Matt looked around before turning to the man next to him. "Burke, come with me!" Burke followed as Matt headed over to where Bonner had gone down. Cautiously approaching the area, Matt leveled his gun at Lafitte who struggled to climb to his feet next to his dead brother Jude.

"I give up!" Lafitte said raising his hands as Matt kicked Jude's gun away.

"Burke," Matt said angrily. "Take him into custody!"

"Yes, sir," Burke replied grabbing Lafitte's arm. "Let's go!"

Matt shook his head as he looked down into the lifelessly cold eyes of Jude Bonner. He had fulfilled his promise but at what cost?

Festus hadn't moved from his spot next to Robert when Matt returned to his side. Putting a hand on his friends shoulder, he said gently. "Let me help you take care of him, Festus."

The hill man nodded as he stood up. "I'll get a blanket from Ruth ta wrap him in," Festus said before slowly moving toward his mule.

After his friend was out of sight, Matt kneeled down next to Robert's body and sighed before he closed the younger man's eyes in a silent prayer. He knew he owed Robert a debt of gratitude that he would never be able to repay but at least he was able to say that he'd taken care of the man that took his life.

Festus returned with a heavy wool blanket and spread it out next to his son before Matt put a hand on his arm. "You going to be alright?"

"Reckon, I have ta be, Matthew," Festus said quietly.

Matt nodded as he reached down for Robert's shoulders while Festus took his feet and together they lifted the younger man up and put him gently into the center of the blanket.

"Much obliged fer yer help," Festus said despondently. "But don't ya think you should be getting back ta Miss Kitty."

"Kitty's safe," Matt said standing up as Burke came toward them.

"I've got him tied up," he said looking at Matt. "You want me to take him back into town and bring back a wagon?"

"Yeah," Matt replied looking down as Festus wrapped the blanket around Robert. "And I think you should bring Doc and Newly if he can travel, back with you."

"Yes, sir," Burke said with a nod before heading toward his horse.

Matt watched Burke and Bonner's brother ride away before bending down to help Festus with Robert's body.

"Let me help you," he said as Festus started to protest. "I want to help, please."

Festus finally relented and together they moved Robert closer to the grove before gently lowering him to the ground.

"I'm going to check on Kitty and the baby," Matt said clasping Festus on the shoulder. "Burke'll be back soon with Doc."

Festus only nodded as he sat down on a log with Robert's body at his feet. When Matt turned back to look at his fiend, the hill man had buried his face in his hands.

"Matt," Kitty said when he reappeared at her side. "What happened? Is everything alright?"

"Jude is dead," Matt said as Kitty sighed in relief. "But, that's not all."

"What is it," Kitty asked worriedly before Matt met her eyes.

"Robert," he said hesitantly. "He's been shot and he didn't make it," Matt replied quietly as Kitty hugged her daughter closer to her chest. "I sent Burke back to Dodge for a wagon to bring you and Robert back to town. And I told him to bring Doc and Newly with him."

"Good," Kitty said with a nod. "Go to Festus, Matt. He needs you more than I do right now and give him my best."

"Thanks, Kitty," Matt said leaning over to kiss her cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Matt did his best to console his friend but Festus grief was unending. He was never so glad to see Burke return with Newly and Doc and two wagons. One being driven by Newly himself.

"Sure am glad to see you're alright," Matt said as Newly climbed down from the drivers seat.

"Just a bump on the head as Doc said," Newly replied watching as the older man climbed down after him.

"Doc," Matt said with a nod toward Festus. "You'll find Robert over there and Kitty's in the grove of trees behind him."

Doc nodded before heading over to where Festus still sat on the log with Robert at his feet. They watched as Doc leaned over and spoke quietly to the hill man before he kneeled next to Robert's body.

Festus stood up and paced away from the physician as he uncovered his son. He'd seen enough earlier and preferred not to be reminded that he'd held him while Robert drew a last shuddering breath.

As the only doctor for miles around, it was Doc's responsibility to confirm the manor or cause of death for the Marshal's report. He'd done it many times in Dodge, mostly during shootouts or when an occasional gunfighter would come into town to challenge Matt's authority. It wasn't by far, his favorite part of the job but it was still his job. It was however, at times like this when he had to inspect the body of a friend or loved one that he remembered why he had chosen this profession in the first place.

Matt turned his attention to Newly and Burke while Doc performed his duty. "Why don't you two go ahead and load up Jude's body to take back to Dodge," he said as Burke nodded.

"I'll show you where he's at," Burke said pointing the way.

The first thing Doc noticed when he pulled back the blanket covering Robert's body wasn't the deathly pallor of his skin tone but rather the lack of stiffness in the younger man's limbs. Taking out the case he kept his glasses in, he quickly put them on before lifting one of Robert's eyelids. Sucking in a quick breath, he pressed on a thumb nail and watched as the hue changed from off white when pressed to slightly pink when he let go.

"Festus," Doc said opening his bag. "Come over here!"

"Doc," Festus replied emotionlessly. "I can't, I just can't look at him again!"

"Festus," Doc said angrily. "You mule headed...get over here! Robert isn't dead!"

"What you mean, Doc?" Festus said whirling around as Doc ripped open Robert's shirt. "I listen to his chest! I didn't hear no heart beat!"

"I can hardly hear it myself," Doc said looking up. "It's faint but it's there!"