Louie Pheeters' eyes opened and he looked around. He remembered bunking down in the livery stable with a bottle he bought at the Long Branch. But what he couldn't remember was the cold. At least in his mind it wasn't that cold last night.

Louie blinked for the day light seemed even brighter than usual, "This is odd," he said to himself. "I wonder if I'm in heaven," he pondered as hr pulled his knees up under him as he struggled to his feet.

Louie felt the rough wood of the stall wall, "This is very odd. If this was heaven, I don't think I could feel anything," he stated. "But it's so bright outside," he said blinking again at the brightness that shone through the cracks in the livery stable walls.

Louie adjusted his ragged coat over his shoulders and pulled it tighter around his neck as he slowly stepped forward to the door. It continued to grow colder the closer to the door he got to the door, "This can't be Hell, either," he stammered. "After all, Hell is hot," he reasoned.

Louie pushed the wooden door open and squinted out into the brightness, "Snow!" he smiled. "It snowed," he said as he looked around Front Street with its blanket of fluffy white snow - at least several inches of it fell over night. The sun gleamed of the icicles that clung to the rooftops and made each flake of snow looked like a cut diamond.

Louie smiled, "Snow," he said as he ventured out into the street. Only several wagon tracks had cut through the pristine white fluff. Louie looked done at his worn shoes and wiggled his toes, "Looks like I'll need to find some stuffing for you," he spoke to his feet.

Matt had just poured himself a coffee and looked out the jail house window, "Louie, what are you doing out in this weather?" he asked himself, knowing that in the worst weather, Ma Smalley could find a cot in her boarding house for the town character. He was always good at paying off his debt with work. Matt shook his head and continued to watch Pheeters as he sipped on his coffee.

Matt's attention was broken by his deputy, Festus who came through the back door with an arm full of fire wood, "Looks like winter is upon us now, Matthew," he said as he dusted the snow off the logs in the middle of the jail house.

Louie continued up the street and gingerly made his way through the snow. The sun was warm, so he suspected that by the afternoon the white blanket would be nearly gone.

As he made his way along, the town of Dodge slowly began to wake up, and the sounds of shovels and brooks could be heard up and down the street as business prepared for the day. It was then something caught Louie's eyes. There on the edge of the boardwalk was a coin - a gold coin. Louie bent down and scooped the coin up into his cold hands, "I wonder who lost this?" he said looking around. "Hum," he said to himself and stuck the coin into his coat pocket and never gave it much more of a thought. He continued up the street.

Louie stopped in front of the general store and he watched proprietor Wilbur Jonas moving items in the store, "Good morning, Jonas," Louie smiled.

"Oh," Jonas smiled back, "good morning Louie," he said while adjusting his gold-rimmed spectacles. "What are you doing out in this weather?" Jonas finally asked as he tried to decide how to heft the crate up to the stand.

Louie looked sheepish as he tried to answer the question.

"Oh, never mind," Jonas smiled slightly. He understood. "But while you are here, would you mind helping me for a few minutes?" Jonas asked. "I'm still not one hundred percent," he said holding his side.

"I'd me more then happy to help you," Louie beamed as he picked up the wooden crate of apples, "I like to help my friends," Pheeters smiled as he placed the box on the stand next to the entrance.

"I truly appreciate it," Jonas smiled as he pointed out another crate. That's when he noticed Louie's toes sticking out of his shoes. The store owner thought for a moment, "You know, Louie. With Christmas coming, and me not healthy enough to do all this heavy lifting, I was wondering, if you would like to work for me for a while," he asked.

Louie's eyes lit up, "That would be wonderful!" Louie smiled and then the smiled faded as he looked down at his ragged appearance, "but I don't have anything better to wear," he sighed.

"That's okay Louie. I'll get you set up and you can work off the clothes and new boots over time," he smiled. "I really need your help," Jonas stated.

Louie looked humbled, "Thank you Jonas," he smiled and placed the next wooden crate on the stand next to the apples.

Jonas walked back to the service counter and retrieved a pair of boots and some socks for his new hired help, "We'll start with these," he said walking the items back to Louie. "You won't be any use to me if you get sick," he smiled and handed Pheeters the footwear.

Louie looked at the shinny new boots as if he had just been given the world. "Now you go and see Ma Smalley about some breakfast and come back here. Alright?" Jonas handed Pheeters a few dollars for the food.

Louie nodded, "Thank you," he said in a hushed voice and scurried out the door, and almost bowled Doc over.

"What in thunder got into Louie?" he asked Jonas.

"Nothing," Jonas said as he went back to the service counter.

Doc looked at the crates and picked up an apple, "You didn't put these up here, did you?" the doctor asked in scolding tone.

Jonas looked up from what he was writing, "No, Doc, I didn't," he said with a slightly hurt tone. "You told me that I shouldn't move things like that just yet, so I didn't," he said as he stood straight and looked at the doctor.

"Hum," Doc said, "Louie gave you a hand?" he said as he moved a little further into the store.

"Yes. And I've asked Louie to work for me for a little while," Jonas stated.

Doc paused and pursed his lips in thought, "Well, good for both of you," he said as he picked a piece of black licorice from the jar on the counter and stuck in his mouth.

Jonas rolled his eyes, "That will be a penny, please," he said holding out his hand.

Doc looked at the store owner, "Even for me?" he played innocent.

"I have doctor bills to pay," Jonas quipped. Doc scowled at the store owner, but wouldn't admit that it was funny. He pulled a nickle from his vest pocket and plopped it onto Jonas' open palm. "There. That will pay for the next few visits," Doc said.

"I'll write that down," Jonas said with a slight grin. He now knew the doctor was playing with him.