Tobias stormed around his living room; he wasn't happy with Doc. In fact he was down right angry with the physician, "How dare he!?" he bellowed. "What the hell kind of a doctor is he, if he ain't willin' to make house calls?"

Sarah Williamson lied in her bed. She could hear her husband and almost wept, "Oh, Tobias, if you could just understand what Doc needs of you..." she then sobbed to herself into her blanket out of fear that Tobias would hear her.

Tobias continued, "I sware at the next town council, I'll have that old pill pusher kicked out of town! No one should have to suffer this way and further," he worked himself into a right out rage, "No one should have to take their sick ones into the sawbones every time they have an ache and pain. That's what doctoring is all about. Service to the people!" he said as he thrust his right index finger into the air and continued to rant on about Doc.

Sarah moaned in agony and Tobias stopped, "What is it Sarah?" the farmer quickly moved into the bedroom and to his wife's bedside and knelt down.

"It's the pain again," Sarah said with tears still in her eyes.

"You've been cryin' again, aintcha?" Tobias asked sternly.

Sarah only nodded yes. She knew her husband was on the brink and was fearful for Doc's well being. If, she thought, Tobias would just do as Doc asked and take her into his office, all of this angst would go away.

"Wait til I get my hands on that old quack!" Tobias said as he stood up and clenched his fists. "As far as I'm concerned Sarah, that doctor should have mended you two weeks ago. I bet he doesn't have a clue what's wrong with you. He's made a laughing stock out of me by saying he ain't coming out here again..." his jaw muscles tighten in anger.

Sarah reached up to her husband's arm to stop him from leaving the house, "Tobias. Maybe just this time listen to Doc."

"No Sarah. He's a doctor and he's gonna tend to you, whether I have to drag him out here myself." Tobias turned from the room and headed to the front door of the farm house. He grabbed his hat and a shotgun on his way out of the house.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Josh and Peter felt they had enough the Bull's Head and decided to move up the street to the Long Branch Saloon. Along the way they joked about how surprised old man Williamson as going to be as they launched their playful attack to scare his out of his money. They knew he carried everything he owned and they also felt a good part of it was what they earned over the summer for breaking their backs on rebuilding his fences. They hardly appreciated the little bit of money he did give them - they just wanted what they felt they were owed.

Soon the two cowboys stood outside the Long Branch and looked longing over the door, "I heard this place has the coldest beer in Kansas," Peter said.

Josh didn't have a chance to reply when Festus stepped up behind them, "And you heard right!" the deputy smiled as he stepped passed them through the swing doors.

The cowboys smiled at each other and pushed their way into the cool room and walked to the bar. Sam was soon in front of them, "What can I get you?" his calm baritone voice seemed to cool the room a little more. "I'll have a beer. What about you Peter?" Peter nodded and also asked for a beer and then looked around, "Sure is more classy than the Bull's Head, ain't it?"

Sam sat the beers down on the bar, "That'll be ten cents."

Josh smiled and placed the dine on the bar, "Thanks barkeep."

Peter took his mug, "Let's sit over there," he said as he walked to an empty table in the front corner of the room. Both men sat with their backs to the wall so they could watch who was coming and who was going.

Festus wove his way through the growing midday crowd, "Miss Kitty. Doc," he greeted his friends, "Sure is gettin' ta be a warm one out there today."

"Festus, why don't you sit down and let me buy you a beer." Kitty winked.

"Why would you buy him a beer? He hasn't done anything all day!" Doc sputtered.

"Oh, I think you're just jealous. I'll buy you a drink too." Kitty chuckled as Doc crossed his arms in a huff. Kitty could see there was a playful look in the doctor's eyes. She just smiled and then asked Sam to bring over a round of beer.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tobias Williamson pulled his rig up to the general store and pulled hard on the reins causing his horses to snort in pain. The farmer quickly climbed down off the wagon and looked up and down Front Street for Doctor Adams. The doctor was nowhere to be scene, so Tobias stomped angrily up the stairs to convince or motivate the town doctor to go with him out to his farm. He purposely left the shotgun in the wagon thinking that would be the last resort.

Tobias knocked on the door and waited. There was not a sound to be heard from within the doctor's office. With mounting frustration, Williamson opened the door and looked around the office. There was no one insight.

Angrily he back out of the office and slammed the door shut and stormed back down the stairs in search of Doc. He stood on the boardwalk and looked around when Wilbur Jonas stepped out of the General Store with a bushel basket of potatoes, "You looking for Doc?" the store owner asked politely.

"Yes. Where can I find him?" Williamson asked abruptly.

Jonas shrugged, "You could try the Long Branch."

Tobias' eyes shifted to the saloon before he marched off in the direction of the door. He thundered across the boardwalk pushing several men out of his way before he reached the swing doors and looked into the saloon. Sure enough he spotted Doc sitting with Miss Kitty and Festus Haggen. The farmer's anger level rose another notch - "how dare the town doctor drink at time like this?" he asked himself.

Tobias pushed through the doors and Kitty saw him, "In coming, Doc," she indicated for him to look at the man working his way through the crowd. Doc turned just as Tobias Williamson reached the table where the doctor sat with his friends. "So this is how you plan on helping my wife?" Williamson sneered.

Doc adjusted his seat and looked up at the tall farmer, "No, Tobias. I told you that you have to bring Sarah here to Dodge, to my office and I can watch her better. All I'm doing right now is wasting your time, her time and mine by running back and forth."

"I don't understand you Doc." Tobias leaned forward, "You're a doctor ain't you?" he yelled.

Doc calmly stood and faced the man, "I'll try and explain this again. I can't monitor Sarah's pains if I'm not with her. And I can't be with her at your farm every hour of the day. That's why I said you should bring her into town."

"You just don't care..." Tobias sneered.

Now Festus was on his feet, "Now hold yer horses there Mr. Williamson. Ol Doc just told you what you need to do..." the deputy said in his friend's defence.

"I heard, but I don't believe him." Tobias snorted.

"Well, you better believe me, Tobias. Sarah's life is depending on you." Doc tried to reason with the farmer.

Tobias heard what Doc said and grabbed him by the lapels of his coat and pulled him tight, "My wife's life is dependent on you!" he screamed at Doc before sending the physician reeling backwards with a back hand across the jaw.

"You better get out to my place as soon as possible, or I'll make you go. So help me God." Tobias seethed through his clenched teeth.

Doc pushed his self up from the table aided by Festus and Kitty. He wriggled himself free of their helping hands and he glared into Tobias' eyes, "You should rot in hell. Your wife deserves better than you. You're nothing but a bully and a phoney," Doc held his jaw, "and I won't forget this..."

"Is that some sort of threat?" Williamson sneered.

"Only if you take it that way," Doc cautioned as he rubbed his aching jaw as his eyes narrowed. Kitty rubbed her hands across Doc's shoulder's to calm him down and Festus moved between the two men. "Best you leave now Mr. Williamson."