Matt heard gunshots coming from the street and jumped to his feet. His gun flew into his hand as he moved to the front of the restaurant, signaling everyone to stay put. He peered through the window and saw that the streets were totally empty. He pushed the door open and scanned the upper windows and rooftops before stepping outside.

Inside the restaurant no one moved. Missy's eyes followed Matt. She whispered to Kitty. "It could be an ambush."

Kitty shook her head, "Not likely." Voice steady and face calm, her heart was pounding. "Firing warning shots, and then ambushing Matt on Front Street in the middle of the day doesn't make much sense."

Missy looked at Kitty, amazed at her calm practicality. Then she saw through the mask. She noticed the tiny bead of sweat on Kitty's upper lip and the dark stillness in her eyes. She could feel Kitty's fear and dread. As a journalist, she was a woman of words, but as a person she understood that sometimes words were not adequate. She looked into Kitty's eyes and gently set her hand on top of hers. Kitty let out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She met Missy's eyes and realized that she already had a deep trust in this woman who she'd met just minutes ago. "Let's move to the window to try and see what's happening."

They walked quietly, motioning everyone to stay where they were. No one moved.

Matt stood outside the restaurant with his gun drawn. There was not a soul to be seen. The air around him crackled. He didn't know who'd fired the shots, but whoever it was had a plan.

Two gunmen stepped out of the shadows, one dark-haired and mustached, the other blond and clean-shaven. Each had hold of one of the 10-year-old Carter twins, the boys who'd carried Kitty's bags. The dark-haired man stepped forward, his arm squeezed around Davy Carter's neck. "We knew those shots would get your attention Dillon." He pointed his gun at Davy's head. "Now throw your gun down nice and easy."

Matt studied the man's face. He looked familiar, but Matt couldn't place him.

"I said toss that gun on the ground." He pushed his gun against Davy's temple. The boy shook with fear and lost control of his bladder. Urine dripped down his legs. The gunman didn't notice or care. Matt tossed his gun into the dirt a few feet away.

"That's good marshal. Listen up, me and my partner work for a man that don't like losing. He lost because of you not too long ago and we're here to make sure it don't happen again."

Matt thought back to recent events. He'd testified at Jerry Kramer's trial, but Kramer had been found guilty and hung. He hadn't stayed for the hanging, but would have been notified if the man had escaped. Then it struck him, Richard Reyburn – the high priced lawyer who defended Kramer, the man who got witnesses to make mistakes and contradict themselves. His gut told him that was the man the gunman was talking about. It seemed Reyburn's uncanny ability to get witnesses to misspeak, was due to more than lawyering skills.

"You won't get away with this." Matt was still trying to place the gunman's face.

The blond man had been silent until now. He yanked Danny Carter forward. "Yes we will Dillon. We tried to catch you when you were riding to Hays, but you traveled too fast. Our boss wasn't happy, but he figures he'll have things all set for the next time he sees you. You'll say what he wants or something bad could happen to an innocent person in your town – maybe even another child."

"Let the boys go."

The dark haired man laughed, "Nope. Here's what's will happen next. We take these boys out of town. If anyone follows we'll kill both boys. Tomorrow at noon you can follow our trail. When you get to the boys, we'll be long gone. One of them will be alive, the other dead. We have to kill one so you understand what happens when things don't go our boss's way.

Davy and Danny couldn't move but saw the terror in each other's eyes. Danny turned a ghastly shade of green.

The dark gunman looked at his blond companion, "I'll mount up. Keep your gun on Dillon, he's known to be tricky bastard." The blond grinned and nodded. The dark haired man got on his horse, yanked Davy up in front of him and aimed his pistol at Matt.

"I've got Dillon covered. Go ahead and get yourself and the kid on your horse."

Matt's jaw clenched. Every fiber of his being wanted a chance to lunge for his gun.

The blond gunman holstered his gun and put a foot in the stirrup while still gripping Danny.

"NOOOOOOOOOO…."

The dark haired gunman's horse backed up frantically. A screaming woman with a pitchfork was running at him.

The woman yelled, "UGLY COME." A huge barking dog ran out of the alley.

The horse reared. The dark haired man gripped the reins with both hands. Davy Carter slipped out from under his captor's arms and ran.

The blond gunman froze in confusion for a split second. Danny felt the grip around his neck loosen and immediately ducked and ran.

The instant both boys were free, Matt lunged for his gun. The kidnappers went for theirs. Shots rang back and forth. When the dust cleared Matt's left shoulder was bleeding and the two gunmen were face down in the dust.

Matt quickly picked up the guns lying in the dirt and hurried over to Edith Carter. She was kneeling in the street, the pitchfork beside her. Her twin sons were at her side, and a huge, panting mutt was running in circles around her.

"Ma'am, are you all right? " He took her by the arm and helped her to her feet.

"Yes, marshal. I just slipped and fell." She brushed back her hair and blinked to keep from crying. Tears were a rare thing for her.

"Ma'am that was a mighty brave thing you did."

"A mother's move. My boys were not being taken from this town by the likes of those two."

"Ma?" Davy's voice was trembling, "Ma, I was so scared I wet myself. I'm ashamed."

"Ma I almost threw up. I'm real embarrassed."

"Boys, I'm sure the marshal will agree that there's no shame in being afraid as long as you act when the time comes. Isn't that right marshal?"

"It sure is Mrs. Carter. Now, about that dark haired man, I finally realized why he looked familiar. His name's Wilson and he's wanted dead or alive. There's rewards money. I'll be sure you get it.

"Marshal, you're the one who shot him."

"Mrs. Carter you're the one who stopped him. Now, how about I drive you and the boys home?"

"Thank you marshal, but you are bleeding." She lightly touched his left arm. "We'll make it fine. My other little ones are waiting, so I'd best be going." She whistled and pointed to her wagon. Ugly, circled around her and jumped into the back. Edith and her twins climbed in and drove off.

Matt went back to the bodies lying in the dirt. The wanted man, Max Wilson, was dead.

Doc was kneeling beside the blond. He looked up as Matt approached and quickly assessed the marshal's condition. "Your arm's bleeding but it doesn't seem too bad. I don't want it to get infected though so I have to clean and bandage it.

"It will keep some Doc, how's he?" Matt nodded at the blond.

"Bad chest wound, he could make it. At this point, I don't know."

"Keep him alive Doc. I need to hear him say the name of the person he's working for and sign a statement. I'm real sure about who it is, but my believing it won't hold up in court. I'll get some men to carry him up to your office."

Matt took a deep breath and looked around. People were flowing onto the street, and Kitty was hurrying towards him with Missy hanging back.

"You OK, Cowboy?" She pointed to his shoulder

He nodded, "It just has to be cleaned and wrapped." He took a step towards her, "Look Kitty, I don't know what - how to – well I…"

"Matt, I know you have a lot to deal with right now, and you need to have that shoulder looked after. Come see me upstairs when you can. We have a lot to talk about. In the meantime Missy and I have some things to talk about too.

TBC