Matt looked up from the desk in the study on the first floor of his and Kitty's house and smiled when he looked out the window. Kitty and their son, Matthew Jr. were busy tending to the small garden his wife had planted just a month ago.

The ex-lawman laughed when Matthew pulled up one of the new plants Kitty had just planted instead of a carrot like he was supposed to.

Rolling her eyes, Kitty took the boys hand and got to her feet before anymore damage could be done. Stretching her back, the seven months pregnant woman sighed as she looked around before looking down at her son. "I think it's time we fixed supper, don't you?"

Matthew nodded and followed his mother into the house before trying to tip toe toward the study. "Matthew," Kitty said putting her hands on her hips. "When your father is in his study, you can't be disturbing him."

Matthew stopped and turned around, his lips in a pout as Matt came out of the study behind him. "We're you looking for me, boy?"

The four year old turned back around and smiled broadly as he ran to his father and warped his little arms around Matt's good leg.

"Alright, you seen him. Now leave your father to his studies," Kitty said as Matt shook his head.

"Not tonight," he said leaning heavily on his staff. "Tonight is all about my family."

"What about studying for the test?" Kitty asked wearily. "You've been at it for the last couple of months."

"That's just it," Matt replied with a grin. "I think, I've studied long enough and learned as much as I'm going to."

"So, your saying that, you're ready to take the test?" Kitty asked as Matt nodded.

Newly stopped at the telegraph and post office early the next morning before heading over to the jail as was his normal routine. Once he made some coffee, he sat down at the desk to tackle the letters, wanted posters and anything else that came via the mail. He often wondered how it came about that he got this position. Going from training to be a physician to a gunsmith was already a complete turnaround but now, he was the Marshal of Dodge City which was a massive undertaking for any man.

Scanning over the various pieces of mail, his hand reached out and grabbed one in particular. Generically addressed to the Marshal of Dodge, the return address is what really caught his attention. The Kansas state correctional institution only sent letters out once a month with the lists of convicts who either died in prison or were released from time served.

Since Matt had put away a good quarter or more of the convicts in the prison, an unspoken agreement between himself and Festus to watch out for the Marshal and his family bound them together. So Newly made it a point to look over the lists and see if any of the new releases were a threat to the now retired Marshal and his family.

Opening the letter, he quickly scanned the name's and checked the status next to each name. Most of them he didn't recognize from Matt's diligent notes he made about each and every arrest but one in particular, he did recognize and just reading the name sent a shiver down his spine before he read the status next to it. "Released!" he said aloud.

Newly closed his eyes and shook his head before he put the letter on the desk top as the door to the jail opened and Festus walked in. He nodded at the hill man before he spoke. "I sure am glad to see you!"

"Oh," Festus said helping himself to a cup of coffee. "Somethin in the mail there, I should know about?"

"Yeah, there is," Newly replied quietly.

"Alright, tell me," Festus said stopping in front of the desk.

"It's from the penitentiary," Newly said tapping the letter. "Someone we know has been released!"

Festus narrowed his eyes as he met Newly's worried look. "Who?"

"Bonner," Newly said angrily. "With only the attempted murder charge of Miss Kitty and no clear evidence that he committed any of the murders that his brother was hung for, he's served his time."

"Bonner," Festus said shaking his head as flashbacks of what happened to Miss Kitty went though his mind. "Newly, we gotta tell Matthew."

"I know," Newly said with a slight nod before getting to his feet. Taking his hat from the peg on the wall, he grabbed his gunbelt before heading toward the door. "Let's go

Kitty finished washing up the breakfast dishes before she wiped her hands on the apron she wore. And then headed down the entrance hall from the kitchen to answer the knock at the front door.

"Newly, Festus," she said with a bright and cheerful smile as both men took off their hats. "I suppose you'll both want to speak to Matt?"

"Yes, ma'am," Newly said looking at the hill man. "We uh, we got something to discuss with him."

"Well, c'mon in," Kitty said stepping aside. "Matt's in the parlor doing his therapy with Robert."

"Much, obliged," Festus said following Newly to the room next to Matt's study.

"Don't be afraid to put your weight on it," Robert said watching as the ex Marshal favor his paralyzed leg. "You're never going to be able to strengthen or use it if you don't."

Matt nodded and allowed the young physician to take the staff he'd been using as a crutch away and leaned on his paralyzed leg like Robert told him to.

"That's it," Robert replied encouragingly. "Any pain?"

"Not much," Matt replied looking satisfied with himself. "It's mostly just weaker than the other leg."

"That's to be expected," Robert replied taking Matt's arm. "When you told me you started having a tingling sensation in it, I could hardly believe it."

"I know," Matt said with a broad smile. "It surprised me to."

"You'll probably never have full use of it. However, I'm hoping the worst you'll have is just a slight limp."

"I can deal with that," Matt said grinning before looking at the door when he heard a knock.

"Just a minute," Robert said quickly helping Matt to a chair.

"Now, remember," Matt said looking at Robert. "I don't want anyone to know about this yet."

Robert nodded before straightening up. "Come in," he said and grinned when Newly entered first followed in short order by Festus.

"Newly, Festus," Matt said with a slight nod. "What's going on?"

"Festus and I got something to tell you," he said before making a side ways glance toward Robert.

"It's alright," Matt replied absently with a nod. "He can stay. What is it?"

Newly sighed as he took the letter from his pocket and passed it to Matt. "I just got this today."

Matt knew as soon as he saw the list of names that it had come from the prison and taking a wild guess, he figured Newly and Festus were worried about who was on it.

"It's Bonner, Matthew," Festus said quietly before Matt had finished reading the names.

And then he saw it, in plain black ink, Jude Bonner, released!