Doc quietly closed the door of his spare room and then swiped his mustache deep in thought.
"Doc," Matt said as the physician took a seat at his desk. "How's he doing?"
"I've given him something to help him sleep," Doc said taking off his glasses, he tossed them onto his desk. "I don't have any answers for you Matt," the physician said frustrated. "It appears that kick to the head Ruth gave him, had some kind of delayed reaction that has affected his vision."
"There's nothing you can do?" Matt said in disbelief. "Can you at least tell me if its permanent or not."
Doc shook his head before he answered. "I wish I could but I can't," Doc said evenly. "His vision could return once the swelling goes down or it might not."
Matt sighed hard as he headed for the door. "I'll be back later," the Marshal said.
Doc nodded and pulled a medical text book from his desk as Matt closed the door.
Opening the book, Doc thumbed though the section specifically dealing with head injuries but didn't find anything helpful. The text book only suggested rest which Doc didn't find very useful.
Matt entered the Long Branch and tipped his hat up as Kitty smiled.
"Morning cowboy," she said putting a cup on the bar. "Can I get you some coffee?"
"No thanks Kitty," Matt said slowly. "If you have a minute, you might want to see if Doc can use your help."
"My help?" Kitty asked gently. "What's wrong?"
Returning to his spare room, Doc changed the cold compress on the back of the hillman's head and nodded with satisfaction when he saw the area wasn't as swollen as it had been earlier.
"Doc," Kitty said from the doorway as Doc shuffled into his office. "Matt told me what happened. Is there anything I can do?"
"Yes," Doc said tugging on his earlobe. "If you can sit with him for a bit, I'd like to send a telegram."
"Of course, but who are you sending the telegram to," Kitty said curiously.
"Baltimore," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "When I returned to brush up on my schooling, there was a doctor that gave a lecture about head injuries. Maybe he can offer me some advise."
Doc turned and rushed back into the bedroom with Kitty following at the sound of a loud thump.
"Festus," Doc said after seeing the hillman floundering on the floor.
"Doc," Festus said reaching out to him. "It's to dark, turn the light on please!"
"It wouldn't do any good, it's daytime," Doc said calmly helping his friend up. "I know it's traumatic but you have nothing to be afraid of. I'm right here...and Kitty, she's here."
Doc motioned Kitty closer hoping the woman's presence would reassure the hillman.
"Festus," Kitty said putting a hand on the deputy's shoulder. "Can I get you anything."
"Much obliged Ms. Kitty," Festus said shaking his head. "But I don't much feel like I want anything."
"How about if I just sit here with you, while Doc sends a telegram," Kitty said as Festus visibly relaxed.
"I won't be long," Doc said as Kitty nodded.
"Hey Doc," Burke said stopping the physician at the bottom of his stairs. "How's Festus? Louie said, Ruth kicked him in the head."
"Burke," Doc hollered agitatedly. "Haven't you got anything else to do!"
"Just asking," Burke said as the doctor hurried off toward the telegraph office.
Afterward, Doc headed over to the jail. "Matt," he said stepping inside and closing the door. "Newly," he said as the young deputy thumbed though the wanted posters.
"How's Festus?" Matt said with a nod toward Newly. "I told Newly what happened."
"Well," Doc said putting his hands into his pockets. "He's scared Matt. I sent a telegram off to Baltimore asking for advice or a specialist that I might consult."
"And," Matt asked hopeful. "What did they say?"
"Nothing that I didn't already know," Doc said tugging at his earlobe. "The only advice they could offer, if the loss of site was permanent was to teach him to live with it."
"How do you do that," Matt said as Doc squared his shoulders.
"As best we can, Matt," Doc said looking at Newly as well.
