Doc sat at the table for almost an hour while playing with his drink. Somehow he felt stood-up and almost jilted by Jonas - he chuckled to himself at the last part, but there was something enduring about the store owner, once you were able to understand him. And that is what was now bothering Doc - Jonas was one of the most punctual men he'd ever known.

Doc stood and walked to the bar, "I'm going over to the store to see what's keeping Jonas," he said as he placed the empty glass down.

"Well let me go with you. Maybe business has picked up again. Besides Jonas told me a few weeks back he was going to order some new fabrics and bonnets. Maybe I'll buy something," Kitty smiled as she looped her hand around Doc's elbow and walked with him to the door.

Doc looked at the redheaded saloon owner with a twinkle in his eyes, "Don't expect me to buy the bonnet for you," he smiled. Kitty burst out laughing as they made their way out the doors and along the board walk. Both of them stopped, "That's odd," Doc said as he removed his are from Kitty's hand.

"What?" Kitty asked.

"There's no one at the store, and it looks like the door is closed" the doctor stated as he stepped down and crossed the dusty alley. Kitty followed closely behind.

Doc stepped up onto the next section of boardwalk and looked at the door. "This is strange," Doc admitted.

Doc rased his hand to his chin and rubbed it while thinking, "Jonas wouldn't have stood me up for a drink," he said to Kitty.

Kitty's eyebrows crept upwards, "No. I believe that," she said in a tone that indicated that she knew how shrewd Jonas was with his money. "What do you think happened then?" Kitty asked.

Doc shrugged, "Maybe he made so much money today he's still counting it," the doctor joked as he reached for the door which opened to the touch. Doc stepped back.

"What?" Kitty asked as she hovered over Doc's shoulder and looked into the store.

"If Jonas was counting his money he wouldn't leave the door unlocked," Doc said as he to a quick look as Kitty before he carefully stepped down into the store. There was no sigh of any struggle which was a relief to the doctor, "Jonas?"

Jonas moved. He struggled against the ropes.

Doc moved further into the store. "Jonas?" he called again as he looked back to Kitty who raised her hands as she shrugged. Doc made a face as he continued further into the store.

It was then Kitty heard something, "Doc?"

Doc turned, "There's a strange noise coming from behind the counter," Kitty's eyes then showed that she realized in all likelihood it was Wilbur Jonas. Both Kitty and Doc scrambled to the counter and looked over. Sure enough they found Wilbur Jonas on the floor tied up tighter than a hog. The store owner continued to struggle to free himself.

Doc gulped as he scurried around to the back of the counter and found a knife to cut the ropes. "Easy now Jonas," the doctor said as he knelt down and freed the store owner. Doc assisted Jonas to a sitting position while untying the gag and pulling the apron from over Jonas' head.

The store owner was sweaty and flushed. "Are you all right?" Doc asked.

Jonas was practically hyperventilating as he nodded yes. Doc rested his hand on the man's shoulder, "Just take deep slow breaths," he looked Jonas in the eyes.

Kitty was now down behind the counter as well, "What happened?" she said as she drew a handkerchief across Jonas' brow.

Jonas was still red in the face as his eyes darted from Doc to Kitty and back again, "I was just getting ready to meet you at the Long Branch, Doc, when two men came in and hoodwinked me," his voice was shaky.

"Did they hurt you?" Doc asked.

Jonas shook his head no, "No, I might have rope burns that I caused..." then the store owner grew silent and he stared straight ahead.

"Jonas?" Doc tried to get the mercantile owner's attention.

"They took every cent I made today..." Jonas said in a monotone voice. It was like his life's work had been stripped away from him. Jonas then looked down at his hands and pursed his lips. "Seems I just can't win these days," he said in a hushed voice.

Kitty looked at Doc as if she was trying to inspire the doctor to do something. Doc looked back with his eyebrows pushed together wondering what Kitty was trying to say. Doc still wasn't getting it, and now Jonas was watching the two.

"Maybe you can help Jonas," Kitty finally blurted out.

"Oh, no, Miss Kitty," Jonas said as he tried to stand, "I'm going straight to the marshal about this one," he laughed nervously as he finally got to his feet. Both Kitty and Doc were now standing next to the store owner. Jonas noted the look on Doc's face, "What?"

"You can't go to Matt," Doc stated.

"Then I'll go and see Festus," Jonas began to move when Doc stopped him. "You can't do that either," Doc said.

Jonas huffed, "All right, I'll go and see Newly," he said again was stopped by Doc who shook his head no, "Newly is with Matt and Festus."

Jonas stepped forward and took a hold of the counter. His head hung low and he sighed.

Kitty remained looking at the doctor as if she was trying to send a message using telepathy. Doc thought quickly and then something popped into his head and he clicked his fingers. If anything it would be a stalling tactic until Matt got back on Friday, "Say, Jonas, why don't we got to the Long Branch. I'll buy you a drink and you tell us all about it. Maybe between the two of us we can find the hooligans that robbed your store," the doctor smiled.

Jonas' eyes lifted from the counter and slowly drifted over to Doc, "You really think we could do this?" his voice was a mixture of hesitancy and excitement.

Doc twisted his mouth in thought as his eyes looked across to Kitty who was nodding vigorously. Doc looked at Jonas, "With our brains, I bet," he smiled awkwardly at the store owner. Jonas pushed himself up from the counter, "Okay. I'm willing if you are," he smiled at the doctor.

Doc smiled back as his eyes shifted past Jonas to Kitty Russell who shrugged and tried to look innocent. Doc's eyes narrowed at the saloon owner who was now well on her way to the door, "I'll see you both in the Long Branch," she smiled and left.

Doc's shoulders slumped as he realised that he was just talked into something that was next to impossible. "Come on Jonas. It looks like we have a lot of work to do," Doc said as he walked to the door with the store owner in tow.