Kitty moved close to Doc who quietly stood next the examination table. Matt moved further into the room. "Doc. What are you hiding from me? I saw the look on your face when you brought Jennie Brown up here. Tell me." Matt's low voice seemed more authoritative than normal.

Doc looked to Kitty and asked her to go it to be with Jennie. Kitty nodded and left the room pulling the door gently behind her. Doc watched and waited until the door was closed. "Matt. Come with me..." The doctor sensed that the lawman was growing weary of waiting to hear about what was going on at the Brown homestead. "Let me buy you a drink..." Doc said as he slipped passed the tall marshal and out the door - he heard the marshal sigh.

Matt followed the physician down the stairs and over to the Long Branch before he took hold of the smaller man's shoulder, stopping him from entering the saloon. "Doc. I've had enough of this. Now tell me!" Matt barked.

"Well, if you don't want that drink, I sure as hall do." Doc said gruffly and pulled away from Matt the entered the building. Matt didn't like the doctor's tone and followed him through the swing doors. Doc had already ordered a bottle and two glasses from Sam was heading to a table at the far back end of the room. Matt's eyes narrowed and slowly he followed after his old friend then settle quietly in the chair next to him. A few moments past and neither man spoke. Matt broke the silence. "It must be some problem. That's your second drink."

Doc huffed. "To be honest with you Matt...I...I just don't know how to tell you." Doc finished his second drink and poured one more for himself and one for Matt.

"Maybe you should just say it." Matt's voice was now filled with concern.

Doc nodded. "Sure. Just say it. That would be pretty insensitive on my behalf." Doc starred at his glass and sighed.

"It might be, Doc, but you just can't keep going on like this." Matt poked his finger forward to the bottle on the table. "Now what is wrong?"

"Matt..." The doctor lifted his sad eyes to his friend, "I'll tell you, but have to promise me something first."

Matt pushed the hat back on his head. "That bad, huh?" He watched the doctor nodded. "Okay. What?"

"I want you to promise that we'll work on the solution together. I mean, I don't want you to get all fired up and head out to talk to Brown by yourself." Doc hoped that matt would agree.

The marshal scratched his forehead. "Okay. Sure. You know you really have me wondering right now." His eyes locked onto the old physician's crystal blue eyes. All Matt could see in them was deep sadness. "Now what is it, Doc?"

Doc sighed. "Matt. Jennie is about two months pregnant..."

Matt said nothing at first. He couldn't understand why the doctor was so distraught over a young woman being pregnant. "Doc. I'm not following you. Jennie's an attractive, young woman. I'm sure he has a boy or two interested in her..."

"No. Her father wont allow that. You know that as well as I do." Doc looked back at this glass almost ashamed to say what he had to tell the marshal. "She told me that her father came home blindingly drunk one night..."

Matt gasped at Doc's forearm. "Doc. Are you saying that he raped her? His own daughter?" Doc could only nod. The words were too painful to say. Now Matt knew why the doctor asked him to help him in his own way. Matt's anger was wild and deep within him. His jaw muscles flexed against his tightened lips. He slowly release Doc's arm and stood. "I'll be in my office. I'm sure you'll want to get Jennie settled in at Ma's. When you're through, I want to finish this conversation." His voice was flat and hiding the anger that crept up his throat. Slowly he turned and left. Doc remained at the table and finished his drink. He could feel all eyes on him.