Doc picked up his medical bag and placed his black felt hat onto his head as he headed toward the doorway of Huck Thompson's place. "Ya know Huck, she's doing pretty darn good for her age. Just keep the soup and some soda crackers handy if she has another spell," Doc's advice was taken to heart by Huck. "I sure will Doc. Thanks for coming all this way."

"Pshaw!" Doc drew his right hand across his moustache, "It wasn't any problem at all. Gives me a chance to get out of town and if time allows, maybe some fishin'!" Doc winked.

"I'll keep in mind what you said, and when Ma perks up, I'll see if she's feeling like that boiled chicken you suggested," Huck smiled.

"Good man." Doc pat Huck on the shoulder before climbing into his buggy.

"Oh, Doc. I plum-near forgot. I mentioned to Mrs. Carter that you was coming out here today. She wondered if I could ask you to stop by her place..." Huck pointed just up the road.

"What's the problem?"

"I don't know really..." Huck ran his hand across the back of his neck, "I didn't think to ask."

Doc nodded, "Fair enough. I'll stop by. You just remember what I told you."

"Oh, I will Doc. Much obliged! I'll pay ya as soon as I get some money for the crops." Huck smiled.

"Take care, Huck." Doc smiled and nodded back before he gave the reigns a flip and his buggy was gone down the lane.

Doc hummed some little song that was stuck in his head as he and his buggy clattered along the winding road. He pulled his horse to a stop and thought that it would be a faster route to the Carter place if he took a back road. He pulled his reigns and Popcorn turned and they were on their way again. Doc picked up his tune when he left off.

About a half an hour into his journey Doc halted his buggy. He looked around and felt he'd taken the wrong side road. "Well I'll be..." he was mad at himself and pulled his reigns taunt as Popcorn kept creeping. "Whoa...," he looked around, "What's your problem?" he asked the horse. It was then a bullet whizzed passed him. Doc didn't know what to make of it so he shouted, "Watch what yer shooting at!"

"I'm shooting at you old man!" came a voice he didn't quite recognize. Doc instinctively grabbed his medical bag and jumped free of the buggy as another shot fired, this time causing his horse to jolt and race off out of sight. He was certain that had he stayed in the carriage that he would have been hit. Doc scrambled to hide behind a large tree. Out of the corner of his eye he saw what looked like Matt's horse on the run with his own horse and buggy. Doc thought for a moment. "Matt?" he shouted.

"Save your breath doctor. He's gonna die." the voice yelled from across the creek bank again.

Doc remained behind the tree, "Matt? Can you hear me?" A horrible feeling swept over the doctor when there was no reply. He tried again, "Matt, it's me. Doc."

Matt acknowledged the voice in his weakened state, "Doc. Stay low. Dawson has a rifle."

"Matt? Are you okay?" Doc asked with his voice filled with concern for his friend.

"I'm bleeding pretty bad. Dawson shot me in the right shoulder area..." Matt cringed.

Dawson on the other hand burst into laughter at the news, "I knew I hit you Dillon! Yer gonna die 'cause that old sawbones isn't gonna step a toe out from behind that tree he's hiding behind."

Doc thought for a moment about how to get to Matt. Then a thought hit him. He looked to the sky and noted the sun was strong. Quickly he opened his medical bag and searched through it until he found what he was looking for - the wide blade of the amputation saw he carried in his kit. Doc closed his bag and grabbed the handle tight. He figured that he had one attempt at this to get to Matt. He tilted the nickle-plated blade so the sun caught it and he quickly aimed the ball of white light right at Dawson's face and he yelped. The intense light momentarily blinded him.

Doc made a mad dash to the large rock where Matt rest. "How'd you do that?" Matt groaned.

"Old army trick..." Doc quickly began to assess the marshal's wound. "I need to get you back to town...or to help."

"Yeah...Buck ran off..."

"And he took my buggy with him..." Doc frowned as he continued to clean and poke at Matt's wound.

Dawson kicked up again, "I'll get you for that old man! I don't care if you die with the marshal or on your own..."

Matt?" Doc looked Matt deeply in the eyes.

"What?"

"Give me your gun."

"Why?"

"So I can look at it..." Doc said flippantly, "Why else?"

Matt's head swam and couldn't make any reason for his friend's request, "Here..." he handed the pistol to Doc.

Doc removed his black hat and drew a deep breath. His hand clutched the gun tightly. He knew more or less where Dawson was on the bank and as quickly and calculated as he could be, Doc popped up over the rock and fired three shots before dropping down behind the rock again. He waited for counterfire. There was none. Carefully Doc again peered over the rock. This time me couldn't see Luke Dawson. "Dawson?" he attempted to establish communication with the man. Yet there was nothing. Doc stood and straightened himself, "Matt, I'll be back here in a few minutes..."

Matt looked up to Doc, "He's dangerous, Doc. Be careful."

Doc nodded as he stepped out into the open. This time he held the lawman's long forty-five out in front of him and fixed on where he thought Luke Dawson to be. As he reached the creek's far bank, he could hear the man wheezing. Doc carefully climbed the bank and looked down into the frightened face of the dying Luke Dawson. Doc tucked the gun into his waistband and knelt down next to Dawson. "Sorry son."

Dawson choked in laughter, "I was killed by a doctor..." Then his eyes rolled back into his head and gasped on last time. Luke Dawson was dead.

Doc stood and sighed. He wasn't proud of what he did, but it had to happen. Now the doctor had to find away to get Matt to help, or help to Matt.