Matt and Sam eased Festus up onto the examination table in the doctor's office. Things were strewn around the office, but for the most part, the room was intact. Festus groaned and held his left leg.
Doc made his way up the stairs with Kitty beside him. The doctor plopped his medical bag down on the chair at his desk and then walked to the hill man lying on his table, "You've seen better days," he looked Festus in the eyes.
"You don't look too peachy yer self, Doc," the hill man wheezed as he fought a surge of pain that ran up his leg.
Doc nodded, "You're right about that," he smiled and then started to examine Festus' leg; the hill man winced as he touched the limb. He shook his head, "It's a bad break," he looked back at the hill man who had since passed out.
With a sigh, Doc took his surgical scissors and cut up the front of Festus' left pant leg. At mid thigh was a deep bruise and from the way the limb was positioned on the examination table he could tell that the femur was broken. He felt around the injured area hoping not to have to open the hill man's leg to repair the damaged bone. He shook his head in despair.
"What is it Doc?" Kitty stepped forward.
"It's bad break. I need to set it," the doctor lifted his eyes to the saloon owner. "I sure don't want to operate," he then looked back to Festus.
"What can we do, Doc?" Matt asked.
Doc ran his hand across his moustache in thought. "Well, first off, I have to set his leg," he looked up at Matt. "Hold his shoulders," the doctor said as he positioned himself at Festus' foot. Matt stood over the deputy, holding his shoulders. "Keep him still," Doc warned as he carefully pulled on the hill man's leg. Festus groaned. Doc could feel the bones snap back together. He then asked Matt and Kitty to help him remove the deputy's tall leather boot. With a little struggle the boot finally came off. Doc cut the rest of the pant leg in order to apply a splint to immobilize the leg.
"I'll be around if you need me," Matt said as he stepped to the door.
Doc stopped the marshal, "You really don't think that Festus killed Cecil, do you?" It was the first time anyone openly suggested the thought.
"I don't know until I talk to him, Doc," Matt said looking back at the unconscious hill man.
Doc nodded. "I'll let you know when you can talk to him," he said and went back to work.
Kitty followed Matt down the stairs. Sadness gripped the saloon owner knowing how troubling it will be for Matt – after all, he'll have to go on what Festus tells him, and until another person can be brought to justice, the hill man was in deep trouble.
Kitty stood on the boardwalk at the base of the stairs and watched as Matt walked up the street toward the undertaker's business. Wilbur Jonas had just returned to his damaged store, having asked Percy to pick up Defoe.
Jonas stood in front of his store staring at the damage when Kitty walked over to him. "Sorry about my roof," she tried to make light of the situation. Jonas nodded and then sighed. "You look like you could use a drink," Kitty then said.
Jonas looked over to the saloon owner, "That obvious, is it?"
Kitty patted the store owner on the shoulder, "Come on. It's the least I can offer," she smiled. A slight smile curled Jonas' mouth as he limped along side the saloon owner. At least the Long Branch was intact, other than the veranda roof and some objects that were tossed around inside.
Matt walked passed the pile of lumber, his mind still on the hill man. He reached Percy Crumps' Furniture and Undertaker business and entered the building. "Where's Cecil Defoe?" he quickly asked.
"I've put him in the back. I suspect that Doc would like to examine the body," Crump stated.
Matt nodded. "Once he's finished with Festus and a few others, I'll bring him over," the marshal stated. "Glad your building wasn't hit," he said looking around.
"We were all pretty lucky. That tornado just missed us," Crump noted. Matt agreed. "I'll see you in a bit," the marshal said as he left to go back to the alley in search of any evidence.
There was little else the Doc could do for Festus for the time being. He stabilized the leg, until he could get better materials from the general store to make a better splint – one that would be longer lasting. The doctor pulled a sheet up over the deputy before he left his office with his medical bag in hand.
Having been so focused on the hill man's care, caused him to forget about his own injuries, until be began to climb down the stairs. The pain almost made him sick.
He reached the landing and was somewhat astonished that no one else was seeking him for cuts or broken bones after the tornado. Slowly he made his way over to the Long Branch where he found Kitty sitting with a beleaguered Wilbur Jonas. Doc smiled to himself as he walked toward the two.
"You look like you could use a drink, too, Doc," Kitty stated.
"Thanks Kitty," he said as he placed his medical bag on a chair and sat down. Kitty went to the bar and poured the doctor a drink and then returned. "How's Festus?"
"I'm sure he'll be alright. It was a bad break though. He's not going to like wearing a splint for five weeks," the doctor said with a tick of his head and then took a sip from his drink. His eyes then shifted to the store owner, "How are you holding up?" he asked.
"I'll be fine," Jonas blinked. "I'm glad that Ellen is away visiting friends. This would have put her over the edge," he stated as he sipped on his drink.
"We'll get the store open soon," Kitty assured Jonas.
Doc nodded, "We've all gone through a traumatic event. Just take it slow," he said looking at his two friends.
Jonas looked over to the doctor, "I hope that Festus didn't do it. Although I can't say I'll lose sleep over Cecil," he said. There was a coldness to the store owner's tone. "The way he yelled at his wife all the time," he said shaking his head. "Not to mention what happened yesterday!" he blurted out.
Doc drew his hand across his moustache, "I have a feeling things were a lot worse for Vera than him just yelling at her," he said before he finished his drink. Maybe he had said too much.
Kitty looked a the doctor and made a face, until it dawned on her what he meant. "I hope you're wrong about that, Doc." Jonas looked up at the doctor's face and could tell that he was trying not to say anything. The store owner huffed, "That son of a..." he stopped himself. "Justice may have been done. I just hope it wasn't Festus," he said flatly. Both Kitty and Doc couldn't disagree.
Doc stood, picking up his medical bag. "I'm going to Crump's" he stated and left the saloon.
