Kitty handed her bags off to the porter and set her carpetbag on the ground as she turned around to say her goodbyes. She was headed alone on a westbound train to San Francisco to meet with some whiskey drummers and Matt was adamantly opposed to the idea. He figured nothing good would come out of a woman alone in a large mining town. Although he couldn't himself go with her, he absolutely demanded that she take Festus along on the trip but Kitty insisted that she could take care of herself and so he eventually relented. It was with no offense meant that she didn't much like the idea of being away with Festus for a couple of weeks, anyway.

Matt stood on the platform with the most pathetic look on his face that gave him the appearance of a little lost puppy. He wasn't ready to say goodbye. "Oh Matt, cheer up," Kitty teased after seeing his very miserable expression. "You act like I'm leaving forever. I'll only be gone a couple of weeks."

Matt rolled his eyes slightly, leaned unto his right hip and folded his arms across his chest. "And that's two weeks too many to be alone."

Kitty smiled up at him and let him off the hook after realizing that he really was having a difficult time with this. "I'll be fine, Matt. You'll see."

About that time, the conductor gave his all aboard call. "Well, I better had get going."

Matt unfolded his arms and pulled her close in a tight embrace. She thought she was going to be squeezed to death. "I'm going to miss you, Kitty. Promise me that you'll send a wire the moment you arrive."

Kitty pulled back to look up at him. "I will, I promise. I'll see you later, Matt."

He looked at her somberly. "I'll see you later, Kitty."

She picked up her carpetbag and boarded the train, briefly stopping on the steps to turn back for a final wave. Matt waved in return.

No one knew that the three remaining Andley brothers – Mason, Thomas, and David -- were back in the area and out for revenge.

A year or so ago, the oldest brother, Joey, had robbed a bank in a neighboring town and a couple of innocent bystanders were caught in the crossfire. It took Matt a little while but he eventually captured Joey and brought him back to stand trial. He was found guilty and sentenced to hang. Ever since then, the remaining brothers continued in his footsteps as outlaws and vowed to avenge his untimely death.

As the train began to pull away from the station, the brothers were busy a couple of hours down the line using their horses to move a few fallen branches unto the track. They were finished and waiting patiently by the time the train began to crest the hill. Mason, the ringleader of the operation, was the first to spot the train.

"All right boys, get ready. It's almost time to go." Thomas and David mounted their horses and joined their brother's side hidden away from sight.

When the conductor spotted the debris on the tracks, he set the brakes and the engine came to a slow stop. It was then that the brothers appeared from the tree line and approached the train. When the conductor realized what was going on, he reached for his gun but the outlaws had already had theirs drawn and David and Thomas rode up to opposing sides of the engine.

"I wouldn't make any sudden moves if I were you.." David warned. "Don't make any sudden moves, and we'll have you on your way soon enough. No one has to get hurt."

Mason dismounted and made his way back to the first of the passenger trains and stepped onboard. The passengers were perched on the edge of their seats, anxiously wondering why the train had come to a sudden stop. All eyes were on Mason as he began his way down the aisle. "Relax folks, no one's going to get hurt. I'm just looking for someone, that's all. Once I find her, I'll have you fine folks back on your way before you know it." The mothers all began to clutch their children tightly.

"Who're you looking for?" one of the passengers called out. Mason stopped and leaned against a chair, chewing on a piece of straw.

"I'm looking for the Marshal's woman."

The color drained from Kitty's face. Although her and Matt were just friends up to that point, their feelings for each other were definitely beginning to deepen though both of them were too nervous to make the first move. There was no mistaking it though, Kitty knew that they were referring to her. The older lady sitting next to Kitty was also from Dodge and sensed Kitty's uneasiness so she took Kitty's hand and squeezed it tightly before letting go and speaking up. "Which Marshal, sir?" she asked, hoping that they weren't looking for the much younger woman sitting beside her who's hands began to tremble with anxiousness.

"Which Marshal…" Mason mocked with a sardonic laugh. "Cut the crap, lady. You know which marshal. I'm looking for Marshal Matthew Dillon's girl and…" he looked down at the young kid sat down beside him and yanked him up, putting his gun to his head. "I'll start picking people off one by one, until I find her."

Kitty couldn't stand the thought of harming a child so she stood and glared menacingly at the man. "That's me." All the passengers turned to look at her and then back at the outlaw.

"What did you say?" he said, letting go of the boy and shoving him back down to his seat as his mom clutched him tightly to her side.

"You heard me. The name's Kitty Russell and I'm Marshal Dillon's girl," she replied stoically.

"Well now," he smiled creepily. "That's more like it." He walked down to their row and looked at the elderly woman. "If you'll excuse me, Mrs." and the lady got up so that Kitty could rise from her seat.

He took Kitty by the arm and pulled her down the rows back towards the exit before turning around to address the passengers one last time. "Sorry to waste your time folks, hope you have a good rest of your trip." And he exited the car with Kitty in tow.

"All right boys, let's let these folks get on their way." He led Kitty over to the spare horse and gave her a leg up. He mounted up himself and called out towards the conductor. "Sorry for the mess.." before cackling as the brothers began to ride off.

"Come on, Red. We don't want to get left behind." Kitty reluctantly kicked her horse and headed off after the other two with Mason bringing up the rear.

It took the conductor and a several other strong men a considerable amount of time to clear the tracks by hand. Being in the middle of nowhere with no horses in any of the freight cars, the conductor decided that it would be easiest and best to head on to the next depot stop so that he could wire back to Dodge about the holdup.

Back in Dodge, Festus, Doc and Matt were having dinner at Delmonico's when Barney came busting through the door. "Marshal! Marshal!" he called out before he spotted them and came running up to the table. "What in thunder, Barney?" Doc chided as he set his utensils down. "What's this all about?"

"Sorry to interrupt, Doc, but I just had to bring this telegram to the Marshal at once!"

"Well lets see it, then." Matt held out his hand and Barney gave it to him. "It just came through the wire and I came right away." Matt's face went ashen.

TO: MARSHAL DILLON, DODGE CITY, KS

Train held up by 3 men just west of Dodge. Took Kitty Russell hostage, heading south. No horses, had to go on to next stop.

"What is it?" Doc said as he took the message from Matt. "Oh my.."

Matt stood up and tossed a couple of coins on the table. "I'm going to go send some wires to the neighboring towns and then afterwards, I'll be in my office getting ready to head out. Festus, get Buck ready for me."

"Chure thing Matthew, right away."

A while later, Matt received a telegram from a sheriff a couple of counties over from Dodge informing him that he had laid eyes on three men that were being accompanied by a redheaded woman. He was able to identify them as the Andley brothers who were wanted on a robbery warrant. Unfortunately he was alone and unable to bring them in, and by the time he returned with a posse, there was no sign of any of them.

He headed back towards the office to see Festus and Doc standing outside with both Buck and Ruth. "I'll go with ya, Matthew." Festus announced. While awaiting Matt's return, he had already packed them both with nothing but the essentials, some jerky, coffee, a pot, and a couple of other odds and ends. He knew that Matt preferred to travel light.

"No, I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things for me." Matt replied as he went inside and grabbed a couple more things as well as a rifle from the rack and secured the rifle to the saddle.

"Now Matt," Doc looked over at him. "Don't go off all half-cocked. Maybe it would be better to take someone along with you for help."

Matt mounted Buck and looked down at Doc. "Don't know how long I'll be gone, Doc. I need Festus here in town."

"But you don't even know where to begin looking, Matt." Doc looked up at him worriedly.

"I know they're already a few hours ahead and the longer I wait, the farther they'll get." Matt replied as he took the reins and pointed Buck out unto the street. "I won't stop until I find her. I'll look all over the whole country for her if that's what it takes." And with that, he gave Buck a swift spur and they took off down the road, leaving Doc and Festus behind as they both looked at each other with sadness, wondering if they would ever see either of their friends again.

TBC