The Long Branch was quieter than usual as the evening wound down. Most of the regulars had left, and Kitty stood by the bar, wiping down glasses. Bill Pence counted the night's earnings at a nearby table, but his usual relaxed demeanor was replaced with a tension that mirrored Kitty's.
Matt returned, his boots echoing on the wooden floor. He scanned the room, noting the subdued atmosphere.
"Anything out of the ordinary?" he asked, approaching the bar.
Kitty shook her head. "No trouble—yet. But the girls were on edge. Bill sent them home, but I'm staying."
Matt leaned on the bar, his hat in his hand. "It might not come tonight, but it's coming. You've seen the kind of men we're dealing with."
Kitty's voice softened, her usual fire tempered by concern. "I've seen worse, Matt. And I've seen you handle them." She hesitated before adding, "You don't always have to do it alone, you know."
Matt looked at her, his blue eyes betraying a hint of the weariness he rarely let show. "I know. But it's my job to protect this town—and the people in it."
Kitty held his gaze, her voice low. "Just remember, I'm not one of your deputies. You don't get to order me out of this fight."
Matt's lips quirked into a small, reluctant smile. "I wouldn't dare."
At Doc's clinic, Chester sat in a chair by the door, nodding off despite his best efforts to stay alert. Doc was busy tidying up his supplies when the drifter stirred again, groaning softly.
"Hey, Doc! He's waking up!" Chester exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
Doc moved to the bedside, his voice calm but firm. "Easy now. You've been through a lot. Can you tell us your name?"
The man's eyes flickered open, glassy and unfocused. "Name don't matter," he rasped. "They're comin'... lookin' for blood. Starting with the Long Branch… they think it's a prize… take the money, burn the rest."
Chester paled. "Burn it? Why would they do that?"
The drifter coughed weakly. "They're makin' a statement. Showin' they run the territory. Dodge City's just another notch on their belt."
Doc frowned, glancing at Chester. "Get Matt. He needs to hear this."
Chester bolted from the clinic, running toward the Long Branch with urgency.
Matt was still at the Long Branch when Chester burst through the doors, panting.
"Mr. Dillon! The drifter's awake, and he says they're comin' to burn the place down!"
Bill's face darkened. "Burn it? Over my dead body."
"If we don't stop them right here, they'll just keep going." Matt said grimly.
He turned to Bill. "Get everyone out who doesn't need to be here. I'll station Chester and some of the deputies outside. Kitty—"
"If you're about to tell me to leave, don't bother," Kitty interrupted, her tone sharp. "I'm staying, and that's final."
Matt's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he looked at her for a long moment. "Then you stick close to Bill and stay out of the line of fire. We're going to barricade the windows and set up defenses inside. If it comes to a fight, I don't want you anywhere near it."
Kitty nodded, though the defiance in her eyes didn't fade.