Doyle entered Rock Creek's small cafe with another man the next morning and stopped at the table where Matt, Doc, Kitty and Newly were eating breakfast.
"Marshal Dillion," Doyle said indicating the man beside him. "This is Jeb, he runs the telegraph office here. You might want to hear what he's got to say."
"Jeb," Matt said with a nod as the man rung his hands nervously.
"About an hour ago,"Jeb said hesitantly. "I got a message from a town just south of here but it was cut off half way though. Normally, I would expect to have the message completed by now but nothing's coming though."
"The lines are down," Matt said thoughtfully as Doyle nodded.
"That would seem to be the only answer," Doyle replied as Matt pursed his lips.
"What about the stage," Matt said well aware that Doc and Kitty were listening to the conversation.
"There's been no confirmation that's it's coming," Jeb said as Doyle nodded in agreement.
"It's probably safe to assume that it either isn't going to come this way or it can't for reasons as of yet unknown," Doyle said evenly.
"How many rifle's do you have," Matt said standing up as Newly followed.
"We've got twenty at the jail," Doyle said. "And enough ammunition for each."
Matt nodded as he turned to Newly. "Go with Doyle and secure the jail, load the rifles and make sure they're in good working order."
"Yes, sir," Newly said following the agent out the door as the Marshal turned to Doc and Kitty.
"I want you both to go back to the hotel and barricade the door," Matt said firmly. "I want Festus to take a rifle and stay with you."
"That's a good idea, Matt," Doc said tugging at his earlobe.
Festus didn't feel like eating when he first woke up, much to Doc's vexation he opted to stay in the hotel room.
At the moment, he still wasn't hungry but now found himself in a constant state of agitation instead.
Leaving the hotel, he was at least some what relieved that workers were dismantling the scaffolding where his hanging would have taken place earlier that morning.
Starting down the boardwalk, he noticed several business were opening, chief among them was Walker's general store.
As Walker swept the boardwalk off in front of his store, he threw Festus an angry glare as the hill man passed by.
Festus didn't pay him much attention though as several riders suddenly rushed though the center of town kicking up dust and rocks in their wake before turning around in front of the jail and drawing their pistols.
The hill man's right hand dropped instinctively to his side before he remembered, he still hadn't gotten his gun belt or badge back after being arrested by Doyle.
Watching the riders taking aim at the various stores, Festus shoved Walker inside his store and pushed the man onto the floor only seconds before the riders opened fire.
Matt had just opened the door of the cafe when he seen the riders pass though town, slamming the door shut, he swirled around and grabbed Kitty while pushing Doc away from the glass doors and windows.
"Get down," Matt yelled kicking over a table he pulled them both behind it as the shooting started.
Newly and Doyle ran to the windows of the jail, rifles in hand, when they heard the horses coming down the street.
Busting out what was left of the windows after holding off the angry mob only days ago, Newly and Doyle took aim at the riders but before they could fire, Sheriff Buckley's voice stopped them dead in their tracks.
"First one that fires is a dead man," he said leveling a loaded rife at their backs.
Newly turned his head as the Sheriff reached for the keys to the cell and handed them to Eaton's wife.
"Lower those rifles," Buckley said as Suise opened the cell and stepped out.
"You heard him!" Susie said taking up a rifle.
Newly looked at Doyle who nodded and together they both lowered the guns.
"Open the door and get outside!" Susie barked angrily.