Matt paid for two rooms at the hotel on Main Street in Wichita before taking Kitty, Doc and Newly to dinner.
"Doc, please eat something," Kitty admonished as the older man picked over his food.
"I'm trying Kitty," he said putting his fork down.
"We're all worried Doc," Newly said quietly. "But at the same time we have to remember, Festus wouldn't want you to worry so much over him."
"That's right," Kitty said nodding her head. "What would he say right now if he were here."
"He'd say, Doc you old scudder," Doc said with a slight laugh. "But he isn't here, is he?"
Kitty sighed as she put her hand on the older man's arm. "We'll find him Doc," she said quietly. "I know we will."
Doc wasn't quite so confident, his very nature just made him more realistic and honestly, if Festus were out there and still alive, his chances of surviving without help were bleak and getting bleaker by the moment and that's what worried Doc the most.
(Evans place)
Sarah paced as she checked the time, it had been several hours since she had brought the wounded man home and yet he was still alive.
Stopping next to the table, she picked up her stethoscope, put it in her ears and place the business end against the man's chest.
Pulling the device from her ears, she made new notes before taking the man's wrist and checking the pulse against her watch.
"Stubborn," she said shoving the arm back atop the body.
"Ma'am," the Sebastian said slowly stepping into the room.
"It's nothing Sebastian," she said rubbing at her eyes. "I just don't know what's keeping him alive."
"You want me to sit with him," he asked.
"No, no," Sarah said. "I'm waiting for the end so I can see exactly how the body dies."
"It maybe longer than you thought," Sebastian replied.
"You're right," she said rubbing the back of her neck. "I'll just have to take the chance and leave him alone tonight."
"Yes ma'am," he said stepping aside as the woman passed.
Turning out the light, the servant locked the doors leaving the wounded man alone in the dark as he retired for the night.
(Wichita)
Packed and ready to go, Doc slapped the reins and the horses lunged in response. "Easy Doc," Kitty said taking Doc's arm.
"Sorry Kitty," he said as the wagon followed Matt and Kitty. "I just have a bad feeling today."
"What do you mean," she asked.
"It's urgent we find Festus today or I'm afraid it'll be to late," Doc said.
"Why," Kitty asked.
"If Festus is wounded, it's already been three days, if he's still alive, the wounds will be infected by now," Doc said looking at Kitty. "In that case it won't matter what I or anyone else does, an infection is an infection."
(Evans place)
Sarah stepped into the clinic and was quite surprised to find the man on the table still alive.
But in bad shape, burning up with fever and delirious the man started to mumble.
"Shhhhh," she soothed stroking the hot forehead. "It's just the fever talking."
Checking the man's vital signs, she anticipated that it wouldn't much longer before he died of his injuries.
"He still alive Ms. Sarah," the servant asked stepping into the room.
"For now," she said making several notes.
"I'm a do my chores and make ya something to eat," he said shuffling away as Sarah continued her notes.
"Doc," the raspy voice mumbled from the table. "Doc, I'm hurtin bad."
Sarah stood and slowly made her way over to the table, fighting the impulse to help the man.
"Sorry mister," she said gently. "If I did anything for you it would contaminate my research."
But the man, in his delirium didn't hear the woman's words.
Matt stopped at the third farm house they found within a half a days travel from where walker's body had been buried.
"Hello in the house," he called out as a woman and young boy stepped out onto the porch.
"What can I do for ya mister?" She asked placing a protective hand around the boy.
"Marshal Dillion from Dodge ma'am," he said tipping his hat at her. "My friends and I are looking for a missing man."
She looked toward Newly, Doc and Kitty before turning back to Matt. "An outlaw?"
"No ma'am," Matt replied. "I'm actually looking for one of my deputies, he disappeared about three days ago. We were hoping he had either been picked up or had come seeking help."
"Sorry Marshal," she said sorrowfully. "I wish I could say your missing man was here but he isn't."
"I know where he could be," the boy spoke up proudly."
Matt approached the boy slowly as he smiled. "What's your name son?" he asked.
"Thomas sir," he said looking at his mother. " Ma and my sisters call me Tommy."
Matt smiled. "Well Tommy," he said. "I'm really worried about my deputy, you say, you might know where he is?"
"Yes Marshal," he said pointing to the road. "If you all keep on the road a mile or so you'll come to old mister Evans place. His daughter lives there now but she's a Doc. If anyone could have helped yer deputy, it's her."
Matt looked up at the woman. "A Doc?" he questioned.
"She's old Doctor Evans daughter," she explained. "He was the only Doctor for miles around, passed away a few years ago. He had sent his daughter away to medical school hoping she could take over after he was gone, but most folks around her don't take to a woman Doctor. Course it don't matter to me but Tommy's right Marshal. If your deputy was hurt and in need of help, she would be the one to help him."
