It was a miserable dry day in Dodge and it seemed like it hadn't rained in weeks. Dust devils swirled out from between buildings from the alleyways. They would twirl down the street and dissipate into the heat of the day.

Josh Winslow and Peter Morrison scuffed their boots along the boardwalk was they walked along to the Bull's Head Saloon, "Come on Pete, I'll buy you a beer to chase this dust down," Josh playfully cuffed Peter across the shoulder.

"I'd rather buy my own..." Peter grumbled as they entered the saloon.

"I know, I know," Josh said as the two cowhands stepped up to the makeshift bar, "But you can't get blood from a stone." Josh indicated to the barkeep they'd like a beer each.

Peter made a face and cursed under his breath, "Maybe not, but we should at least get some money from that skinflint farmer."

Josh laughed, "It'll be a cold day in hell before Tobias Williamson gives us another nickle."

The bar tender set the beers down on the bar and Josh dropped two nickels on the bar, "Let's sit down." Both Josh and Peter turned and took two chairs at the back of the room, "Hell. Williamson won't even listen to ol Doc Adams about his wife." Josh took a sip from his beer.

"Well, Doc can be pretty demanding at times. I saw him yapping at ol Tobias the other day and the two of them got into some yelling match about how the old lady should be cared for. Doc wasn't too happy at the end."

Josh shrugged, "Too many strong headed folks around here."

Peter sighed as he took a good gulp of beer before setting the mug down, "Maybe ol Williamson will think about it some more."

"You like to dream, my friend," Josh sipped again from his glass. "He's pretty angry at us. In fact he kinda reminds me of a Spring bear who hasn't eaten in months."

"That's pretty ugly." Peter chuckled as he too sipped on his beer.

Josh leaned forward and motioned for Peter to lean in as well. "Look. We have one more chance to get what we own from him."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Tonight. I head him tell the Mrs that he was supposed to bring her by Doc Adam's place."

"We can't just shake the money out of him." Peter almost gasped.

"We don't. We just scare him enough to had it over. He won't even know it was us."

Peter leaned back in his chair and thought about the idea that Josh was carving out. After a moment he leaned forward again, "Well, it isn't like we didn't earn the money. And if we're just gonna scare him," Peter looked around the room to see if anyone was watching them and once satisfied that everyone was occupied with their own conversations, Peter nodded, "let's do it."

Josh swallowed down the last of his beer and an eerie smile curled his lips, "I'll get us another drink."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Doc peered over the swing doors of the Long Branch Saloon and smiled when he saw Kitty Russell sitting at her favourite table at the back of the room. Slowly the physician pushed through the doors and stepped down off the few stairs and crossed the floor in front of the long dark wooden bar, "Hello Sam." Doc waved as he continued to the back of the room.

Doc stood quietly at the table and then pulled out his watch, "It's pretty early in the day to be so serious, isn't it?" he chirped.

Kitty looked up from her account book and smiled, "Well, hello Doc. Care to join me for a coffee?"

Doc smiled and started to sit down, "You bet I would," he winked.

Kitty chuckled and waved over to Sam, "Two coffees, please Sam." The tall barkeep acknowledged the order and sat the glass and towel down to pour the coffees.

Kitty closed her book and pushed it aside, "You've been busy lately," she said as her eyes locked onto Doc's crystal blue eyes. He looked tired.

"Yeah. I'm trying to get that stubborn old Tobias Williamson to bring his wife into town so I can treat her better. I think I might have finally gotten through to him." Doc shook his head and played with his right ear.

"Oh?" Kitty crossed her arms on the green felt-covered table, "You think he will?"

"I didn't give him much choice," Doc brushed his hand over his moustache and watched Sam set the coffee down in front of him. "Thanks Sam."

"Well, what did you say to him?" Kitty tried to draw the answer out of the doctor.

"I told him I wouldn't spend another second in my buggy to get out to his place."

Kitty rolled her eyes, "I bet that went over really well," she said sarcastically.

"Ha! He was so mad at me. He actually pitched a metal pot at me!" Doc ticked his head, "That's when I had enough."

"I've heard he has quite the temper," Kitty mused.

"That, honey is the understatement of the year." Doc sipped his coffee.