~7~

It was late morning when Will came down from her room. "Sam." Will tipped her hat to him as she stepped onto the barroom floor.

"Coffee's hot if you want some." Sam offered.

Will walked over to the bar where Sam was standing and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Do you happen to have today's newspaper, Sam?"

"Sure do." Sam turned and picked up the newspaper off the back bar and handed it to Will.

"Thank you." Will took the coffee and the newspaper to a table by the stove and sat down.

Kitty opened the back hallway door and entered the bar. "Coffee ready, Sam?" she asked as she closed the door behind her.

"Yes, ma'am."

Kitty walked behind the bar and handed Sam the cash box and then poured herself a cup of coffee. She started to take a drink when the front door opened and a sharp cold wind swept across the barroom. "Hurry up and close that door!" Kitty ordered as she turned away from the cold wind.

"You greet all your customer's that way, Kitty?"

Kitty's face broke into a huge smile. "Matt, when did you get back into town?"

Matt walked over to where Kitty was and leaned against the bar. "We got back about an hour ago."

"You want some coffee?"

"Coffee sounds good, thanks."

Kitty poured Matt a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "Say, Kitty, I was just talking to Festus over at the jail. He's been filling me in on what's been happening lately."

"Matt, I saw the whole thing. That Powell drew first and was going to shoot Festus in the back. Will was defending Festus."

"Miss Kitty's right, Marshal. It happened just like she said. That Powell fellow no sooner pulled the trigger and Will drew and shot his gun right out of his hand."

"Festus said you came in just as it happened." Matt said, looking at Sam.

"Yes, sir. I'll tell ya, Marshal, Will is the fastest draw I've seen. If I had blinked I'd have missed it."

Matt looked at Kitty. "Kitty, Festus tells me this Will Curtis is staying here at the Long Branch."

"Um huh, She's sitting right over there." Kitty pointed at the table Will was sitting at reading the newspaper. "Come on, I'll introduce you."

Will looked up from the newspaper when Matt and Kitty came up to the table.

"Will, I'd like you to meet Matt Dillon. Matt, this is Willa Curtis."

Will tipped her hat to Matt. "Marshal."

"Mind if I join you, Will?"

"Not at all." Will watched Matt set his coffee cup on the table and take a seat.

"I hear you're pretty decent with a gun."

"I've never taken a life, Marshal."

"I wasn't asking if you had, Will. I just came here to talk to you about what happened last night."

"Festus and I were playing checkers. Avery came in and started trouble with Kitty and one of her girls, so Festus stepped in. While Avery distracted Festus by trying to taunt him into fighting, that Powell positioned himself behind Festus. Before either one could throw a punch, Powell drew and fired on Festus. I didn't draw on him until I saw him pull the trigger, and I only aimed at his gun."

"It's a good thing for Festus that you can handle a gun like you do." Matt told her.

"Am I in trouble, Marshal?"

Matt took a drink of his coffee, "No, Will. I just wanted to hear your side of what happened. I'll hold Avery and Powell until Judge Danby comes near the end of the week. You aren't planning to leave town before then, are you?"

"She's not going anywhere until Doc can take a look at her." Kitty interjected.

"Doc?" Matt looked at Will. "Festus never mentioned that you were injured."

"I'm not, Marshal. I was sick with a fever and Festus brought me to Dodge." Will looked at Kitty, "I'm over it now thanks to Kitty."

"Well, you're still going to have Doc take a look at you." Kitty instructed.

Matt figured he better end this conversion. "Say, Kitty, can I take you to breakfast?"

Kitty looked at Matt and smiled. "I'd love to, Matt. I'll go get my cloak."

Matt watched Kitty go through the back hallway door and turned back to Will. "Will, once word gets out about how you handle a gun, someone may look to make themselves a reputation and call you out. You might want to consider not wearing your gun."

"Is that an order, Marshal?"

"Just a friendly suggestion."

Matt stood up when Kitty came back into the bar from the office hallway. "You ready to go, Kitty?"

"All set," she answered as she put gloves on. "I'll see you later, Will."

Will tipped her head, "Kitty, Marshal."

Will watched as Matt and Kitty left the saloon. After talking with the Marshal, she didn't feel much like reading the newspaper, so Will folded it back up, went over to Sam at the bar and handed him the newspaper. "I'd like to finish reading this later if you don't mind hanging onto it for me, Sam."

"I'd be happy to, Will." Sam told her as he sat the paper on the back bar.

Will headed up the stairs to her room, grabbed her coat and went back downstairs. "I'll see you later, Sam." She said as she left the saloon.

Will had no direction in mind when she set off down Front Street, shoving her hands deep into her coat pockets. She had walked a fair distance before noticing a sign across the street, Boss Billiards. It had been a bit since she had played pool, and thought she'd see if she could get a game with someone. Will walked into Boss's and smiled. 'What were the odds,' she thought to herself. She watched Festus bend over the pool table to take a shot. She hung her coat on a nearby peg, ordered a beer, and leaned against the bar to watch the game.

Festus lined up his shot and sank the three ball in the side pocket. The cue ball rolled to a stop at the far end of the table leaving Festus with no decent shot. He circled the table trying to find the best line up to take his next shot when he spotted Will. "Howdy, Will."

"Festus." She smiled.

Festus leaned back over the pool table, lined his shot up and struck the cue ball.

Will watched as the ball missed its mark and Festus's face fell.

Wiley Potter grinned as he stepped up to the pool table. "Get ready to pay up, Festus. I'm gonna clear the table."

Festus looked at the table. "How ya figurn' on doin' that, Wiley? That there cuey ball is a kiss'n that there ball of mine which is a teeter'n near the pocket.

Wiley turned and looked at Festus knocking his beer mug off the edge of the table when he did. "Dang it, Festus. Look what you made me do."

Festus bent over to pick up the beer mug off the floor. "It's not my fault ya weren't a watch'n what yas waz a doin'."

While Festus was busy picking up the mug, Wiley reached over and moved the cue ball away from Festus's nine ball.

Festus stood up, putting the mug on a nearby chair and leaned against the wall as he watched Wiley take aim with his pool stick.

Festus suddenly pushed himself away from the wall. "Hold yer taters, Wiley. You moved that cuey ball!"

Wiley looked at Festus. "I did not!"

"Ya did too. It was a kiss'n my solid ball and now it's moved clear across the state."

"Are you calling me a cheat!?"

"If I'm lyin' I'm dy'n. Now move that there cuey ball back ta where it waz before I get on ya like ugly on a ape."

"I didn't move it!" Wiley threw his pool stick on the table and leapt at Festus tackling him to the ground.

They rolled around the floor a bit before Festus knocked Wiley off of him and got to his feet.

Wiley came off the floor swinging, but Festus ducked and than punched Wiley in the gut. Wiley's partner, Tank, who was standing nearby, grabbed Festus's arms from behind and held him. Wiley straightened up and threw a right hook that connected with Festus's jaw.

When Will saw Tank and Wiley gang up on Festus, she put her beer on the bar and ran over to join the fray. She punched Tank in the side, causing him to let Festus go.

Meanwhile, Boss lit out the door after the Marshal. Someone on the street told him that the Marshal was eating breakfast at Delmonico's, so Boss hotfooted it there.

Kitty was part way through her breakfast with a big grin on her face. "I can't believe we are actually going to have a whole meal without being interrupted."

"Oh, Kitty, we have plenty of meals together that don't get interrupted." Matt professed, taking a drink of this coffee.

Kitty gave Matt a sideways look, "You must have been having them with some other girl named Kitty."

Just then Boss came rushing through the front door. "Marshal, come quick!"

Kitty dropped her fork onto her plate. "I spoke too soon." She stated dejectedly, as Boss reached the table.

"Marshal, they're wrecking my place."

"Hold on a minute, Boss, what's going on?"

"Festus, Wiley, Tank and some cowpoke started fighting at my pool hall and are busting the whole place up."

Matt jumped up from his seat. "Sorry, Kitty."

Kitty threw her napkin on the table. "I'm going with you."

The trio hurried out of Delmonico's and down the boardwalk to Boss's. Matt was the first one through the door. "Alright, break it up!" He ordered.

Festus and Wiley were rolling around on the ground landing punches to one another when they could. Tank had Will by the collar against the wall with his fist pulled back and swung, but Will was quick to duck and Tank's fist connected with the wall. Will stood up and like a flash and punched Tank in the throat. Tank grabbed his throat and went to his knees.

"I SAID BREAK IT UP!" Matt barked.

Will threw her hands up trying to look innocent, as Matt rushed over and grabbed Wiley and Festus by the collars and hoisted them to their feet. Matt shook Wiley and Festus by their collars as the two struggled. "Knock it off." Matt ordered, with an angry look on his face. "Who started it?"

Festus and Wiley both pointed at each other. "He was cheating, Matthew." Festus said.

"I was not." Wiley professed.

"War too." Festus countered.

"That's enough out of the two of you." Matt said as he shook them by the collar again. Matt looked over at Will who was still standing there with her hands up in front of her. His eyes swept down to the floor where Tank was still on his knees holding his throat, trying to talk. Matt looked back up at Will. "Is he ok?"

Will looked down at Tank. "He's breathing. Going to take him a minute to get his voice back though." Matt gave Will a perturbed look. "What happened here, Will?"

"Wiley moved the cue ball when Festus wasn't looking, and when Festus called him on it, Wiley tackled Festus. Then this lug jumped in, and they ganged up on Festus. I joined in to even things out and make it a fair fight."

Matt let Wiley and Festus go. "I suppose you were betting on the game?"

"Wouldn'da been a good game less'n we waz." Festus answered

Matt rolled his eyes. "The four of you are going to pay for any damages and then stay clear of each other. I don't want any more trouble out of you for the rest of the day. Ya hear me!" Matt ordered, clearly irritated.

A round of "yes, Marshal," was given by the foursome.

Matt nodded his head. "That's more like it." Matt turned and walked over to Kitty who was standing just inside the door. "I'll walk you back to the Long Branch." He told her as he opened the door.

Festus looked at Wiley. "I'll check with Boss bout any damages."

Wiley helped Tank off the floor. "You sure fight dirty, Fella." He said to Will.

"Like two against one is a fair fight." Will quipped.

Festus came back and stood next to Will. "Boss reckons that five dollars will cover damages. Since the pot was that, I just gave him that." He told Wiley, giving him a look that said he'd brook no argument.

"Fine! Come on, Tank." Wiley helped Tank leave the pool hall.

Festus looked at Will. "What ya say, we mosey over to the Long Branch and play some checkers?"

"From the look Kitty was giving us, I'd say that's not a good idea right now." Will informed him.

"Yeah, best not to rile her, if'n her feathers have been ruffled."

"Well, since we're here, why not play some pool?" Will suggested.

Festus scratched the whiskers on his chin, "That's a pearl button bangled billy of an ider. Rack 'em up."

Matt and Kitty walked down the boardwalk towards the Long Branch. "Thanks for breakfast, Matt."

"I'm sorry it was interrupted, Kitty."

"Oh, it's not your fault this time, Matt. I blame Festus and Will for this one."

They entered the saloon and Matt stood at the bar while Kitty took care of her cloak. The front door opened and Doc came in. "I'll say it sure is cold out there today." Doc groused, as he came to stand next to Matt at the bar. "Hi, Sam, Matt."

"Can I get you something, Doc? Sam offered.

"I'll have a whiskey, thank you, Sam."

"You want anything, Marshal?" Sam asked.

"No thank you, Sam."

Kitty came out of the office hallway and joined Matt and Doc at the bar. "Well, hello stranger." Kitty greeted Doc. "You just missed going to Delmonico's with us." She told him.

"I suppose you went with this big lug?" He said pointing a thumb at Matt.

"It just so happens she did." Matt answered.

"Well, she can have you, cause I've had my fill of meals with you." Doc complained, as he winked at Kitty.

"Well, you were no picnic, Doc." Matt jabbed.

"Oh, shouldn't you be out saving the town instead of in here bumming free drinks off Kitty?"

"It so happens I just broke up a fight up at Boss's."

Doc's head snapped up. "Anyone hurt?"

"You may want to take a look at Tank. Will gave him a punch to the throat." Matt replied.

"Will?" Doc wondered.

"Willa Curtis. Festus brought her into Dodge a few days ago with a bad fever while you were out of town. You should check her out too, Doc." Kitty commented.

"A girl punched Tank? Sure would have liked to have seen that." Doc mused with a chuckle.

"If she hadn't been so quick to duck Tank's punch in the first place, you'd be tending to both of them." Matt informed Doc. "Kitty, I'll see you later."

Kitty smiled at Matt. "Bye, Matt."

Doc looked at Kitty, "Why don't we sit down and you can tell me about this Will Curtis."

Kitty nodded her head and headed to a nearby table. Once they were seated Kitty rested her arms on the table. "Well, Festus came across her in a cave that both of them took shelter in from the storm. She was sick with a bad fever, so Festus brought her to Dodge. I took care of her until her fever broke. She had been working on a ranch in Montana until she decided to move to Texas for the warmer weather."

"Cattle ranch?" Doc asked.

Kitty nodded her head, "Since she was 10."

"She punched Tank, huh."

"Dropped him to his knees. She also kept Festus from being bushwhacked here last night."

"I heard about that at breakfast this morning, so she's the one that shot the gun out of that fella's hand?"

Just then the saloon door opened and Will walked in. She started to head towards the bar when Kitty called to her. "Will, can you come over here? There's someone I want you to meet."

When Will approached the table, Kitty held her hand out towards Doc. "Will, this is Doc Adams. Doc, this is Willa Curtis."

"It's nice to meet you, Willa."

Will had to hand it to Kitty; she was nothing if not persistent. Will tipped her Stetson at Doc. "It's just Will."

Doc nodded his head. "Kitty tells me you had been pretty sick with a fever." Doc replied.

Will's eyes flicked to Kitty. "I'm fine now."

"Well, I'll be the judge of that." Doc told her.

"Will, I'd feel better if you have Doc make sure you're ok." Kitty interjected before Will could protest.

The look on Kitty's face broke Will's resolve. "Let me know when you want me to come by your office." Will told him.

Doc swiped his chin. "How about now?"

Will shrugged her shoulders, and the pair left the saloon taking the short walk to Doc's office next door.

TBC