Burke leaned on the side of the buckboard and looked over to Sam, "Just how long is this going to last?" he said as he looked back into town.
"As long as it takes, I should think." Sam offered in this velvet baritone voice.
"Oh, just what I wanted to do all night," Burke complained.
"Well, maybe whoever took Mrs. Cooper and Samuel Parker might also be looking fo a younger person," Sam joked.
"That's not funny, Sam!" Burke huffed and turned away.
Sam shook his head and moved toward the other men who were on patrol. Burke cast a glace over his shoulder and shook his head.
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Doc walked down his stairs and turned toward the Long Branch. He knew what Matt had planned and hoped that he and the others would find out who was taking the bodies and why and finally put a stop to this macabre set of occurrences.
As he stopped and stood at the corner of his stairs and the general store he, thought to go and speak with Jonas, but he decided that it was later in the day and the store owner was likely busy with filling customers orders as he did later in the day. Certainly, he wasn't busy with customers, Doc noted.
But Doc couldn't see from where he was standing that the front doors were closed and the sign indicated that Jonas would be back in five minutes. Nor did he realize that the sign was turned over more than an hour ago.
Doc continued toward the saloon for a drink with Kitty to discuss the whole situation with someone who might have a fresh thought about the mess.
Doc pushed through the swing doors and stepped into the saloon. The room was quite, yet it was filled with customers. Doc brushed his right hand across his moustache and chin as he stepped down into the room and began to cross the floor. He wove his way though the line up at the bar until he reached the end where he watched Kitty who was pouring a drink.
Kitty spotted the doctor out of the corner of her eye, "Doc," she said somewhat unimpressed as she slid the drink across the bar to the cowboy.
"Well hello to you too," he scoffed and leaned on the bar and looked around the room, "I've seen happier people at funerals," he joked.
Kitty reached across the bar and gently swatted him across the arm, "That was terrible..."
Doc pursed his lips and looked at Kitty, "I know. I just hope Matt gets to the bottom of this," he stated.
"Me too," Kitty leaned on her elbow. "Everyone is so grim and all they do is talk about it..."
Doc ticked his head, "I bet they do," he glanced back over his shoulder to the room of patrons.
Doc again cast his eyes around the room and back to Kitty's "It isn't exactly that great for business either," Kitty stated.
Doc looked at Kitty, "Seems Jonas has the same problem. I didn't see a soul at this place just now!"
Kitty's eyebrows arched, "At this time of day he usually has quite a number of customers..."
Doc ticked his head, "Well, it sure wasn't busy..." And then Doc thought.
Kitty saw the look on Doc's face, "What is it Doc?"
Doc looked to Kitty, "Try and find Matt and get him over to the store quickly. God help me, I hope I'm wrong..." Doc pushed off from the bar and hurried to the door.
Kitty didn't know what to think, "Everyone! Please find the marshal and bring him back here immediately!" Kitty hollered. Many of the patrons stood and moved quickly to the door.
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In the storage room at the back of the general store, Hans had finished tying Jonas up and bounding him so he couldn't speak. Jonas' eyes were wide and struggled hard against the ropes. Jonas groaned trying to make some noise, any noise to draw attention to his situation.
Doctor Hare stood over him, "Why is it you showed such interest in us, Mr. Jonas?"
Jonas gulped and shrugged as he continued to fight the ropes.
Doc had made his way to the front door of the general store and look at the sign. He thought for a moment and then reached for the door knob. The door was locked. Doc tightened his jaw and then tried to peek though the blinds but he saw nothing, "There is something wrong, I just know it..." Doc tried the door again.
Hare and Beck motioned for Hans to get Jonas on his feet.
Jonas looked up to the burly man and he did his best to kick at him and squirm out of the way. Hans grabbed a frying pan off a near by shelf and swatted Jonas across the back of his head. The store owner's body when limp on the floor of the store room. The blood from the gash on his head pooled on the floor.
Doc still tried the door, "Jonas?" he yelled which began to draw a small crowd. "Jonas? It's me, Doc? Is there anything wrong?"
Doc looked over his shoulder, and a look of panic was in his eyes. He hoped Matt or Festus would soon show up. Doc looked back at the door and pounded harder, "Jonas, open this door!"
There was no way that Jonas would open the door, at least not now. Hans jerked the unconscious man to his feet and the quickly over his shoulder. Hare ad Beck motioned for his to get out of the building quickly. They all moved through back alleys and waited just outside the old saddle manufacture's building.
Han place Jonas into a large crate in a back alley and assured Doctor Hare and his assistant Beck that he'd be okay there for a few more hours, or unless the search was off for the body snatchers and attention was on for looking for the store owner.
It was now up to Hare and Beck to throw in a few red-herrings in order for Hans to move Jonas to the old saddle maker's building. That is where Hare said he wanted Jonas so he could complete his final business in Dodge City. His time was running out before he moved on. "Once the situation calms down, Hans, take him over to the saddle shop and strap him down. I'll be there to do the rest," Doctor Hare smiled.
Hans nodded and returned to his hiding place while Hare and Beck made themselves seen again in Dodge.