While Doc left to make the arrangements to get himself and Festus to Baltimore, the hillman stayed with Matt and Kitty.
"I don't know," Matt said looking from Festus to Kitty. "Baltimore's a pretty big place with a lot of people."
"All the more reason fer you ta go Matthew," Festus pleaded. "Newly can keep an eye on things around here while yer gone."
"You know," Kitty said crossing her arms. "I think that I could be persuaded to take a few days off as well."
"There ya are," Festus said grinning.
"I haven't said yes, yet," Matt stated taking a seat at his desk. "I have a lot of work to do and Doc knows how to get around that city."
"Wal, of course that ol scudder does," Festus said remembering how he took off to the city for more schooling. "But there ain't nothin like having yer own people to jaw with at the end of the day."
Matt sighed as Kitty looked pleadingly and longingly at him. "What do you say cowboy?" she said.
"I guess we're going," Matt replied shrugging his shoulders. "You better go tell Doc to get two more tickets."
Kitty smiled broadly at the lawman before squeezing Festus shoulder and headed out in search of the physician.
"Besides," Festus muttered sipping his coffee. "Can't leave me alone with that dang ol scudder fer a week or more, wal I'd come back crazy instead a blinded."
Matt chuckled as Doc and Kitty walked in. "What's so funny," Doc asked as Matt cleared his throat.
"I was just a tellin Matthew, it's a good thing him and Ms. Kitty are a going ta Baltimore with us," Festus said bemused.
"Oh really, why?" Doc asked looking at Matt. "So he won't drive me crazy all the way there and back again."
"Wal, you ol scudder," Festus said feistily. "Who's a gonna be makin who crazy!"
Matt rolled his eyes toward Kitty and with years of practice, he cut though Doc and Festus argument. "Are we all set? he asked as Kitty nodded.
"Doc," Kitty said above the deafening noise of Baltimore's busy streets. Seated across from him in the taxi, she watched mystified as large wagons drawn by several horses and filled with freight rumbled along the cobblestone streets to the various business they passed. "How in the world were you able to think in a place like this?"
"It's not so bad over at the University," Doc said with a wiry grin before turning to look at the hillman in the seat next to him. "How you feeling Festus?"
"Thinkin maybe we shoulda stayed in Dodge," he said slightly agitated.
Doc could definitely sympathize with the hillman's feelings and he knew such a busy place had to be scary for someone in his situation but he also wasn't about to give up on an offer for help and he was quite certain Festus wouldn't want to either.
"Looks like we're here," Matt said once the taxi came to a stop in front of a large brick building with several stories.
"Watch your step gentleman," the doorman said opening the taxi door. "Welcome to the Altamont Hotel!"
"Thank you Barney," Doc said coming around from the other side of the carriage.
"Doctor Adams," the doorman said shaking the physicians hand. "I didn't expect to see you here again so soon! It's only been, what a year since you were here?"
"About that," Doc said nodding, he moved closer to the taxi. "These here are some of the friends I was telling you about, Marshal Dillion and Ms. Kitty Russell."
Kitty smiled as the portly man tipped his black hat at her.
"Watch these side walks, Matt," Doc said from the Marshal's side as he helped Festus out of the carriage.
"Would ya stop yer frettin," Festus said following Matt's instructions. "Dang ol scudder."
"And that must be Festus," the doorman said as Doc nodded.
"Oh ya, that's him alright," Doc said harshly.
Barney rushed forward to hold the door open when he realized the hillman couldn't see.
"You didn't tell me he was blind Doctor," the doorman said once Matt and Festus stepped inside.
"He wasn't till a week ago," Doc replied evenly. "That's why we're here."
"Well you came to the right place," Barney said with a reassuring smile. "I'll have your luggage brought to your rooms."
"Thank you," Doc said stepping inside.
"I take it this is where you stayed last time," Kitty said when Doc joined them.
"It is," Doc said quietly.
"And how come that feller knew so much bout us," Festus asked with a scowl.
"Don't worry about that right now," Doc huffed. "We're all tired, let's get our rooms."
Matt looked at Kitty who shrugged her shoulders as Doc headed to the front desk to collect their keys.
"Matt, you and Kitty are right next to the room I'm sharing with Festus," Doc said passing the Marshal his key. "They're just at the end of the hall, I figured it would be easier than having Festus climb all those stairs."