Slow Train to Dodge

PT.2

Matt was stirring, thrashing in the bed, his mind going back to being out on the trail. He was finally on his way back after an extended trial, exhausted and wanting nothing more than to get back to Dodge, knowing he wanted to try and smooth things with Kitty before her trip to St. Louis.

The trail, was quiet and warm. So warm he was surprised to hear the coyotes. Rather than stop and make camp for the night, Matt had decided to push on. He was anxious to ride into town hoping to see the light in the window on the second floor of the Long Branch.

Suddenly in the still silence of the warm prairie, several shots rang out throwing him from Buck with a harsh force and spooking the buckskin. Matt rolled in extreme pain, now trying to scan his surroundings. In the deep darkness, not being able to see a thing, he slid beneath the brush.

Hours later, stirring slightly, seeing small beams of light peering through the trees, Matt tried to shuffle, now paralyzed with pain, not remembering exactly what took place.

Now hearing the sound of singing and humming of a rider, he at first he remained quiet. Then came barking. He knew he could no longer stay hidden. He had been discovered by the companion of a drifter, an elderly gentlemen.

"Moses? What'cha got? What'cha find ya self over there, boy?" The man yelled out to his furry friend. As he dismounted his horse, he could see his dog intent on his find. Coming closer to investigate, he gasped. "Oh, Moses? Let me have a look see, Boy." He said, kneeling down beside Matt's badly bleeding body. "Hey, Mister?"

Matt was now trying to move.

"Take it easy, Fella'. You got ya one big hole in ya." Quickly he went for his saddle bags, pulling out a bottle of whiskey. "Here fella, take a swaller of this here." Then tearing up an old shirt he pressed it onto Matt's chest. "I gotta get you to some help. They be a Doc in Dodge. Ain't that far. Meybe I kin git ya up on ya horse then…" He shook his head. "No. I'll fix ya somethin'. Look, Fella, I'll a fix this here drag thingy. I'll pull ya on her and git ya ta Dodge, git ya to the Doc there. What do they call ya?"

Groaning, Matt managed to say, "Dillon."

The old man tied Buck to his horse and slowly pulled Matt behind him the remainder of the way into Dodge.

Making his way down Front Street, at first no one paid much attention then, Louie spotted Buck. "Hey, Mister? What'cha doing with the Marshal's horse?"

Now looking at Louie, he said, "This man needs a Doctor, real bad. Been shot."

By now the folks were all crowding around. Burke stood looking down at Matt. "Why, that's Marshal Dillon! What happened to him?"

"He's been shot Burke." Louie repeated. "I gotta get Doc!" And he run yelling for Doc.

Hearing the commotion, Doc came out of the Long Branch with Sam. "What in thunders going on here?"

"Doc, it's the Marshal." Burke said. "He's been shot!"

"Why, for heaven sakes. Let me in here." Quickly, Doc dropped to his side. "Matt? Matt? Can you hear me?" Looking at the chest wound, he looked up. "Sam?"

Before he could utter another word, Sam stepped forward. "Here, Doc let me help." Sam and several other men rushed to help carry Matt to Doc's office.

"Ok, thanks now, I need you all to clear out of here so I can work."

Festus looked to Doc. "Doc? Matthew. Is he gonna…"

Swiping his mustache, Doc answered. "Festus, I'm gonna do all I can."

"Oh, I knows that, Doc. Doc? I shore wish Miz Kitty was a here."

Nodding his head, "Me too, Festus. Now, let me work."

Festus slowly turned to leave the room, his head lowered. Matt was like a brother to him.

Festus walked back down the stairs seeing the old man with the dog.

"Sure hope your friend there pulls through." He said as he headed for the Long Branch, tying Moses to the horse.

"Wait one minute! I want'a jaw with ya." Festus called. "Where was it ya come across ol' Matthew?"

Rubbing his chin, the old man looked at Festus. "Well, just about 15 miles or so. He was'a lying in the brush with that there hole in um. Me and Moses figured the Doc here could mebe patch um up for it be too late."

"Well, did you see what happened?" Festus asked.

Shaking his head, he sighed. "Nope. Just came up on him. Someone left him fur fair. That there sun is hot and vultures be circling."

Festus just scratched his chin and nodded. "Obliged to ya, friend."

Matt was still thrashing, sweating with fever. Doc opened the door, rushing in. "Matt? Matt." He was trying to hold him still by the shoulders. "Matt, you're alright. Matt, it's me, Doc! Try and stay still."

TBC