Bill and Ted smiled as Ma Smalley let them in the front door.
"Howdy Ma'am Marshal Dillon sent us to help Deputy Dillon."
"Come in I've just now made some coffee and I'll soon have some stew ready."
They smiled again as Tom came towards them. They explained that Matt had sent them to help him. They explained that Matt had made them temporary deputies.
"I'm just curious Tom," Bill said. "About you and the marshal having the same last name."
"Matt is my Pa."
Tom explained how they met two years previously. They explained that once they'd caught Frank Matt would have to send them to Colorado to pay for their life of crime.
"So you'll go back to Colorado to pay for robbing those stages," Mary Jane said.
"Yes Ma'am."
"Pa will probably send a letter to Colorado telling what you've done to help Mary Jane. It may help you at your sentencing."
"Well it sure couldn't hurt. You know the stage guard Danny killed is the only killing that can be laid at our door."
Frank knew that Mary Jane wouldn't recognize him she'd only been six years old when he'd been sent to the asylum and he'd grown a beard. He wasn't going to go rushing into things in Dodge. After all he didn't know where she was. He took out the tin type he'd taken from the family home. All the pictures had had the names of the family member written on a white border. Frank had noticed that there were no pictures of his around and yet he remembered sitting for some. He'd asked his grandfather about that to get the reply that they'd all been thrown on the fire.
Matt and Festus came out of the jail. Matt noticed Frank ride up to Moss Grimmicks's not having a description to go on there was nothing he could do at the moment.
"Festus go to the telegraph ask Barney to wire Colorado for a description on Frank Hawkins. Ask Barney to bring any replies to Ma Smalley's."
"I'll get her done Matthew."
Matt watched Festus head off and turned to see Kitty enter Delmonico's. Seeing her reminded him that he hadn't had breakfast yet. He headed over to the restaurant Doc was just leaving as he walked in. They said hurried good morning to each other. Kitty watched as Matt walked up to her table.
"Good morning Cowboy."
"Howdy Kitty."
Matt sat next to her as Joe came up to take their order. Kitty ordered some eggs and coffee while Matt chose his usual ham, eggs and biscuits.
"I've just got time to have this before me and Festus take over from Tom, Bill and Ted protecting Mary Jane."
"Do you even know what Mary Jane's brother looks like?" Kitty asked.
"Not at the moment I had Festus go ask Barney to wire Colorado for a full description."
"How do you feel about Tom and Mary Jane?"
"Not sure yet. Tom asked why I'd never married I told him my reasons for not marrying don't know if he understood them."
"Well he hasn't had your experiences. Don't let them get in the way of his happiness."
Matt nodded knowing Kitty was right. Tom needed to make his own decisions whether right or wrong.
"Festus will be here any minute. Will you tell him I've gone to Ma Smalley's and to join me after he's had his breakfast?"
"Sure I will Cowboy."
Matt dropped a couple of dollars onto the table as he rose.
"Goodbye Kitty I'll see you later and thanks."
Kitty smiled watching Matt leave. She wondered if Matt would ever learn not to let his experiences get in the way of his own happiness let alone Tom's and come to think of it her own happiness too as she would be very happy if he'd ask her to marry him. Festus bustled in not long after Matt had left.
"Howdy Miz Kitty."
"Good morning Festus. Matt's just now gone to Ma Smalley's he asked me to tell you to join him after you've eaten."
Festus order up the usual eggs and a steak with coffee. For the life of her Kitty couldn't understand how Festus could eat the way he did and not get indigestion. Festus and Kitty left the restaurant together. Once outside they said goodbye. Festus headed towards Ma Smalley's and Kitty walked to the Long Branch. Festus walked briskly knocking a few minutes later at Ma Smalley's door. Tom grinned as he let Festus in.
"Matthew Barney said he'd bring any replies to you directly."
Mary Jane was in the kitchen with Ma Smalley helping to make coffee and the midday meal. Tom went to stand next to Matt.
"What do you think of Mary Jane Pa?"
Matt looked steadily at Tom. He hadn't called him Pa for sometime now having taken to calling him by name because it looked better when duty called. So the question must be a serious one requiring a serious answer.
"She's a fine young woman anyone would be proud to have her as a daughter-in-law."
"Good because as soon as this is all over I intend to marry her."
Matt wrapped one arm around Tom's shoulders for a moment.
"You two make sure you provide me with lots of grandkids, y'hear."
Barney rushed in with the wire for Matt.
"Kinda interesting Marshal."
"It sure is now we know what to look for. Height 6 feet, weight 200 pounds, blonde hair and a beard."
"Matthew that there de-scription fits the fella we saw go into Moss Grimmicks's."
"He'll find out soon enough where Mary Jane is that's when we have the chance to get him."
Matt took Ted with him to go on his rounds.
"Marshal I dare say you'll have to lock Bill and me up after tonight?"
"Yes if we get Hawkins tonight."
"Its okay we both accepted that would happen when we promised Mary Jane's grandpa that we'd protect her."
"Do you always keep your promises?"
"Nine times out of ten yes. It depends on circumstances."
"I'll accept that. I hope the letter I'll send will help lessen your sentence."
"As Bill said it couldn't hurt."
Matt laughed as they walked back to Ma Smalley's. Tom let them in locking the door behind them.