Carpenter did as he promised and buried Jesse on the trail. After reading Paslm 23 from the cooks own bible, he passed it off to Festus before inviting the two deputies to stay the night before leaving for Dodge the next day.

The next morning, Festus got up earlier than usual. Still trying to wrap his head around what happened, he was a little more than surprised to see Dave Carpenter was up as well.

"Festus," Carpenter said pouring the hillman a cup of coffee. "I was hoping to find you awake."

"Wal I'm a little surprised to see you up Mr. Carpenter," Festus said quietly. "What can I do fer ya."

"I'm requesting your help," Carpenter said evenly. "I've found that no good Judge that Jesse had that gave him that sentence. His names Roberts and he's in Unionville. Me and some of my boys want to pay him a little visit and I was hoping you'd come along."

"Mr. Carpenter," Festus said looking at the man. "Wal ya all know I'm a Deputy Marshal. I can't go with you and I can't let ya do that neither."

"We're not asking for your permission Festus," Carpenter said. "I was hoping as one of Jesse's close friends, you would of all people understand why we got to do this."

"I know how ya feel," Festus said gently. "But I can't help."

Carpenter nodded. "At least give us some time to get on our way before you sound any alarms."

"I'll have ta study on that one," Festus said as Carpenter nodded.

"You've been awfully quite," Newly said later that night as the hillman remembered his conversation with Carpenter that morning.

"Newly, if ya think someone is gonna do something that's not within the law but ya know they doing it fer the right reasons," Festus said thoughtfully. "Does that still make it wrong?"

"What are you talking about Festus," Newly said studying the hillman's face.

"Ol Mr. Carpenter tole me this morning, he was a thinkin of going after that Judge, Roberts I think he said in Unionville, he's the feller who give Jesse that ten year sentence," Festus blurted out.

"You think he is," Newly asked lowly.

"I don't rightly know fer sure," Festus replied shaking his head.

"Well in any event," Newly replied. "We'll be back in Dodge tomorrow, we'll tell the Marshal and see what he says."

Matt sighed and then crossed his arms as he and Doc standing outside the Long Branch watched Newly stop in front of them and climb down off his horse.

"Well it's about time," Matt said looking at Newly. "Where have you been? You should have been back long before me!"Matt scowled as he looked around for Festus. "And where's Festus?"

"We had a bit of trouble on the way back," Newly said looking at Matt.

"I think you better come inside and tell me about it," Matt said clinching his jaw.

"That's about it Marshal," Newly said after recounting the story of how it came to be that Jesse had been killed. "This morning when I woke up, he was gone."

"And you think he went after Carpenter," Matt said thoughtfully as Newly nodded.

"It's the only thing I can think Marshal," Newly said evenly. "He said, Carpenter told him they were going to find the judge that gave his friend such a stiff sentence and asked Festus to go along but he refused and headed out with me."

"What are you going to do Matt," Kitty asked from the other side of the table where she and Doc sat.

"First," Matt said looking at Newly. "I have to warn this Judge Roberts. Second I got to send out a warrant for Carpenter and his men."

"But what if Festus is with them?" Doc asked looking at Matt.

"That's his choice," Matt said picking up his hat. "I can only hope they're stopped before Festus gets to them."