Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:09 — 7.2MB)
Doc and Chester talk after Chester returns from Hayes City. There’s a gang on the loose, and Matt has had to ride out alone after them. Just then, Matt returns and calls out for Chester to help. The gangleader has been brought to town, and locked up, while the rest of the gang is layed out in the back of the wagon.
The bandit complains how Matt ambushed and slaughtered them. Though Doc is excited at the news, and feat of the capture, Matt is feeling depressed at the violence he was forced into.
Matt plans to finish up the paperwork and reports in the morning, and tries to get some rest. Later, Matt has nightmares that cause Chester to worry, and wake him up. Since Matt is now awake, Chester tells him how a friend of the gang is in town, and could be starting trouble. Next morning, the prisoner needs tending to, but he has a gun.
How did he get the weapon? Matt knows, but it forces Matt to resort to more gunplay, but he just shoots the pistol out of the prisoners hand, rather than killing him. Chester and Matt make the rounds through town and have the chance to talk to that friend of the gang, Stanger. Matt would toss him in jail if he had a reason, but to avoid violence he just tells the man to leave town.
Stanger figures that Matt has gone soft when he avoids a certain gun fight. Has he? Matt prepares his resignation and looks forward to having the burden of his office lifted from him. With the telegram sent, Matt gets a well deserved rest, and is able to enjoy himself. He even takes Kitty out on a fishing date. They talk about the idylic things the future could hold for them, but the peace is broken when Chester rides up to report that Stanger is back, and shooting up the town. Matt is unconcerned since he’s not marshal anymore. But will Matt just sit by and let the bandit terrorize the town.
Chester talks sense to Matt, and his appeal to necessity has Matt borrowing Chester’s gun and leaving the peaceful scene to face his duty and fate. It’s a lonely job that’s a chancy one. It makes a man a little bit watchful, and a little bit lonely.
