*Been a really bad couple of days for me! Got to write to help with the pain of losing someone that was so dear to my heart :( *
Doc stood up from Festus side and looked at the mess that littered the floor along with Bede Stalcup.
He moved around the table and bent down to check the unconscious man but Matt stopped him. "He's going to jail Doc. Help Festus, he needs you more than Stalcup does."
Doc nodded as he turned toward Newly and Burke. "Help me move Festus into the bedroom."
"Sure thing Doc," Newly said stepping over to Doc's exam table with Burke.
"Watch that wound," Doc said removing the wool blanket he had covered the hillman with. "I don't need it to start bleeding again, he's already lost a lot of blood."
Newly carefully rolled the unconscious hillman over onto his side before lifting him under his shoulders as Burke took his feet.
Together they gently carried the deputy into Doc's spare room and placed him on his side in the bed.
"That's good," Doc said looking toward the door. "I can take care of him from here if you two want to help Matt get that fella down to the jail."
Newly and Burke both nodded and headed for the door as Kitty stepped inside the room.
"Anything I can help with Doc?" she asked watching the physician removing Festus shirt and then his boots.
"Just a minute Kitty," he said starting on the hillman's pants. Kitty turned her back until the physician completed the job.
"Alright," Doc said bringing the blanket to Festus waist. "I'm going to go have a look at that Stalcup fella if you'll stay with Festus till I get back."
"Well, yes," Kitty said taking a seat next to the bed. "But don't you think you should try to get some sleep. I can sit with Festus for awhile."
Doc nodded. "I'll check on Festus when I get back, if everything's alright then maybe I will," he said grabbing his black bag he walked though the broken glass and then shut his door.
Making himself a mental note to have Matt get some one over to replace the windows, he headed to the jail.
"Doc," Matt said as the physician stepped inside Matt's office. "Burke's going to have that mess cleaned up for you by this afternoon."
"Thanks Matt," Doc said with a nod as he walked toward the cells in the back.
Stalcup rubbed his forehead as Doc took a minute to observe the man. "I lost your brother," he said gently. "I'm sorry for that."
"I don't need your apologies, pill roller," he said angrily. "Danny was just a kid."
"Well maybe you should have thought about that before you dragged him into a life of crime!" Doc replied angrily.
"What do you care," Stalcup said rising up off the cot. "Your friend's alive but my brother is dead."
"Yes," Doc said meeting his eyes. "And for that I'm grateful."
"Doc," Matt replied taking the keys from the wall. "Give him something for his head."
"Oh," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "Feeling pained is he?"
"Ya," Stalcup said as Matt opened the door. "My head is killing me!"
"So sorry to hear that," Doc said stepping inside as Matt stood in the door way.
"Just don't try anything," Matt said stepping away as Doc opened his bag.
"Here," Doc said slapping a couple of pills into Stalcup's hand. "Take these if you trust this old pill roller!"
"I don't believe you like me...Doc," Stalcup said swallowing the pills. "That just hurts me, could it be because my friend Hankins shot that whisker faced hillbilly! How does it feel to watch someone you care about suffer...
Doc clinched his hands into fists as he started to pick up his black bag. Twisting around, he caught Stalcup by surprise as his fist connected with the man's jaw.
"I owed you that," he said as Matt ran through the door where the cells were.
"Doc," Matt said pulling the physician out of the cell and locking the door behind him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Sorry Matt," Doc said pulling out his handkerchief, he wrapped his bruised fist in it. "But he had it coming."
Matt clinched his jaw as he sighed. "Go tend to Festus," Matt said softly.
Doc nodded as Stalcup lunged at the jail's steel bars. "I shoulda killed you both when I had the chance pill roller!"
"You let me know if he needs anything else for that thick head," Doc said turning around.
"Alright," Matt said watching the doctor leave.
Stepping out onto the boardwalk, Doc squinted as the first rays of dawn peeked over the roofs of the buildings.
"Doc," Kitty said from the bedroom as he walked into his office. "Is that you."
"Yes," Doc replied grabbing a few clean bandages, his stethoscope and his antibiotic salve. "How's he doing?"
"He hasn't moved since you left," Kitty replied moving out of the physicians way.
Doc nodded as he put the supplies on the table and then put the ear pieces of his stethoscope into his ears and used the other end to listen to the hillman's heart.
Pulling the ends out of his ears, he left the stethoscope dangling around his neck as he gently peeled the bloody bandage away. "You can go Kitty," Doc said cleaning the wound before applying the salve to a new bandage.
"Are you sure you don't want to get some rest? she asked. "You've been up with Festus all night.
"Can't leave him right now," Doc replied covering the hillman back up. "I'm fine," he said looking at her. "You get some sleep and I'll call you if I need you."
"Well, alright," Kitty said heading toward the door.
Taking out his pocket watch, Doc placed his fingers against Festus wrist and counted the beats verses the seconds. Snapping the watch shut, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.
"Doc," Festus said hoarsely as Doc sat up straighter. "I'm right here Festus."
"Ya alright Doc," Festus asked again.
"I'm fine," Doc said reassuringly as he put a hand on the hillman's arm. "You try to get some rest now alright."
Festus nodded slowly before he spoke. "I ain't ta feeling to purt."
Doc nodded. "I know but I don't want you to worry about that," he said palpitating the area around the bullet wound. "Are you in any pain?"
Festus grimaced as Doc stopped. "I'll get you something," he said stepping out of the room, Doc returned a few moments later. "Here, take this," Doc said lifting the hillman's head and placing a spoon at his lips.
Festus down the vile tasting concoction with a groan. "I know laudanum don't taste good but at least it will take the edge off."
The hillman closed his eyes and as Doc watched, his breathing became regular and the physician nodded satisfied that his friend wasn't in any immediate danger.