Sheriff Wells and his deputy heard the shot from up the street – both men dashed toward Madame Rouge's saloon, where men and waitresses poured out onto the street in fear of more shots being fired.
Newly O'Brien saw the sheriff and motioned for the two soldiers to follow him as they ran toward the crowd. Wells and O'Connor pushed their way through and into the saloon with Newly and the troopers close behind.
A half clad John Calder stood at the top of the stairs, clutching his shirt and gun belt with one hand, and holding his revolver tightly in the right – he had it pointed toward the open door across the landing.
"Drop it!" Wells yelled up to the young man – his patients growing thin with the search for such ruthless outlaws, and having the marshal and his posse looking everywhere for them. Wells wasn't even sure if this man was retaliated to Matt's hunt, all he knew was that he held and gun and there was a shot fired within the saloon.
Calder glared down to the main floor and with lightening speed, turned and fired a shot toward the sheriff, winging him in the right arm. Wells doubled over in pain and fell behind a table, yelping. O'Connor fire a shot up toward Calder, missing him – splinters of wood exploded from the door jamb next to him. Calder fired again down into the saloon, and the men took cover behind the bar and other tables.
Matt looked down the hall and spotted the man with the gun, with his gun still drawn, Matt ordered him to drop his gun.
Calder quickly fired at Matt, but the marshal had the sense to jump back into the room and the bullet hit the door frame. Matt poked out and fired his gun, with the bullet striking Calder in the shoulder, reeling him backward into the wall. By now, Newly and the troopers were part way up the stairs and able to subdue the gun man. Matt thrust his gun back into his holster and huffed as he wondered if there were any more of Jared's men in the other rooms.
Jared took this as an opportunity to escape the marshal with Sam holding his shot gun on William Mathias, he moved quickly up behind the marshal. Sam bellowed out, "Watch out, Matt, behind you!" just as Jared slammed Matt hard into the door jamb. Matt let out an awful groan as pain ran through his left shoulder – his teeth were clenched tightly together and tears filled his eyes as he tried to straighten himself, grasping his throbbing shoulder.
Jared was part way along the landing when he saw the men with Calder at the top of the stairs. Baker froze and turned back toward the room he was just in, his next thought was to get out the window. Matt had recomposed himself and charged at Jared, grabbing him by the throat with his aching left arm and hand – his whole arm throbbed. Jared clasped his hands over Matt's wrist, trying to wrestle out of Matt's grip. Matt's temper grew as Jared kicked at him and with that, Matt drew a hard back hand across Jared's jaw, sending him into a closed door.
Jared pushed himself up the door and used his left shirt sleeve to wipe away the blood that trickled from his split lip as he seethed – his eyes narrowed before he lunged toward Matt unleashing his own attack on the marshal. Baker swung viscously with his balled up right hand hitting Matt near his left eye, cutting him – Matt fell backward into a post and railing, quickly he pushed off and swung at Jared, narrowly missing him. Jared lashed out again, striking Matt on the chin, snapping his head sideways causing the marshal to lose his footing and fall hard into the wall, again pain screamed through his shoulder, which was now bleeding, again.
Matt paused slightly but was quick to his feet just as Jared was ready to deliver another blow; however, Matt struck his right fist out quickly, hitting Baker square in the jaw, sending the outlaw sprawling on the landing.
Matt was about to pounce on Baker, when Newly intervened, "You're shoulder is bleeding again," he said as he grabbed Matt's coiled up arm with both his hands – it felt like the hind leg of a horse, with all its power ready to flow. Matt was breathing hard, and he slowly relaxed realizing that he had to stop, "You're under arrest," he growled at Jared as the soldiers pulled Baker to his feet. "Get him out of here," the marshal ordered. With minimal struggle, the troopers led the three men down the stairs and out of the saloon.
As Matt's adrenalin levelled out, the pain in his shoulder returned and he held it tight with this right hand. Newly watched the marshal as he picked up his hat, "You should have the doctor look at that," he suggested. Matt said nothing, but nodded in acknowledgement as they left the saloon with Sam following behind them. The Marshal's face was smeared with blood that seeped from cuts he received in the fight.
Once out onto the street, Matt sighed, he finally caught the man responsible for the unspeakable attack on Kitty, now he was anxious to get the gang back to Dodge, but with his quick count he had five not six. His eyes narrowed and scanned the street wondering where the missing man was, and whether he had the notion and guts to break Jared and other out of jail.
"Now we can relax," Sam smiled.
"Only a little," Matt stated. "We're still missing a man," he informed the posse.
Sheriff Wells held his arm, "It might be best if you got them out of Cimarron, sooner than later," he said looking up to Matt.
Matt nodded, "I'll send a message to Festus and let him know that we'll take the train into Dodge. It's the fastest and most secure way," he reasoned also knowing Festus couldn't read the telegram, and that Doc and Kitty would get the news.
Newly looked at Matt's shoulder, "By the looks of your shoulder, that would seem to make the most sense, too," he added in a way that Doc would have. Matt made a face but he knew that Newly was only looking out for him.
Matt walked over to the jail and watched the soldiers lock the three men into separate cells, "His one is going to need a doctor," private Batten stated as he helped John Calder to the cot.
"He'll get help in due time," sheriff Wells growled as he held his own arm.
"We make quite the pair," Matt said looking over to the sheriff. "Thanks for your help," he said with sincerity.
"I haven't been shot at or shot in years," Wells huffed as he looked down at his arm. His eyes then lifted up to Matt, "But we got them," he said with a slight smile and a tick off his head.
Matt nodded, "Most of them. We're still missing one," he stated. "We were following six," he added.
Out of plain anger, William Mathias yelled out, "That yellow belly ran out of town early this morning," he sneered. "I hope you catch him too. I'd like to talk to the weasel." Jared glared through the bars of his cell at Mathias.
Wells looked over to Matt, he must have been the one we heard run off," he said with an arch eyebrow. "I doubt he'd come back, and once you are gone, I further doubt that he will follow you," he stated.
"He'll be long gone," Mathias laugh loudly.
Matt looked at the sheriff, "He's either telling the truth of lying through his teeth." Neither lawman could tell.
