Matt and Tom had arranged a day's hunting but a telegram came informing Matt he was needed in Hay's to testify in a murder trial.
"We'll go hunting another day Tom."
"Okay Pa I figure I'll go fishing maybe take Doc if he's not doing anything."
"He'll like that."
Doc came in at that moment, Matt carried on packing his saddlebags.
"Thought you two were going hunting?"
"We were. Hays brought the Dawson murder trial forward. I've got to go testify could take most of the week."
"Yeah I figure to go fishing today instead. Do you want to come with me Doc?"
"I've got to go to check up on Mary Travis at their place up near Wright she's expecting their first child you know."
"If you want to go with me we can go fishing once you've checked on Mary Travis."
"Okay Tom I'll see you when I get back from Hays. We'll go hunting next week."
"Goodbye Pa see ya."
Matt picked up his saddlebags and they left the office together. Tom watched as Matt rode out past the Long Branch pausing only to gaze at Kitty before riding on. She looked over to the jail and walked to where Doc and Tom were getting ready to leave.
"I thought Matt was going hunting with you Tom?"
"He was but Hays brought the Dawson trial forward so he's had to go to testify. He'll be back next week," Tom said.
"So Tom's going fishing with me on the way back from the Travis place," Doc said giving a rare smile.
"I'll see you two later," Kitty said as she turned to go back to the Long Branch.
Doc got in his buggy while Tom mounted Smoky. They headed out towards Wright Kansas.
Mary Travis and her husband Bill waved as Doc and Tom rode off in the direction of Duck Creek.
"You figure this a good place to fish Doc?" Tom asked.
"Looks like it might be," Doc responded.
Tom set about making a fire for coffee, and to cook some of the fish they caught. Doc got his fishing pole from his buggy while Tom cut himself a pole. As they fished they talked about inconsequential things. Three hours later they packed up the surplus fish, and dowsed the cooking fire before setting off back to Dodge. An hour later they heard gunshots.
"You better wait here Doc," Tom said.
He rode hard over the ridge to find the stage being attacked by 4 outlaws. Tom drew his gun and started shooting downing 2 of the men. The others raced off north. The shotgun guard was dead. Tom turned to Jim Buck the driver who was slightly wounded.
"I'm okay. You better check my passengers. How come you're out here Tom?"
"You're in luck I was supposed to be hunting with Pa but he was called to Hays. So I came out to the Travis place with Doc then we went fishing. We're on our way home."
Tom dismounted and looked in the stage.
"You folks all right?"
"Yes Sir thank you."
"Well Doc'll check you out to be sure."
The 2 men and a young woman got out of the stage as Doc drove up. Doc smiled seeing Tom turn his gaze onto the woman. There was an expression on Tom's face that Doc had often seen when Matt gazed at Kitty.
"I'm Deputy Marshal Tom Clarke Dillon. We'll follow you in to Dodge. Jim will you be alright driving or…"
"I'll be fine Tom."
"Is everyone Okay Doc?"
"They're fine we should go."
Tom remounted positioning himself by the side of the stage where he could see the young woman. Doc shook his head and got into his buggy smiling as the he followed the stage. 2 hours later they arrived back in Dodge. Tom helped the young woman down from the stage.
"I forgot to tell you my name," she said.
"I guess but there wasn't a lot of time we needed to get you all to Dodge."
"My name's Mary Jane Hawkins."
"Well Mary Jane Hawkins it'll be my pleasure to show you around."
Festus and Kitty watched the interaction between Tom and Mary Jane with interest.
"Miss Kitty I think Ol' Matthew's goin' to get a daughter."
"He's sure going to be surprised when he gets back from Hays," Kitty replied.
"You reckon Matthew will enjoy being a grand pappy?"
"Well yes he would but aren't you putting the cart before the horse?"
"Not the way he's a lookin' at her. I've see'd that look on Matthew's face when he looks at you."
Matt rode back into Dodge a week later. He looked to the left as he dismounted seeing Tom with Mary Jane. Matt smiled he wondered if Tom would settle down. Festus looked up as Matt entered the office.
"Howdy Matthew."
"I just saw Tom who's that with him?"
"That's Mary Jane Hawkins she came in on the stage the day you left for Hays. The stage was held up. Tom and Doc were near there and helped out."
"Anyone hurt?"
"Shotgun guard was killed and Jim Buck picked up a flesh wound. Tom filed a report on it. We still got two men to catch Tom killed two. He dug out these here posters on them."
Matt took the posters and studied them.
"They ain't known in these parts leastwise Jim Buck had never heared of them before."
"I have they're well known in Colorado. Which ones are still outstanding?"
"Bill Murray and Ted Rodgers."
"Right send a telegram to the sheriff of Springfield Colorado inform him that Ed Mayhew and Danny Glover are dead."
"I'll see her done Matthew."
"I'll be at the Long Branch," Matt said.
Festus smiled knowing that Matt would be sitting with Kitty talking about the events of the past week. Matt left the office walking briskly to the Long Branch he looked over the batwing doors quickly finding the woman who owned his heart. Kitty smiled as she watched him approach her table.
"Well hello Cowboy. Do ya want a beer?"
"I sure do its hot today," Matt said.
"Sam a couple of beers over here."
"I'll bring them right over Miss Kitty."
Sam set about pouring the beer smiling when he saw Kitty caress Matt's cheek when she thought no one was looking. Matt raised an eyebrow looking at Kitty with an expression that said he didn't think she should have done that.
"You need a shave."
"I just rode in. I saw Tom with Mary Jane Hawkins."
"Oh he introduced you?"
"No. Tom didn't seem to see me too interested in the girl. I'm going to have to teach him about distractions."
Kitty nodded knowing that when Matt was with her in private he was free to relax completely. But when they were in public he always had one eye and both ears open in case of trouble.
"Did Festus tell you about the holdup?"
"Yeah it's a good job that Tom and Doc were out there."
Tom and Mary Jane entered the saloon approaching the table.
"Howdy Pa, this is Mary Jane Hawkins."
"Pleased to meet you Mary Jane. I guess Tom has told you about me?"
"He sure has Marshal Dillon," Matt smiled as she sat near Kitty while Tom fetched 2 beers.
"My close friends call me Matt. Festus told me about the holdup Tom. Now we know who they are we can keep an eye out for them. I just hope we catch them before they try anything else."
Tom nodded knowing that they could try again. He just didn't want them to injure anybody else.