Doc Adams opened the jail house door and found Festus standing near the little woodstove, with the crutch wedged up under his arm, letting the doctor know that the hill man's leg was still bothering him. Doc stepped down into the room and placed the small pile of mail on the large desk.
"Yer out and about early, Doc," the deputy said as he poured a coffee.
"Yeah, I picked up my mail, Kitty's mail and Matt's," the doctor stated.
"Would you like a coffee?" the hill man offered.
Doc looked over at the steaming pot, "Is it better that what Louie made at the Long Branch?" he quipped, still tasting the burnt chewy coffee in his mouth.
"Of course! You know my coffee is always good," Festus snorted in defence.
Doc drew his right hand across his moustache and nodded, "I'll get my own," he said as he walked to the table behind Matt's desk to get a cup. He didn't comment on Festus' limp as he watched the deputy amble over to a chair at the little table in the middle of the room. Without a word, Doc poured a cup of coffee and joined the hill man at the table – they spent a lot of time at that table, playing checkers, cards or just bickering filling the office with a common noise, one which Doc sure thought Matt must have long grown tired of. However, the office felt empty - an uneasy quite. No doubt that both men were thinking the same thing and that being had the posse caught Jared Baker and his gang yet.
"Anything in the mail of interest?" Festus asked as he looked over at Matt's desk, trying to make conversation.
Doc shook his head no, "Looks like a lot of correspondence for Matt," he answered before he took a sip from his cup. The doctor's eyes drifted over to the deputy, "Has Barney been by with any telegrams?" he asked.
"Not a one," they hill man said with a flail of his left hand. "I wish Matthew would send some thing," he stated. Festus hated not being able to assist – he disliked the feeling of helplessness.
"Well, I guess it's just a matter of time. Word is out about Baker and his gang, and I'm sure that he'll soon run out of places that haven't heard of him," Doc reasoned. "Matt will get him," the doctor said with the fullest of confidence and a tick of his head.
"I hope so fer Miss Kitty's sake that it is sooner than later," Festus sighed as he gently ran his hand over his wounded leg.
Doc noticed what the deputy was doing, "Are you all right?" he asked over his coffee.
Festus ticked his head, "I'll be glad to get rid of this," he grumbled as he pointed to the old crutch that was leaning against the table.
Doc grunted, "Well, I know that!" the doctor barked. "How's your leg?" he asked again.
Festus shrugged, "It ain't gonna fall off," he muttered half heartily. Doc made a face, but chose not to pursue the issue any further, instead he was going to enjoy his coffee – and not let on to the hill man that it was much better than Louie's.
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Matt, Newly, Sam and the soldiers waited outside of the sheriff's office for his return. All of the men were tired and Matt's shoulder was bothering him further – thankfully he had Newly with him in case he needed assistance while on the trail.
Sheriff Wells and his deputy, briskly walked along the main street toward the jail, "I wonder what brings the marshal from Dodge here," O'Connor asked.
Wells could see the soldiers with the other men, "It's gotta be pretty serious," he stated. "A marshal doesn't usually bring soldiers along with him," he said in a calm tone, but it was mixed with angst. Wells wondered what was happening, and why was the marshal in Cimarron – what possibly could be wrong? Did he do some thing wrong? He began to question himself.
Matt stood with his thumbs hooked over his gun belt and unlike the others, didn't engage in small talk –his mind was focused on the capture of Jared Baker and his men. He hoped that the trail that the posse had been following would soon lead him to pack of marauders.
Wells extended his right hand to Matt, "Marshal. What brings you to Cimarron?" he smiled and the marshal quickly shook it.
Matt wet his lips before he spoke, "I'm on the trail of six men," he grunted as his eyes scanned the street.
"What for?" Wells asked as he looked over to the soldiers before looking back at the marshal.
"They are wanted for two robberies and," Matt paused as he tried to bring himself to say what he had to, "the rape of a woman," he said – his voice was low and cold, his jaw muscles flexed as he held back his emotions.
Wells looked at his deputy then back to Matt, "Let's discuss this inside," he said as he walked to the jail house door and pushed it open. Matt nodded and then looked at the others, "Get something to eat and keep your eyes open," he ordered.
"Sam and I know who to look for, but not the soldiers," Newly stated.
Matt nodded again, "Stick together, then," he said as he entered the jail house, followed by sheriff Wells and his deputy.
Sam looked over to Newly, "Let's keep a low profile," the barkeep said in a hushed voice. "If those dirty bastards are here, we don't want to spook them," he added.
"The marshal has given us good descriptions, so if we do see them, we can at least get them back to here," one of the soldiers said.
"Let's wait until we hear what the marshal has to say about it," Newly said. "I'll find us something to eat, so just go over to the livery and I'll bring it to you," he said handing his reins to Sam. The men agreed that would be the best idea, leaving Newly alone on the boardwalk in front of the jail house.
Wells held the sketch that Doc had drawn, "No, I can't say I've seen him around here," he looked up to Matt, handing the paper over to his deputy who also shook his head indicating he'd never seen the man either.
Matt cursed under his breath, "Well, we think one of them is wounded. My deputy says he was pretty sure he clipped one of them as they rode out of Dodge during the bank robbery," he grunted.
"Wounded?" Wells asked.
Matt nodded. "We found some blood along the trail," he added.
"Well, well, well," the sheriff said. "This might be your lucky day, marshal," he smiled.
"Oh?" Matt's eye brows lifted.
"It so happens that doctor Bancroft has a mangy fellow with a leg wound over in his office right now," Wells said thumbing over his shoulder.
"You don't say," Matt said as his narrowed eyes looked past the sheriff out onto the street, "I'd like to see this fellow," he said as he walked to the door.
"I'll take you there right now," Wells offered and quickly opened the door.
