Doc looked up when Robert entered the ward and took a seat next to the bed where his father slept. "Well," Doc said meeting his eyes. "How'd it go?"

"Alright," Robert said with a sigh. "I guess."

"You guess?" Doc asked raising an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

Robert looked down at his father a moment before he spoke. "She doesn't want to stay," he said quietly.

"And, you don't want her to go," Doc replied with a nod. "What were you expecting?"

"Really, I don't know," Robert said hesitantly. "I guess, I thought, maybe we'd just pick up where we left off."

"But, you were just a kid back then," Doc said gently. "You're a grown man now."

"I know," Robert said with a wan smile. "But, I still want my mother, Doc."

Moriarty opened the door to the room he shared with April and stepped inside just behind her. "Sleep," Moriarty said snapping his fingers. April immediately went to the bed, laid down and closed her eyes. The time alone afforded him the opportunity to think about the plans he had for the town. His only concern was April's family and the law in town.

The next day, Newly along with Doc and the town council approved the magician's show and set it for that weekend.

In the meantime, Festus regained consciousness and Robert felt it was time for his mother to pay a visit. "I haven't told him anything yet," Robert said before bringing April and Moriarty to the door of the ward. "So I think it's best if you wait here until I have Doc bring you in."

"Alright," April said with a nod as Robert stepped inside the ward.

Festus sat propped up with pillows in the bed and Robert smiled to see him. "Hey, Pa," he said sitting down next to him. "How you feeling?"

"Alright," Festus said softly. "Course, I'd be better if in you and Doc would let me outa here."

"I don't think so," Robert said with a grin. "I haven't even let Doc go home yet since he's got to climb those stairs."

"Well thar ya go, son," Festus replied with a wink. "I ain't got no stairs to climb."

"Sorry, Pa," Robert said patting his arm. "You're staying put for a while."

"I figured," Festus muttered as Robert smiled.

"I do have something to show you that you might find very interesting."

"Oh," Festus said peeking up just a bit. "What is it?"

"It's probably going to give you quite a shock so I want you to be prepared," Robert said seriously.

"Alright," Festus said curiously as Robert looked toward the door.

"Bring them in, Doc," he said as the older man opened the door.

Festus eyes narrowed as they fixed on the woman with the blonde hair. Moriarty hung back and watch curiously for what the hill man's reaction would be to seeing April. If he was as simple minded and uneducated as she said, he'd be easy to use.

"Festus," April said with a gentle smile. "Bet your surprised to see me."

"Guess ya could say that, April," Festus replied in shock as he looked at Moriarty and then back at April. "What's this about? I thought you was dead?"

"That's what Tanner and Holland wanted us to believe," Robert said looking at his mother. "Ma was able to escape and Moriarty helped her."

"Is that so," Festus said looking at the tall man. "Guess, we owe you some thanks, mister."

"There's no need," Moriarty said before wrapping an arm around April. "I was happy to help the lady."

"We'll leave you to recuperate now, Festus," April said with a smile. "When your up and about, we'll see each other again."

"Fine wit me," the hill man replied softly before watching them go. After they left, he looked from Doc to Robert. "Son, you need ta go get Newly, cause I don't know who that was but it shore wasn't yer Ma!"

"What are you talking about, Pa," Robert said with a laugh before moving closer to the bed. "It is Ma. It's just been awhile since you saw her."

"Robert," Doc said pulling the younger man aside as Festus looked agitated. "Your father has always had a kind of sixth sense about these things. Maybe you should listen to him."

"Alright," Robert said thoughtfully. "I'll get them."

Newly stood with Doc and Robert at the foot of Festus bed as he spoke. "Thar ain't no way that girl is April and if it is, then something's wrong!"

"What makes you think that?" Newly asked looking at Robert as Festus continued.

"She never talked like that before and she never acted like that before," Festus said angrily. Doc knows what I'm a talking bout!"

Doc nodded as Robert shrugged. "Maybe she's just changed," he said looking at Festus. "She has been though a lot lately."

"Now that could be possible," Newly said as Festus shook his head no.

"I've known that girl to long," Festus said seriously. "And, I'm tellin you. That ain't April!"

"Alright, Festus," Doc said gently trying to calm the hill man down. "Newly and Robert will check on her. You just calm down and rest now."

"That's right," Newly said with a nod aimed at Robert. "Robert's in the best position to keep tabs on her."

"And, I will," he said looking at his father. "I'm not going to let anything happen to her."

"You just be careful," Festus said meeting Robert's eyes. "I don't trust that feller."

"I will, Pa," Robert replied with a nod.

Newly stepped outside the hospital and watched from the boardwalk as Moriarty and April walked away from the fright office with a package. After they entered the hotel, Newly quickly made his way over the where Burke was writing down something on a clip board.

"Burke," Newly said looking around. "What business did that man and woman have here?"

"The magician?" Burke asked looking at his clipboard as Newly nodded. "He had a delivery from a pharmaceutical company. At first, I thought it was going to Doc until I saw the name."

"You wouldn't happen to know what was in it?" Newly asked as Burke handed him the bill of laden.

"It's right there in black and white," Burke said as Newly's eyes widened in surprise.

"Morphine!" Robert and Doc said almost simultaneously.

"That's what it says here," Newly replied incredulously.

"You don't suppose," Robert said looking at Doc. "That Moriarty is giving it to my mother as a way of controlling her?"

"It would answer a lot of questions," Doc said as Newly nodded.

"I guess, Pa was right," Robert said angrily. "But, what can we do about it?"

"That depends on your mother," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "If you can get her to open up to you about what's been going on then maybe we can help. However, it's been my experience that people who are addicted to morphine usually deny it and we don't know what Moriarty's told her."

"I know," Robert said thoughtful. "And that's what scares me."