Shane Long caused quite a stir when he rode into Dodge and not just because his horse was a magnificent piece of horse flesh, but because of the man with him his hands tied behind his back, his feet lashed to the stirrups and a bandana gagging him. Nathan Burke poked his head into the marshal's office. "Marshal, you better get out here," Matt and Festus looked at each other and rose from the checkers game walking outside, just as Shane pulled up his prisoner was mumbling into the gag.

"McLaren, I ain't removing that gag until we get inside, I don't intend the good ladies of Dodge to be offended by your foul mouth," Shane handed a poster to Matt, "Marshal there's a six thousand dollar reward on McLaren, Dead or Alive, he's wanted for murder," Shane dismounted he untied McLaren's feet and helped him down then pushed McLaren in the direction of the office, once inside Shane removed the bandana and a stream of expletives which shall not be repeated emerged from McLaren but it essentially meant that McLaren thought that Shane and Matt were of doubtful progeny and dubious antecedents. "You know he's right at least about me he is, I'm quarter Blackfoot, quarter Cherokee on my Ma's side and my Pa was white, and I've had to fight all my life to get respect," Matt studied the poster.

"James McLaren, dark brown hair, brown eyes and five inch scar on right cheek."

"Marshal, your mother was a whore and a bitch," Shane observed the look of anger flashing in Matt's eyes and backhanded McLaren in the mouth; he went down to the floor.

"Shut your pie hole, McLaren, or I'll gag you again," Shane said.

"Festus, get him out of my sight," Matt said, Festus dragged McLaren up and into the cells; he had McLaren turn round and untied his hands, shutting the door to the cell behind him and locking it.

"What time d'ya eat round here?" McLaren snarled.

"You eat when Matthew says," Festus said.

"Hm," Shane said, "if you'd seen the amount of bacon he ate this morning you'd know he can't be hungry."

"Have you got somewhere to stay?" Matt asked, Shane shook his head a smile tweaking the corners of his mouth.

"No, Marshal, ain't had a time to look yet."

"Dodge House," Festus said as he rejoined them, "right across the street there."

"Well that settles one thing, next a place to have a good drink and a meal."

"Delmonico's for the meal and the Long Branch for the drink," Festus said.

"Delmonico's is that the place opposite the stage depot?"

"Sure is, and for the Long Branch go out of here and to the right."

"Well now maybe I'll see you there in a while."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes myself, I'll introduce you to Miss Kitty," Matt said his love for Kitty was so obvious that Shane had to smile.

"The way you said that, Marshal, I just know that she's your woman," Matt didn't answer he just grinned.

"I'll go see to your horse, Mister…" Festus said.

"Long, Shane Long."

"Seems I've heard of you," Matt said, "people call you Quickhand."

"Some do though I've actually only killed once. The man who killed my parents and wounded me I was only fourteen at the time."

"Who was he?" Matt asked, Shane looked away he always found it difficult to recall that event.

"My brother, turned out he had a bounty on him, he was the first. The other twenty bounties I've brought in alive," Shane left the office and crossed to the Dodge House he signed in and then went to Delmonico's to eat; then he went to the Long Branch, Matt bought him a beer.

"Kitty, this is Shane Long," Matt said as he introduced Shane to her; Shane smiled at her.

"I'll say this, Marshal, you sure got good taste in women, Matt wrapped a possessive arm around Kitty; Doc came in looking frazzled. "Shane this is Doc Adams."

"Shall we get a table," Kitty said smiling.

"Howdy Doc," Shane said smiling.

"I just went by the office; Festus said the law had gone to lunch with a bounty hunter no less."

"Doc, Shane has only killed once the rest he's brought in alive," Matt said.

"Does that include that miscreant in your jail?" For the life of him Doc didn't know how Shane had resisted shooting the man. "How'd you bear listening to him?"

"Simple, I didn't listen to him; I stuffed a bandana in his pie hole," Doc chortled he could imagine it.

"Doc, you look tired and I prescribe a whisky to perk you up," Kitty said, Doc smiled wryly that was exactly the prescription he had in mind.

"Kitty, you're a mind reader that's exactly the prescription I had in mind," Doc said.

"Sam, bring Doc a whisky," Kitty said, Sam smiled and brought it right over to them.

"Say, Matt, I just came from Moss Grimmick's; who owns that beautiful palomino?" Dock asked.

"That would be me, Doc," Shane said; "horses are my one indulgence. I own a horse farm near Abilene. The bounty hunting pays the bills and allows me to buy horses I usually try to buy some from every new town I visit," Matt knew exactly who to introduce Shane to next and when Emmett Bowers came into town he would do just that. Emmett came in the Long Branch just then with a face like thunder.

"Marshal, there's a gang of rustlers around, I just lost twenty head of prime beef and eight head of horses," night was falling by this time and by the time he got out to Emmett's place it would be full dark.

"Emmett, it's too late to anything tonight, I'll ride out to your place tomorrow. Emmett, this is Shane Long, he's got a keen eye for horseflesh."

"You also known as Quickhand?"

"To some people; at least I bring the wanted men in alive."

"Did you bring one in to Dodge?" Emmett asked.

"Yes, a real nasty piece of work. He's a murderer, murdered his wife. I think I'll try my hand at a little poker," Shane rose and joined in a game winning a little and losing a little but in the end he won more than he lost; he went back to Kitty's table.

"I'll be going to Emmett's place at first light," Matt said, "won't be back until evening at the earliest," Kitty knew that he'd come to see her as soon as he was back and she would make sure she gave him a fitting welcome. Matt looked at her a roguish gleam smouldering in his eyes, as if he was daring her to risk all and kiss him then and there. Doc observed all of this with a certain amount of humour; it was no wonder that Kitty always called Matt, Cowboy.