Doyle and Newly stepped out onto the boardwalk with Susie Johnson Eaton and Sheriff Buckley still pointing rifles at their backs.
Matt pulled his pistol before looking at Doc and Kitty. "You both alright?"
Doc and Kitty nodded as Matt approached the doors of the cafe and looked outside.
Festus met Walker's eyes as he rolled to his knees. "Ya hurt," the hill man asked as the shop owner grimaced and grabbed his leg.
"I think," Walker said removing his hand. "I've been shot."
Festus took off the bandana from around his neck and quickly tied it around the wound on Walker's leg.
"I'll get Doc," the hill man said getting to his feet.
Matt looked up and down the main street of Rock Creek. The riders were positioned at any street that could lead out of town.
Wetting his lips, he turned to watch as Susie and Sheriff Buckley forced Newly and Doyle into the street.
"What's the plan, Mrs. Eaton?" one of the riders said lowly.
"First things first," she said looking around. "I want that Marshal that killed my Frank and that whisker faced impersonator!"
The man looked up and down the street before pointing a gun at Newly's chest. "You all heard the lady! Come out or this deputy's going to die!"
Festus had started toward a back entrance but stopped in his tracks when he heard the man outside threaten Newly's life.
Turning around, he walked past Walker and stepped out onto the boardwalk.
Susie Eaton grinned when she watched the hill man step out of the general store and stop on the boardwalk out front
"Festus is outside," Matt said turning around, he met Doc and Kitty's eyes.
Eaton's gang watched stunned as Susie walked over to where Festus was standing. "All you had to do was hang," she said quietly. "And Frank would have been free. Now, instead he's dead!"
"Sorry ta disappoint you," Festus said. "But I get kinda worked up when someone try's ta accuse me of something I didn't do!"
"Leave him alone," Matt's voice boomed from in front of the cafe as Susie whirled around. "It's me you want!"
"Pete," Susie said looking at the man directly in front of Matt. "That's the man that killed Frank!"
Pete met Matt's eye as he brought his revolver level with the lawman's chest.
Matt went for his gun as the outlaw pulled the trigger sending the Marshal onto his back, he rolled against the building and no longer moved.
"Matthew," Festus yelled helplessly, before he looked at Susie Eaton.
"Anyone else want to try me!" Pete yelled as he ran over to Susie Eaton. "It's time to get out of here!"
Susie nodded as another member of the gang brought over a horse.
Climbing atop it, she looked at Pete. "Bring him so no one will get any ideas about following us!"
"C'mon whiskers," Pete yelled grabbing the hill man's arm he put his gun in Festus side. "Don't get any ideas, about trying anything. Our gang still has guns on your friend over there!"
Newly clinched his fists angrily but like the hill man, he was helpless to do anything but watch as Pete made Festus mount a horse before tying his hands together.
"What about me?" Sheriff Buckley yelled as the gang rode out of Rock Creek.
Pete laughed as he leveled his gun and fired before the crooked lawman could react. "There's your payment!" Pete said following Susie and the rest of Eaton's gang.
As soon as Eaton's gang member's were out of sight, Newly ran over to where Matt had fallen as Doyle kicked away Sheriff Buckley's gun.
Doc and Kitty rushed out of the cafe at the same time Newly reached Matt and rolled him over.
The Marshal groaned as Newly looked for the wound he was positive was going to be there.
"Are they gone," Matt said opening his eyes.
Newly ripped open Matt's shirt to reveal a silver serving tray against the lawman's chest, a spent bullet protruding from it directly in the area where Matt's heart would have been.
"You alright," Doc asked helping Matt to his feet.
"Ya," the Marshal said as Newly grinned.
"Buckley's dead," Doyle said coming over to where they stood.
"Doc," Newly said catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye.
Walker crawling out of his store and collapsed as Doc reached him. "He saved my life," the store owner said as Doc untied Festus bandana.
"He's got a way of doing that," Doc said ripping the man's pant leg to examine the wound.
"Newly," Matt said looking at the deputy and Doyle. "Get the horse's!"
"Matt," Kitty said looking at the marshal. "They might kill him!"
"Either way," Matt said angrily. "They still could kill him!"