Matt was working alone in his office late that Monday night. He shifted in his chair, trying to get reasonably comfortable. His muscles were a little stiff and he was quiet tired. On an evening like this, he usually had Festus brew him a pot of coffee. But the guy wasn't around tonight. Just when Matt considered turning in for the night, the door suddenly swung open and in came Joey.

Joey walked right into the office as if he owned it, taking off his jacket and stretching his back. His face looked pale and his gingered hair was tousled about. "Mmm…been a long day," he moaned contently, stifling a yawn. "You busy tonight, Marshal?"

"Just a tad."

"No matter." Joey put his hands in his pockets and strolled over to Matt's desk. "I'll keep you company if you like."

Matt shrugged and went back to his work.

Joey stared at him and cocked his head. "Marshal?"

"What?"

"Do you feel alright?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Well," Joey began, wringing his hands in anticipation. "When you carried my cousin to the doctor the other day…I reckon maybe you strained your muscles. I-I was just worried about that."

Matt sighed and leaned backward in his chair. "Well, to tell you the truth, my neck does feel a little stiff."

"Oh, well here, let me help you with that!" Joey ran around the desk , got behind Matt's chair and started massaging Matt's neck and shoulders.

"Don't worry about a thing, Marshal. I know how to do this. When I was a youngun' my ma used to do this for my pa when he had a stiff neck. Besides, it's the least I can do for you. After all, you're Marshal Matt Dillon. You take care of everyone and everything in Dodge City," Joey chattered, as his hands traveled up the sides of Matt's neck…along his shoulders…down the length of his arms…

It was too much.

Matt grabbed Joey's hands in a tight grip and peeled them off his body.

"Joey…don't do that."

"But, why not?" Joey asked, puzzled.

Then Matt sighed inwardly and rose from his chair. He turned to face Joey with a dead serious face.

"I think you should stop hanging around me," Matt explained, softly. "It's not good for me or you."

"I don't understand," Joey said, taking a step closer to Matt and gazing into his eyes. "Why would you say that?"

"It's just better this way."

Joey's face darkened as he seemed to genuinely not understand what the Marshal was getting at.

"Just trust me," Matt said. "You have to stay away from me."

"But…I love you."

A cold, twisted chill seized Matt in the gut for that moment. When he regained his composure, he grabbed Joey's collar and held him, gently but firmly.

"Now you listen to me," Matt hissed. "Keep it to yourself. You'll be doing yourself a favor if you keep it to yourself. I'm sorry you have feelings for me, I'm sorry that I can't return them. But that's just the way things are. If you like men, that's your own affair – but keep me out of it. Please!"

"I looked up to you," Joey said with a sniff.

Matt released Joey's collar and sighed sadly. "Please…just go."

Then Joey slowly walked past Matt and yanked open the door. He turned around to give Matt one last, cold stare. Then he was gone. Matt never saw Joey again.

The End