Louie struggled with holding the reins of Festus mule as the hillman pounded down a lose shoe on the animals left hoof.

"Ruth ya ol dang stubborn mule," he yelled. "Hold still now!"

But the mule, had suddenly had enough as he kicked his hind legs and bucked causing Louie to lose his grasp on the reins.

"Festus," Louie yelled. "Watch yer self!"

When the drunkard got no response, he gingerly walked his way past the agitated mule and shook his head when he seen Festus picking himself up off the ground.

"Golly Bill that mule can kick," he said rubbing the lump that was already forming on the back of his head.

"You alright Festus," Louie asked as the hillman bent forward.

"I think so," Festus said standing up on wobbly feet.

"You better get Doc to look at your head," Louie said taking the hillman's arm.

"Why," Festus complained. "All he's a gonna say is that I got a head harder than that ol mule and send me on ma way."

Louie smiled as Festus shook his head. "At least do the shoe later," Louie said. "You should let Ruth calm down."

"Ya," Festus replied meekly heading for the door. "I think that I will."

Leaving the stable, the hillman headed down the boardwalk toward the jail and the Long Branch, the ache from the back of his head growing progressively worse made him rethink having Doc take a look at it.

Turning to climb the stairs to Doc's office, he stumbled as he missed the first one. Picking his feet up, he slowly got himself to the top and twisted the knob of Doc's door.

"Doc!" he said once he entered and didn't find the old curmudgeon in his office.

Doc stepped out from his bedroom, straightening his tie as he did so.

"Festus," Doc said harshly. "Don't you know it's too early in the morning for you to come in here hollering like that! I haven't even had my coffee yet!"

"Wal, I'm sorry ta get ya outa bed," Festus explained putting a hand to the back of his head. "Next time ol Ruth kicks me in the head, I'll be sure it's later in the afternoon."

"Ruth kicked you," Doc said his brow furrowed in sudden concern. "Well for pity's sake, why didn't you say so!"

"That's what I was a trying ta say," Festus said as the physician pulled his hand away.

"Sit down and let me see," Doc said pushing the hillman into his office chair.

Festus winced when Doc touched the swollen area around the lump. "I know it's painful," he said taking out his glasses. "I'm going to have to clean this and we need to get that swelling down."

"Dang ol mule," Festus said wearily. "I was just a tryin ta get his shoe back on."

"Well," Doc said putting carbolic acid on a clean rag. "I wouldn't worry about that right now."

Pressing the rag to the back of the hillman's head, he watched as Festus put his head into his hand and closed his eyes.

"How you feeling," Doc asked gently, well aware of the effects head injuries can cause.

"Swirly headed," Festus said as Doc put a hand on his shoulder.

Doc nodded as he finished cleaning the wound. "You should lay down for a bit till that swelling goes down."

"Can't," Festus said looking up. "Matthew wanted to see about them cowboys coming in tonight."

"Well," Doc said putting a bandage with an antibiotic salve over the knot. "If your feeling up to it, just don't over do it."

"I won't," Festus said standing up, he put his hat on and smiled. "It feels better already."

"Good," Doc said grabbing his coat and hat. "I'll walk with you to Matt's office, I can at least get some coffee."

Matt sighed when he heard Festus and Doc bickering outside the door of the Marshal's office.

"Matthew," Festus said walking in. "Tell this ol scudder that ma coffee don't take the paint off the walls."

"It don't," Matt said grinning. "It takes the rust off the cells."

Doc laughed as Festus scoffed. "Wal, I guess, I do kinda make it a little strong, but that's the way I like it."

"Yeah I know," Matt said with a sigh. "Don't forget that I'm going to need you to help me keep an eye on things around here later. Stanton's bringing his cattle though here and I'm betting we're going to have a lot of cowboys in town."

Doc toyed with the pieces of the checker board but looked up sharply when Festus suddenly dropped his coffee cup and it shattered on the floor.

"Festus," Matt said looking at the hillman as Doc stood up. "What happened?"

"Matthew," Festus said slowly reaching out for the Marshal's desk as Doc shuffled quickly over to the deputy.

"Festus," Doc said watching the hillman struggling to reach the desk. "What's wrong?"

"Doc," Festus said softly as the physician took his arms. "I...I can't see ya Doc."

"What?" Matt said standing up, he looking at Doc.

Doc gently lead Festus over to the chair that he had just vacated. "It's alright," Doc said gently. "Just sit down here for a minute."

Festus reached out for the chair, found it with his hands and then sat down.

"Festus," Doc said waving a hand in front of the deputy's face but his eyes never moved. "How's your head?"

"Kinda achy Doc," Festus said putting his head in his hand. "I'm scared Doc. I can't see a thing!"

"It's alright," Doc said meeting Matt's eyes. "I need to get him up to my office right now."