Festus carried Robert into Doc's office and over to the physician's exam table as the doctor quickly collected what he needed to remove the bullet from the boy's chest.
"I'm going to need Kitty's help," Doc said placing his instruments on the table next to the boy.
"I'll get Miz Kitty fer ya," Festus said looking down at the blonde headed boy. "He's gonna be alright, ain't he Doc?"
"Festus," Doc said sternly. "Go! Don't ask me dumb questions!"
The hill man nodded and started for the door as Robert started to thrash around. "Pa," he said as Doc held him down.
"It's alright son, he's here!" Doc said motioning Festus back.
"I'm right here," Festus said taking the boy's hand. "Doc's gonna fix ya right as rain."
"Hurts bad," Robert said clutching Festus hand as Doc brought over a bottle of laudanum.
"I know it does," Festus said putting a hand on the boy's forehead. "Doc'll give ya sumthin to stop it."
"Here you are son," Doc said bringing a teaspoon of the milky white liquid to his mouth. "Just swallow this and you'll go to sleep."
Robert made a face as he swallowed the teaspoon of laudanum.
"Don't worry bout the taste," Festus said with a slight grin. "It'll go away."
The boy closed his eyes and relaxed as the drug started to take effect.
"Go get Kitty," Doc ordered. "So I can get that bullet out!"
Festus nodded as he went out the door, Doc pitched his instruments into a basin with alcohol and cleaned them while he waited for Kitty.
Festus met Matt at the bottom of Doc's stairs. "Did ya get him, Matthew," he said heading over to the Long Branch.
"Not yet," Matt said slowly. "I got to talk to the Judge about the charges but they aren't going no where until I do."
Festus nodded as he headed into the Long Branch to get Kitty's help and Matt went to Judge Brooker's office.
"I understand your frustration, Matt," Brooker said thoughtfully. "But the law is only going to allow me to issue a warrant when enough evidence is presented."
Matt clinched his jaw and nodded. "Other than what the boy said, I have nothing yet to go on."
"I'll be more than happy to issue the warrant when you have tangible proof," Brooker said handing Matt some papers. "In the meantime, this is the custody papers for the boy. If you'll see deputy Haggen gets them."
Matt nodded as he took the papers and headed out the door. "It was now up to the Marshal to find enough evidence to hold Holland before the train came the next day. If he didn't and the boy died with no one to charge, Matt didn't want to think about how Festus would react."
Climbing the stairs to Doc's office, Matt opened the door and stepped inside quietly. "How's he doing Kitty?" Matt asked tipping his hat up.
Kitty wiped her hands on a clean towel as she looked toward Doc's exam table. "Doc says, he came though the surgery alright, but the next few hours will tell, Matt."
Matt nodded as he watched Festus and Abelia keep a silent vigil next to the boy as Doc studied his pocket watch while holding the child's wrist.
"There isn't anything else to do now but wait," Doc said putting his pocket watch away. "Why don't you two go home to the kids and come back later."
"Much obliged, Doc," Festus said softly. "Bee's gonna take the youngin's home but I'd rather stay here fer now."
Doc nodded as shuffled over to where Matt and Kitty waited. "Matt, you can take Kitty back to the Long Branch. If I need you Kitty, I'll send Festus to get you."
Kitty nodded as Matt opened the door but before he stepped out he handed the papers from Brooker to the physician.
"Give these to Festus for me will you, Doc," Matt whispered as Doc took the papers with a slight nod.
Abelia put a hand in the physician's arm as she passed by. "I'll bring you and Festus back some supper."
"That'll be great," Doc said gently as the woman followed Matt and Kitty out the door.
Doc stirred up the fire in the stove and checked the coffee pot. Picking up two cups, he poured the fresh coffee and brought a cup over to where Festus was sitting beside Robert.
"Here," Doc said handing the hill man the cup. Festus took the cup and set it down on Doc's desk as the physician leaned against it. "This isn't your fault, you know."
"I know," Festus said sullenly. "But I can't help blamin myself fer not knowin bout him in the first place."
"And how would you have known if April didn't tell you," Doc said seriously.
"I wouldn't, I suppose," Festus replied softly. "Ya know Doc, in some ways, I wish I had married that ol gal but then, I wouldn't have Bee."
"Or the kids," Doc said with a nod. "Everything happens for a reason, Festus. I truly believe that."