Doc walked over to Matt's side and examined the marshal's leg, well at least the blood-soaked bandana that he had tied around his thigh. Doc pulled his pocket watched from his vest and took Matt's wrist. The marshal stirred and lifted his head, "Doc?" he blinked clearing his eyes.
"It's me," the doctor said. "It looks like you're having a rough day," Doc placed Matt's hand back down on the desk. Matt groaned, "How are the others?"
"The one fellow isn't good. It's only a matter of time," Doc stated as he knelt down next to Sam to have a look at Harry Bodkin. Doc pulled his metal eye-glass case from his upper left pocket in his vest. He hooked the gold arms over his ears. The barkeep was relieved to pass on his duties to the doctor, "Has he come to at all?" Doc asked.
Jonas shook his head no, "Not really," the store owner stated. Doc lifted the handkerchief and looked at the wound. The doctor ticked his head, "It's in there deep," he said.
Festus appeared at the door with the doctor's medical bag, "Here's yer bag, Doc," the quickly set it down.
"Doc, what can we do?" Jonas asked as he stood awkwardly looking for some way to he of assistance.
"You can get Matt up to my office. Put him in the back room. I'll need the examination for Harry," the doctor said. "Make sure he doesn't try to wander off on you looking for the robbers," Doc quipped.
Both Sam and Jonas assisted Matt to his feet and helped him to the door. Matt was about to say something, but he saw the look on Doc's face. Matt felt like he was going to throw up. Normally he would have protested being moved, and made to stay put, but he knew there was no winning this argument with the doctor.
Doc quickly opened his medical bag and pulled out his stethoscope; looping is around his neck. After unbuttoning Bodkin's shirt to mid-chest, the doctor placed the diaphragm on the banker's chest. Doc ticked his head. Bodkin's breathing was shallow and his pulse weak. "Hang in there, Harry," Doc said as he gently patted the banker on the forearm.
Doc pulled his stethoscope off and placed it in the medical bag. He found a pair of scissors and cut Bodkin's blood-soaked shirt away from the wound. Doc had to control the bleeding before he could move the banker up to his office.
Wally Taylor walked solemnly "Mr. Richards just died," he said. Doc shook his head and whispered, "Damn," he sighed. Doc returned his attention to the banker and continued cutting away his shirt. The doctor was grateful that Jonas and Sam had the foresight to removed Bodkin's coat and vest – both of which were under his head.
Doc looked over his shoulder, "Are you going to be all right?" he asked Wally Taylor. Taylor nodded. "Good," Doc tried to smile. "Why don't you get some fresh air," he suggested to the clerk.
"Sure Doc," Taylor said as he stepped past the doctor. "I'll notify Percy Crump," he concluded. Doc looked up at the clerk and nodded, "That'll be fine. Thank you," Doc's voice was warm and caring. With a heavy sigh, the clerk left the bank. By now a small crowd had formed outside the bank as news quickly spread of the robber ans shootings.
Festus did his best to inform people what was going on and to ensure that all was well, or as well as expected. The hill man closed the door after Wally had gone, "Doc?"
Doc didn't look over to the deputy, he just answered, "What is it Festus?"
"Doc, you know I orta begin forming a posse," he said as he watched the doctor wrap Bodkin's lower chest.
"I know," Doc said. "I don't know who you could take with you with Newly gone and Matt layed up," Doc finally looked over his shoulder.
"Wall, there's sam and Jonas," Festus stated.
Doc stood and shook his head, "Sam would be best here to help keep law and order until Newly gets back, and I don't think Jonas is up to sitting on a horse for hours at end. You know he dislikes them," Doc said.
"Wall, I'm in a real pickle then," Festus huffed.
Doc made a face, "See if Burke will go, and take Halligan," Doc suggested.
"You surely know who to pick em, that's fer certain," Festus grumbled as he contemplated riding anywhere with Burke for any given time. Halligan was also a handful most of the time.
"Festus, let me deal with one thing at a time. Right now I need to get Harry up to my office.," Doc said as he pulled his spectacles from his face and folded the arms. It was second nature to the doctor as he placed them neatly into their case and tucked them back into his vest.
"I'll get Sam to give me a hand," Festus said as he began to leave.
"Get the stretcher from my store-room," Doc said as he followed the deputy to the door of the bank. The hill man darted across the street and over to the doctor's office. Doc was even more uncertain about what or who to suggest Festus take with him on the posse. He darn not think about how things could get worse, because chances were they would.
"Now, marshal Dillon, Doc said you have to stay put," Jonas said as he pushed the delusional marshal back down to the bed. "But the bank. Bodkin and the money," Matt struggled to sit.
"If you don't lay back down, I'll tie you to the bed," Jonas said, sternly as he pointed at the bed. Sam Noonan's eyebrows rose upwards at the store owner's outburst. Jonas looked over at the barkeep and his face went red with embarrassment, "Sorry, I really didn't mean that," Jonas half laughed with a shrug. Sam's face creased with a smile, "You don't have to apologize to me," he smiled further. Jonas looked back at matt who watched the two men. There was only one or two occasions that he clashed with Matt and this was one of them. Again Jonas shrugged. Matt rolled his eyes and fell back onto the bed, "Get Doc, will you," Matt grunted.
"I'll stay here," Sam smiled. Jonas nodded, ""I'll go for Doc," the store owner felt his friendship with the marshal had just ended.
As soon as the office door closed, Matt looked up to Sam, "He meant that, didn't he?"
Sam nodded. A slight smile curved Matt's lips before he rested his head on the pillow and covered his eyes with his arm.
