly shook his head.

"Found a couple of stray cats," he said grinning. "Does that count?"

Matt sighed as he shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, this is just one of the nights, there won't be one."

"Maybe," Newly said as the shrill scream from a woman cut off anything else the two men would have said.

Festus stumbled backwards as he felt a sharp pain in his hand and Sally ran down the alley.

His first thought was a knife but as he held out his hand in the light, there was only the faintest trickle of blood.

Matt and Newly ran in the direction of the scream and stopped when they seen Festus standing in the street.

"Festus," Matt said looking around. "We heard a woman scream?"

"It was Sally, Matthew," Festus said pointing at the alley. "She was standing out here alone and when I asked her what she was doing, she screamed and took off."

Matt walked over to the alley as something shining in the moon light caught his eye.

Kneeling down, the Marshal picked up what was left of a glass and metal hypodermic needle before quickly turning back to his friend.

"Did she hurt you?" Matt asked worriedly.

"Ain't nothing but a scratch," Festus said holding out his hand. "Funny thing is, it's making me feel all weak and swirly headed."

"Damn," Matt muttered under his breath. "Newly, we got to get him over to the hospital, now!"

"What about the girl," Newly asked as Matt lead Festus down the street.

"She'll have to wait," Matt said angrily. "I think, Festus has been poisoned!"