Large, lazy snow flakes fell onto Front Street of Dodge City, which silently grew in depth. The only evidence of human activity were the foot steps through the deepening snow that dotted across the street. Most town folks felt that the winter was in Kansas to stay the season. In fact it brought many old-timers in from the hills to gather much needed supplies to endure the frigid weather that was still to come.

Doc pulled his winter coat tighter over his shoulders as he made his way down the stairs toward the Long Branch Saloon for a morning cup of coffee. He didn't mind the snow so much, nor the cold, but the dampness always crept into almost every joint. As he held the rail down to the boardwalk he muttered to himself about finding a warmer place to live - other than Dodge City in the winter, "Heartless place at times...cold to the bone and aches to prove it." Even his coat couldn't cut the dampness from the day.

The town doctor took his time stepping into other people's foot steps in order not to get snow in his boots. He slowly made his way to the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch, only to be passed by a hurried deputy, Festus Haggen. The weathered hill man strutted by then stopped at the door of the saloon, "What's takin' ya so long?" he waved the doctor on to hurry him, "Don't tell me its this little dab of snow that's slowing you down..."

"No!" Doc barked at Festus, "it isn't the little dab of snow that is slowing me down. It's the dampness and my rheumatism, if you need to know." Doc growled.

Festus' eyebrows rose up to his hat band, "Oh." He waited for Doc to reach his side before he held the door open allowing Doc to enter first, "Maybe Miss Kitty will have somethin' for ya to take care of yer argues."

"I bet she will too! In the form of a nice hot cup of coffee," Doc's eyes narrowed as he pushed past Festus, "Now get out of my way, I'm cold."

"Well, I'll be..." Festus shook his head, "He's more a grumphead than normal..." he followed Doc in to the Long Branch and over to the long dark wooden bar and perched next to Doc who settled in at the far end next to Miss Kitty.

"Good morning, Doc!" Kitty's cheery voice lilted across the bar.

"'Peers Doc's not in any kinda mood to be happy today, Miss Kitty." Festus cut Doc off in a half joking way. Doc shot a glare at the deputy, "Mind yer own business," he grumbled.

Kitty made a face that was crossed between a question and hurt, "Oh, Doc. You sound down right miserable," she playfully pouted for the doctor, "Care to tell me?".

"His rhemytisum is causing that, Miss Kitty...like some old mule with a fieriest tooth ache," Festus once again chimed in and Doc shot him another look.

"Is that so, Doc?" Kitty asked with concern in her voice.

Doc frowned then looked from Kitty to Festus, "Ask him. He seems to know everything!" he abruptly pointed to the deputy who stood next to him.

Festus stood and straightened his back in rebuttal, "Now that ain't so Doc. I was jist tellin' Miss Kitty, here, that you said you was all achey and such." The deputy held a hurt look on his face. Anyone that knew him well enough knew he always meant the best for his friends.

Doc's shoulders slumped, and then he signed.

"Oh, come on Doc. Festus is only trying to help." Kitty urged as she poured both Doc and Festus a cup of coffee.

Doc nodded, "I know. It's just that my aches are only part of my problem," he gratefully sipped at the hot coffee.

"Oh?" Kitty pried as she picked up her own coffee and held her blue eyes on Doc's while waiting for him to continue.

"Doc? What else is botherin' ya? You know Miss Kitty and I don't like ta see you so...miserable," Festus waited for the physician's response.

"Well," Doc said brushing his right hand over his moustache, "I'm not sure I can even tell you. Ethics, you know."

"Well, if its bothering you that much, Doc, you have to tell someone," Kitty tried to lessen Doc's hidden burden.

Doc sighed again, "It happens to be Mrs Garvey."

"Oh?" Both Kitty and Festus said in unison.

"Well, you both know that they are expecting their first child..." Doc sipped again from his cup and both Kitty and Festus nodded in acknowledgement.

"Well, I don't think things are going particularly well. In fact, if I can't see any change soon, I'll have to either send them somewhere, or have someone other doctor brought in..." Doc shook his head, "it's just beyond me at the moment."

Both Kitty and Festus looked down at their coffee cup and neither one knew what to say...if they said anything at all. Their hearts ached for their doctor friend.