Jared Baker and Len Wilson watched the town folk from across the street, "Looks like we've got them stirred up," Wilson laughed.

"Good," Baker smiled. "I like it when they are on edge," he said as he licked the cigarette paper before rolling it into shape.

"I'll round up the others," Wilson said as he turned and walked away, "We'll meet you down near the bridge," Wilson pointed and Jared Baker nodded in approval.

Len Wilson walked up the boardwalk and spotted Charles Downie and William Mathias across the street. He stopped and whistled at them to get their attention, which worked. Downie told Mathias to stay put, then jogged across the street, "When did you get in?" Wilson asked.

"Earlier this morning," Downie replied and glanced back across the street. "Are the others here?"

Wilson nodded, "Yeah, they came in late last night," he smiled. "I was talking to Calder earlier and he said they found Dillon camped out."

"Oh?"

"Calder shot him," Wilson snorted. "You should watch this bunch," he said waving his hand toward the street. "They are all in a panic and sent a bunch of men out in search of the marshal. From what Calder said they will only find bones," he laughed.

"That will make Jared happy," Downie mused.

"It did," Wilson half laughed. He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, "These are the places that he wants to hit," he then showed it to Downie. Downie studied the map and looked up at Wilson, "What's he want with the store?"

"It does a good business and he carried a lot of jewellery," Wilson replied. "I'm not going to question his plan. He said he wants to grab and run," Wilson stated.

"There's got to more to Dodge than this," Downie huffed.

Wilson leaned toward Downie, "I'm sure there is, but Jared wants to keep on the move," he said in a low voice. "There will be no dilly-dallying," he cautioned.

Downie frowned, "A man can't stay in the saddle too long," he said looking around at some of the women on the street and slowly wet his lips.

Wilson narrowed his eyes, "I hear you loud and clear, but from what Jared said there's a lot of money in Dodge right now," he whispered. "And we're going to take it."

Downie looked down at his boots, "Sure," he sighed. "What do we do now?" he asked.

Wilson looked down the street and back to Downie, "We're going to meet at the bridge," he slowly smiled. "Soon we will be out of here." Downie realized that he had no other choice if he wanted a cut of the bootie to play his part and not go outside his bounds, especially against the likes of Jared Baker.

Doc opened the jailhouse door and found Festus Haggen inside pawing through wanted posters, "Thar ain't a dang thang one that feller at all!" he squawked.

Doc ran his right hand across his moustache, "I didn't expect you'd find anything," he stated. "There's something about these men that's different. I've seen their kind before and so have you," he look Festus in the eye.

Festus frowned.

"Where's everyone?" Doc then asked.

"They're coming," Festus said as he stepped out from behind Matt's desk. "I sure hope Newly comes back soon with Matthew," then added.

Doc didn't say anything at first, "I do too, but you realize that Matt might be badly injured or worse," he said in a hushed voice.

"Doc! How could you say such a thag?" Festus questioned loudly.

Doc sighed, "You have to face the facts, Festus. There's a loot of blood on that saddle over there," he pointed toward the livery stable. "At best, Matt is laying somewhere half dead," he added.

Festus was about to blast the doctor with an obscene word, but stopped at Sam Noonan and Wilbur Jonas arrived at the jail house – the first of the two security committee members to arrive. They are soon followed by Percy Crump, Harry Bodkin and Nathan Burke – Louie Pheeters even showed up, although he wasn't on the committee.

"Louie, what are you doing here?" Doc asked.

"Doc I have a bad feeling something is going to happen and I want to stop it," he said.

"Well that's very noble of you, but you aren't on the committee," Doc pat his old friend on the shoulder. "It's best if you just stay out of this," he tried to smile.

"But Doc! I saw those men in the stable. They mean business," Pheeters stated with his eyes wide.

Doc twisted his mouth, "I'm sure they do, but I can't let you get involved, Louie," he said.

"Doc's right, Louie," Festus added. "Maybe you could act as look out for the stable," he added.

"That's a good point, Festus. I'll help him," Nathan Burke added, which gathered a few scowled looks form some of the men in the room. Burke usually looked for the easy way out.

Doc moved over to the shipping clerk, "For once could you pretend to be a man!" he barked. Burke frowned and was about to say something when Jared Baker appeared at the door.

Festus quickly moved toward the gun man and was about to ask what he was doing in town, but Doc held him back, which caused Baker to force himself to hide a smiled, "Just looking for the marshal," he said looking around the room.

"He ain't here," Festus barked, causing Doc to pull harder on the hill man's arm.

"Oh," Jared said with hollowness to his voice. "When will he be back? I'd like to talk to him," he added knowing he was rubbing salt into wounds.

Doc shoved Festus behind him and moved forward, "In the next few days. Is there something we can help you with?" he asked hoping that he bought the committee some time.

Baker shook his head, "I don't think so, old man," he said casting his eyes around the room before he left for his meeting at the bridge.

As soon as he was gone, the men began talking amongst themselves before Doc pulled Festus gun from his holster and pounded the grip on to the small table at the centre of the room. Everyone stopped talking and looked at the physician and he gruffly handed Festus' gun back, "We need to work together, or we will be in trouble," he firmly stated.

"But we don't know what they are going to do!" Harry Bodkin said, with Percy Crump and Wilbur Jonas nodding in agreement.

"Neither do I, but we have to be ready at all times," Doc stated.

"Doc, what do you want us to do? We can't just wait to see, and we can't sit here being paranoid," Jonas said.

Doc nodded, "I know. And I wish I knew. My best suggestion is to be vigilant and carry a small gun, or alert Festus as quickly as possible," he said looking over at the hill man.

"I don't know why we just can't run them out of town," Burke sputtered.

"They haven't done anything wrong, yet," Doc reminded the clerk.

"I wish Newly was back," Jonas stated. "I don't like this at all."

"Who does?" Sam Noonan asked. "I'm going back to the Long Branch and clean my shotgun," he said as he left.

Just about every man in the room could hear their hearts beating outside their chests, "Come on, ya all. Get on about your business and jist keep an eye out fer them yahoos," Festus said and he ushered everyone out of the jailhouse. "This could be a very long day," he added.

Doc paused and looked at his hill man friend, "Yes it could be," he said with a brush of his moustache before he left for his office.

Suddenly Festus felt very alone. He looked around the street which was active with people, but he had no idea where the gun men were.