Festus Haggen had just left the doctor's office. Once again he was scolded for exerting himself after such a bad injury. "All it was, was a little twinge, and that old scutter had to go and make a mountain out of a mole hill," he sputtered to himself as he walked down the wooden stair case.

He stood at the bottom of the stairs and stretched his shoulder while looking around the street. He felt the need to warn someone, anyone of the seemingly foul mood that the doctor was in. The hill man's eyes spotted Kitty Russell who just happened to be on her way to Jonas' general store.

Festus said nothing at first, instead he waited until Kitty was almost in front of him before he stretched his shoulder again. This time with a little more theatrics as he groaned.

Kitty stopped and looked at Festus, "Are you all right?" she asked.

"Oh, sure, Miss Kitty," the deputy winked. "Just a little sore, that's all," he smiled.

"Maybe you should have Doc look at your shoulder," she stated.

"Foot, Miss Kitty, I just came from ole Doc's and he darn near chewed my ear off!" he said as he thumbed up the stairs toward the office.

"What'd he do a thing like that for?" Kitty asked with a hint of surprise and concern.

"I don't know. He's got an ugly on, that's fer sure," Festus said and shook his head.

Kitty thought for a second and blinked at the hill man, "Well, he's tired and sore. You know what he's been through recently with that McLean, er Fleming guy," she said swatting he hand in the air. "I'm sure Doc would just like a break from work," she smiled and tried to be sympathetic at the same time.

"Wall, he sure ain't got no bedside manners left," Festus said while still rubbing his shoulder. "He wanted me to go up there and then gives me the what fer because I haven't been sitting around," he huffed.

"He's only looking out for you," Kitty smiled. "He doesn't want you to hurt your shoulder any more than it already has been," she said.

"Wall that's fine and dandy, but that ain't stoppin' the rift-raft from being skunks and Matthew cain't do it all himself!" Festus said in protest. "And furthermore, I feel jist fine other than a twinge er two that Doc called me on," he stated.

Kitty nodded, "Just steer clear of Doc for a few days. He just needs rest," she smiled.

"Plenty of it, I'd say," Festus said as he mumbled to himself and set off for a meal at Del Monicos. "I'd place money on him ifin' he and a bear where to tangle!" he muttered.

Kitty remained standing on the boardwalk and had almost forgot what she was there for. Her eyes lifted to the door at the top of the stair case and wondered how Doc really was. However, she resisted temptation and continued onward to Jonas' general store for the package that had come in.

Kitty entered the store and noted that Wilbur Jonas was already busy with a customer and had another waiting, so she took her time ans poked through the fabrics and lace; every now and then picking up a bolt of material and holding it up for inspection.

Jonas quickly looked over, "I'll be with you in a few minutes, Miss Kitty," he acknowledged her presence. Kitty smiled and continued on browsing.

A few minutes passed and Jonas had finished with his other two patrons, so he stepped out from behind his customer counter, "What can I do for you , Miss Kitty?" he asked with a warm smile.

Kitty set the bolt of fabric down and looked over her shoulder before turning to Jonas, "I think you said my package was in," she smiled.

"Oh! Yes!" Jonas laughed, "I almost forgot with all that excitement and such, last week," he proclaimed and hustled to the back storage room for the order he has set aside for Kitty. "Here it is!" he exclaimed from the depths of the back room. Kitty hid her smiled as she watched Jonas reappear from the storage area.

Jonas placed the parcel down onto the counter, "You can look at it here, if you wish," he said. "But I believe this is what you ordered," he smiled in his nervous way.

Kitty walked to the counter and carefully untied the strings and folded the brown packing paper back. Kitty looked at the material and smiled, "It's exactly like I ordered," she said looking up into the blue eyes of the store owner.

"Splendid," Jonas smiled back and refolded the paper and retied the strings before he moved the parcel forward toward Kitty, "That will be three dollars," he said.

Kitty opened her purse and pulled out a change purse, "Here you go," she said as she counted out the coins into the store owner's open hand.

"I thank you for your business," Jonas smiled.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, Miss Kitty?" Jonas asked as he adjusted his spectacles.

Kitty smiled, "Yes as a matter of fact. I'd like five pounds of coffee," she said.

"Five pounds, coming up," Jonas said as he pulled a sack out from under his service counter and moved around to where the crate of coffee beans sat. Jonas stooped over and twisted and something happen in his lower back and he let out a loud groan.

Kitty who was busy looking at other items across the store turned to see what had happened. "Mr. Jonas?" she asked and walked swiftly toward the store owner. He was red in the face and still stooped over, "My back," he whispered.

"Oh, dear!" Kitty exclaimed. "What can I do?" she asked while looking down at Jonas.

"Get Doc, please," Jonas gurgled as he then held his right hand on the small of his back.

"I'll be back in a moment," Kitty said hoping Doc was in his office.

Kitty quickly left the general store and rounded the corner to go up to Doc's office. It so happened, that Doc was on his way down the stairs. He stopped in mid step and his eyes narrowed as he noted the worried look on Kitty's face.

Kitty looked up at the doctor, "Doc, you have to help Jonas," she said pointed back to the store front.

"Why? What'd he do?" Doc grumbled as he stood on the step.

"It's his back again," Kitty said. "He's in awful pain," she stated.

Doc gruffly brushed his hand across his moustache and walked down the stairs and stood next to Kitty, "I've told him a thousand times not to move crates and barrels by himself!" Doc snapped.

"He was getting me some coffee beans," Kitty retorted.

Doc huffed, "Where is he now," he asked as he stepped past Kitty.

"You can't miss him!" Kitty said as she followed the doctor to the store.

Jonas hadn't moved a muscle.

Doc walked over to his friend and looked down at him, "Hurts, huh?" he asked.

"Yes, Doc it does," Jonas stated firmly.

Doc knelt down and looked up into Jonas' blue eyes, "Did you twist while bending over?" he asked.

Jonas nodded, gently.

Doc scratched his cheek in thought, "Well, this will likely hurt just as much, but we have to get you standing straight again," Doc stated as he stood.

"Whatever it takes," Jonas gurgled.

Doc looked over to Kitty and motioned her to bring a chair over, knowing full well, when Doc pulls Jonas back into a standing position, the store owner was going to feel faint from pain.

Kitty moved the chair and watched as Doc took Jonas by the shoulders and jerked him backward. Jonas let out a loud gasp and as Doc predicted, he wobbled on his feet. Doc and Kitty guided him down to the chair.

Doc looked at Jonas, "Are you all right?" he asked.

Jonas slowly nodded, "Thanks, Doc," he said in a hushed voice.

Doc drew his hand across his moustache and made a face, "Just take it extra careful for the rest of the day," he said and patted the store owner on the shoulder as he left the shoulder as he left the store.

"I'll get the coffee another times," Kitty smiled and hurried to catch up to Doc. Jonas sat on the chair, dumbfounded as he watched Kitty leave the store.

Doc stood on the boardwalk in front of the store. He had his hands deeply into his trouser pockets and he looked out on to the street. Kitty stepped over to the doctor's side, "Is he going to be all right?" she asked with concern.

"Oh, yes. Of course," Doc said looking over to the saloon owner. "He'll be stiff for a while, but he'll be fine," he said as he pulled his right hand from his pocket and swiped it across his moustache. He the looked Kitty in the eye, "I think I need a holiday. You know, just to relax a few days," he said.

Kitty didn't know what to say, "Well, you have been working hard, there's no denying that," she said. "Where will you go and for how long?" she asked with a hint of concern for her dearest friend.

Doc shrugged, "Maybe I'll just take my fishing pole and head north to one of those creeks. I bet the trout are as big as my arm," he smiled as he held up his fist and looked at his forearm. There was a twinkle in the doctor's eyes.

"Just how long do you think you will be gone?" Kitty asked again.

Doc pursed his lips and thought a moment, "A couple of days," he smiled with a tick of his head.

"What about Festus and Jonas?" Kitty asked.

"They can take care of themselves for a few days. The same with everyone else!" Doc grunted. "I'm going fishing!" and he no sooner had the words out of his mouth, he turned back to his stairs to gather his fishing equipment.

Kitty remained on the boardwalk and watched the doctor. A slight smile curved her red lips.