Early the Next Morning

Seated at the Dillon's large dining room table, Calvin Cunningham shakily lifted a cup to his swollen lips, hoping a sip of strong coffee would fortify him. He looked around the table at Doc, Kitty and Matt. He'd known them for less the 24 hours but was sure he'd never met better people. He needed and wanted them to know him, and the kind life he'd led. He swallowed the strong, dark brew and set down his cup. "I appreciate having a meal like this with you all. Practically my whole life has been in boarding school. My father sent me off when I was 5. He did visit - once a year. I think it was for show. Still, I convinced my self if I studied hard and did well, he'd accept me – hire me into his business. I've never been physically big or strong, or even brave, but I'm good at math and learned a lot about business and finance. I'm honest. Fairness is very important to me. Turns out I was a fool. When I showed up after graduation, my father wanted nothing to do with me. Well, he did want one thing. The ring my mother left to me. Matt, thank you for getting it back from Billy Baines."

Matt looked across the table at Calvin. "Seems to me you have a lot to offer a business, just not for the way your father operates. My guess is he figured he was doing things, you wouldn't go along with."

Calvin smiled wryly, "You're probably right, but there's more to it. He's always hated me. I tried to pretend differently, but I have to face facts. Anyway, thank you for offering to let me stay a few more days to recover. After that I'll leave Topeka, disappear, and find work elsewhere. The bad thing is that my father will keep coming after you, Matt. He won't care that you captured Billy. He'll just hire more people, worse people, to get you to do what he wants."

"Your father's way of doing business didn't start didn't with me and it won't end with me, unless he's stopped." Matt tossed his napkin on the table and began to rise. Doc put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him in place. "Matt, I'm going to tell you what you should do. It's what you KNOW you should do. Take the cowboy you have locked in the basement to the sheriff, and file a complaint about Cunningham. Lay the whole thing out. The sheriff will get a warrant and arrest the man. Matt, you're a lawyer not the law. Let the law handle this."

"Doc, Cunningham's not sitting around waiting. He can have 10 men out here threatening my family before I even finish making a report. I have to deal with this myself, and right away." Matt got to his feet, and turned to Kitty. He paused briefly before speaking. "Kitty, I'm gonna go saddle my horse. Will you bring my gun-belt out to me? It's upstairs in the bedroom."

Topeka

The Morris brothers sat on the edge Raymond's desk listening to him describe the job he'd pay them to do. The brothers shared the same grey eyes, high cheek bones, and blond hair, but their differences were just as striking. Sam was short, thick-necked and twitchy. He was quick to act, and folks swore when he went for his gun, it came to life and jumped into his hand. Craig was tall, wiry and calm; a strategist who could shoot straight, throw a good punch, and keep his brother in line – most of the time. They were a good team.

Cunningham looked from one man to the other. "So, you have to make Dillon understand he has no choice, he's working for me. Kidnap his baby, wound his wife, burn his house down – I don't care. I'll pay your usual fee when he signs a contract. Get to it."

Sam jumped to his feet to speak. Craig put a hand brother's shoulder, signaling he'd handle it. "I reckon you know this lawyer, Matthew Dillon, is the same man who wore a US Marshal's badge for a lot of years. Me and Sam had run-ins with him. We got out of situations because Dillon has a flaw. He don't kill men in cold blood. Still, he managed to arrest the two of us. We got off 'cause a man on a jury got paid to be a hold-out. Otherwise we'd be in jail. I'm saying this to let you know that Dillon's tough. He don't scare easy and he fights back. The price is triple our usual, and we want payment in advance."

Raymond smacked his cane against the floor. "That's ridiculous."

Sam grinned. "Like my brother says, triple and in advance. Take it or leave it."

Fuming, Cunningham yanked open the top draw of his desk, still lined with packs of cash. He chose too bundles and tossed then over. "Two thirds now, and the other third when Dillon signs my contract."

Craig and Sam exchanged glances, as if reading each other's minds. Craig nodded. "It's a deal. He grabbed one wad of cash, and handed Sam the other. "I'm sure you understand Cunningham, you're not the type of man we think of as trustworthy, so and me and my brother are gonna count this money. Then we'll take care of Dillon.

Matt

Matt led his horse to the front of the house, and looked up at the nursery window on the second floor. He'd resisted marriage and family the whole time he wore the badge. He had enemies who could hurt a wife and children, or he could get killed himself, leaving them to fend for themselves. When he took the badge off and became a lawyer, he believed he wouldn't have to worry about such things. He was wrong.

"Here's your gun-belt, Matt."Kitty's voice shook ever so slightly. She knew he'd asked her to bring it to him .so they could have a minute alone before he left. He smoothly buckled on the belt. She bit her lower lip. "You wore it yesterday. Does it feel good, wearing it?" "It feels familiar Kitty. For a lot of years it was part of who I was, and what I had to do. I would't say it feels good." He studied her face and gently stroked her cheek. "See you later." She watched him get on his horse and ride off into danger, as she had hundreds of times before, across more than 20 years. She thought those days were over. Life was funny that way.

Topeka

Cunningham impatiently drummed his fingers on his desk, as he watched the Morris brothers count and recount the cash he gave them. Finally they nodded at each other and shoved the money into their pockets. Cunningham pushed himself to his feet."I'll see you out. I expect results within 24 hours." He followed them through the outer office and opened the door. "I'll be waiting." Sam threw Cunningham a contemptuous look and stepped outside with his brother. They heard the door close behind them.

Directly across the street, Matt Dillon tied his horse to a post. He saw the two armed men emerge from Cunningham's office and strode over. "Well, it's Sam and Craig Morris. I take it you're working for Cunningham, now"

Craig shrugged. "Hello Dillon. Don't see how who we work is your concern."

Matt met Craig's eyes. "Guess you two don't know there's a warrant out for your arrest. Charge is jury tampering in your trial a few years back. Lots of evidence and a witness." Craig smiled. "You can't arrest us. You don't even wear a badge no more."

"Former US Marshals retain the right to make arrests. You two are going to jail." While speaking to Craig, Matt kept a half-eye on Sam. He wasn't trying to start a gunfight, but Sam was known to be jumpy. Craig laughed and shook his head. Matt smiled crookedly. "Yep, you and Sam will go to jail this time."

"We ain't." Sam's gun-hand moved. Matt drew. Two bullets flew. Sam dropped to the ground and grabbed his thigh, his gun flew from his hand. Matt's arm was grazed, he ignored it.

Craig let out an exasperated sigh. "Damn it Sam, you got your self shot in the leg for nothing. Dillon was bluffing." He narrowed his eyes at Matt. "There is no warrant or evidence, and you can't make arrests just because you were a lawman. Ain't that right? You wanted to spook us into running off, or maybe get us to the sheriff, who'd keep us out of your hair for a time." Steaming with frustration, Craig didn't notice the door behind him open, until he felt a gun pressed against his skull. A gun held by Raymond Cunningham. "I'm damn tired of all of this. I'm done playing games with you, Dillon. Toss your gun away, or I blow Craig's head off. I don't think you have the stomach to see that happen. Once you're unarmed, you'll meekly come inside and sign a contract to work for me. Then, I'll be willing to send a rider to your house to call off my men. They're there by now, came all the way from Wichita. Once you sign – I'll send word they should leave." Catching the fear that briefly flickered across Matt's face. Cunningham grew smug. "You'll want to act fast, I imagine. I hear your wife's an attractive women and, like I said, my men are there already. So, toss the gun aside and come sign the contract."

Matt didn't move. Cunningham could be bluffing about men from Wichita, but maybe he wasn't. He felt Sam's eyes bore into him, and glanced over at him, still on the ground clutching his bleeding leg. Their eyes locked for a second.

Cunningham jabbed Craig's head with the end of the gun. "Dillon, this head get's blown off on the count of three, unless you toss your gun aside. One. Two. Thr.."

"All right. All right." Matt swung his arm back just a bit, and tossed the gun. Sam snatched it from the air. Craig saw and ducked. Sam fired. Raymond Cunningham's eyes widened in fear, he crumbled to the ground. His last word was,"no."

Matt hurried to his horse, desperate to get home in case Cunningham wasn't lying. "Dillon." Matt turned towards Sam. The gunman tossed Matt's gun over. "Don't forget this. Cunningham didn't mention men from Wichita to us. It could be a bluff, but you never know with a bastard like that."

Matt took off at a gallop, dust flying behind him. The half mile home felt like 20. He turned unto the narrow path to his house, peering anxiously ahead for signs of trouble. Relief washed over him, and he slowed his horse. Kitty was on the porch, with Doc calmly sitting beside her, rifle in his lap. There was no sign of trouble. Cunningham was bluffing. He dismounted in front of the house. Kitty jumped up. "Your arm – you're bleeding, Matt." He stepped up onto the porch and gently kissed her lips. "It's a graze, bullet didn't go in. Everything's fine. It's over." Doc set the rifle aside. "Matt, it may be a graze but…" "I know, you still have to clean it out, and it's gonna smart." Matt smiled at his old friend." Let's all go inside, I'll tell you what happen. Calvin needs to know too."

TBC