"How is he, Doc?" Matt asked as he came into Doc's office, hat in hand. As soon as the dust cleared, Matt had checked each man and found them all alive but hurt. Summoning help, he and several townsmen had carried Chester and Wade up to Doc's office and the bandit to the jail.
The bandit, Matt now knew his name to be Tate Rainey, was wounded in the upper back. The wound was not serious or life threatening and it hadn't taken Doc long to treat him but only after he'd attended to Chester and Wade.
"Which one?" Doc asked with a swipe of his mustache.
"Well, all of them really." Matt shrugged. "But I was thinking of Chester. He looked awful bad when we got him up here."
"Well, he's sick, Matt." Doc headed for the coffee pot. "Most likely the ague that everyone else has had. He'll be alright eventually, but he'll be down for a few days at least."
Matt let out a breath with a nod. "And Wade?"
At the mention of his name, Doc grinned. "Oh, he'll be fine too. I sent him on back to the Long Branch. You know, I still can't figure out how he got shot in the rear end."
Matt shook his head with his own smile. "Well, best I can tell is, he turned to leave just when Rainey fell and his gun went off hitting him in the back side. Not a good place to be shot."
Doc couldn't help it as he chuckled loudly. "Nope, sure isn't. But as painful as it might be, it's not life threatening and he'll be just fine. He just won't be sitting around much."
Matt shook his head before glancing at the door to the back room. "Can I see Chester?"
Doc nodded. "Just don't stay long. He needs a lot of rest."
"Thanks." Matt responded as he swiftly moved to the door, opened it and entered.
Chester was awake but barely. "Mis… Mr. Dillon." He smiled weakly upon seeing his boss. "You alright?"
Matt nodded, returning the smile. "I'm fine. You're the one sick. Doc says you've the ague like a lot of other folks had."
"He told me." Chester frowned. "Sure don't like being abed when you might be needing me, Mr. Dillon."
Matt reached over and placed a comforting hand on Chester's arm. "Don't you worry about me. I'll be fine. You just rest and take it easy and do what Doc tells you. Alright?"
"Alright." Chester answered as Matt turned back for the door. "Uh, Mr. Dillon?" Chester stopped him as he reached for the knob. "Miss Kitty's brother. You gonna have him as your assistant while I'm laid up? I mean, he was the one that stopped that thief out there."
Matt could tell the thought bothered Chester and quickly he shook his head. "Don't you worry about that, Chester. I don't want anyone else making my coffee for me but you. Okay?"
Chester smiled, finally relaxing against his pillows. "Yes, sir."
After leaving the room and telling Doc he'd be back later to check on his assistant, Matt left the office and quickly walked down to the saloon. After a nod to Sam, Matt climbed the stairs and knocked on his door.
After several minutes, the door was jerked open and Wade looked up at Matt with a grin. "Marshal? Come to check on your future brother in law?" He asked as he opened the door wider and motioned for Matt to come in.
Matt ignored the question and refused to enter the room. "Doc said you were going to be okay."
"Yes, eventually." He nodded. "As long as I don't sit down. Why?"
"I was wondering why you did that down there." Matt watched his face closely. "Why'd you shoot that man?"
"Because he was going to shoot your assistant." Wade shrugged. "And then probably you. Kitty obviously cares for you. I couldn't stand idly by and let you get hurt."
"Uh huh." Matt tucked his thumbs into his gunbelt. "Well, let me tell you something, Mister. It's my job to keep people from shooting others. Not yours. You could've gotten worse than a hole in your backside. You could've gotten yourself and several others killed." Matt's anger at the situation was obvious but Wade didn't flinch.
"That's true." He agreed. "But then again, that man could've killed you, Chester and all those others you mentioned if I hadn't. Now isn't that true too?"
Matt reined in his temper and his desire to backhand him. "I can't do anything to you for what you did today." Matt adjusted his stance and leaned closer. "But the next time you try a stunt like that; I will lock you up and throw away the key. You understand?"
Wade grinned. "Oh, I understand, Marshal. I understand."
Shaking his head in irritation, Matt favored the younger man with a scowl before he turned and left.
Wade watched him until he was out of sight before finally closing the door and walking slowly over to a chair, leaning on the back. "Yes sirree, Marshal." He sighed. "I fully understand that you don't want help. But I also understand that you need it. And whether you want it or not, you're going to get it. I owe that much to Kitty."
TBC