Matt briskly descended the stairs in the saloon and cast his eyes around to see if Zach was the room. He wasn't. Everyone in the Long Branch watched the marshal as he practically marched across the floor and furled the swing-doors open as he stepped out onto the boardwalk. Matt scanned the street to see if he could spot Clanton; instead he saw his brother Randall at Jonas' store.
With a huff, Matt left the saloon and walked over to the jail house where Festus remained at the little table at the centre of the room, cleaning his gun. The hill man quickly looked up as Matt entered the room, "Festus, I want you to find Newly and begin to look for Zach. I want him arrested, and not shot," he stated.
The hill man was on his feet in a twitch, "You betcha Matthew," he said as he reloaded his six-shooter and stuffed it back into the black leather holster. The hill man paused at the door, "Matthew? What did Doc say?" he asked.
"He said we might have trouble," the marshal replied as he followed Festus out of the building, "and Festus," he stopped the deputy.
"Matthew?"
"Don't mention this to his brothers or even ask them if they've seen him. I don't want them to get suspicious," Matt cautioned. "And don't talk to Jonas about it either," he said with warning in his tone.
Festus pondered the marshal's statement and nodded, "I'll let Newly know," he said as he side stepped Matt and hustled out to the street. Like Matt, he saw the older brother with Jonas at the store across from the jail house. The hill man decided that he'd walk up the street on the jailhouse side of things to avoid the Randall and Jonas.
Haggen walked passed the Dodge House and had a quick look through the open door, but didn't see Zachariah in the lobby. He then crossed the street and walked to Newly's Gunsmith shop, where he found the part-time deputy at work on a rifle. Festus looked around the street before he entered the building, "Newly?"
O'Brien looked up, "What is it Festus?" he noticed the look on the hill man's weathered face.
Festus looked a tad frigidity, "Matthew wants us the look for and arrest that Zachariah feller," he stated. "And he doesn't want us to talk to his brothers or Jonas about it neither," he added.
Newly made a face, but could understand some of the marshal's reasoning, "Okay then," he said as he used a rag to wipe the grease from his hands before he put on his gun belt and badge. He pulled on his coat and placed his hat on his head before leaving his shop with Festus at his side. "Where do we begin?" he glanced over to the hill man.
"Wall, foot, Newly, he could be anywheres in Dodge," Festus squawked as he flailed his arms about. "How would I know where he's at?" he finally huffed.
"What's wrong with you?" Newly finally asked. "We've brought in other bad guys before," he stated.
Festus looked a tad sheepish, "Matthew said thar could be trouble," he sighed.
"The General?" Newly questioned.
"Matthew never went into any explanation. He jist wants us to bring Zachariah in for the the murder, don'tcha see?"
O'Brien nodded, "I guess I do. Well, I think it would be better if we stuck together, based on Zach's actions," the young deputy suggested.
Festus nodded in agreement, "Well, let's go up the street. Matthew didn't say anything about askin' other folks about him," he half smiled thinking he pulled one over on the marshal.
Newly glanced at his partner, "You best let me do the talking," he stated, which garnered a steely-eye glare from the hill man. The two deputies set off on their search. At least the rain had stopped.
Jonas packed up the provisions that Randall had purchased so that when the General was well enough to travel they could get back on the road. Randall didn't see any harm in buying sealed containers of biscuits and such, after all their wagon was parked inside the livery stable. "You just get that list to me as soon as you can, and I'll be sure to have everything ready to go when you are," the store owner smiled and exchanged the box of goods for the money Randall handed him.
"I'll be sure to do that, Mr Jonas," the young man smiled back and carried the box to the door. Jonas quickly stepped out from behind the service counter to open the door for Randall, who again thanked Jonas.
Once out of sight, Jonas closed the doors and sauntered back to the service counter, "They sure would be a nice addition to the town," he smiled. "Not too many folks that friendly and honest," he said as he fussed with some items on the counter.
Doc sat with Kitty at their table at the back of the saloon, "You see, when I asked the General what kind of men his sons were," Doc paused and ticked his head, "Come hell or high water," he said.
"Does he seem like the type that would challenge this?" Kitty questioned.
"Oh, yes!" Doc's eyebrows lifted as he looked at Kitty while he poked his right index finger on the green felt-covered table. "I don't know much about his history, but you don't become a general in any army without fighting," he then frowned. "I honestly thing that he thinks his sons are perfect," he sighed.
Kitty snorted, "Well, I think he's in for a rude awakening," she stated.
Doc nodded, "I can't argue with you there," he said as he lifted the glass of whiskey and sipped from it. Kitty did the same as they both waited to hear that Zachariah Clanton was arrested.
Festus and Newly had been looking for almost an hour, when the hill man spotted Zachariah and Clement leaving a millinery store across the street. Festus jutted his arm out to stop Newly who was busy looking up the street, "Thar he is," the deputy pointed discreetly over to the store. Newly quickly looked over, "He's got his brother with him," O'Brien noted.
Both the Clanton brothers sported new hats and were laughing as they walked back toward Front Street.
"Matthew only wants Zach," the hill man stated as he stepped down from the boardwalk and crossed the street, Newly was right behind him as they approached the brother, "Zachariah?" Festus called out.
Zach froze in his tracks and his hand hovered over his gun. Slowly he turned, "What?" he tried to act natural.
"Marshal Dillon wants to have a word with you," the hill man said as his eyes danced between the brothers.
"About what?" Zach again tried to act as if nothing was wrong.
"We'd rather not talk about it right now," Newly smiled slightly trying to lighten the growing tension.
"The marshal and I have already talk. Nice fellow," Zach said as he turned and began to walk away.
"Wall he wants to see you again," Festus said with a hint of warning in his tone.
"What's wrong, Zach?" Clement asked as he watched what was happening.
"Oh, nothing Clem. You go the the Long Branch and I'll join you right away. After I see what the marshal wants," he smiled at his young brother. Clement nodded and hustled off; Zach watched him before his eyes came back to the deputies, "This had better be important," he growled.
"You bet your life on it," Festus said as he grabbed the young man by the elbow and led him back to the jail house. Newly followed behind with his hand on his gun hoping that Zachariah wouldn't try and pull a fast one to get away.