Emmett Kempenfelt drew his right forearm across his sweaty brow. The fire heat was intense and he kept placing wood into it. Several of the rocked had cracked due to the extreme heat and the duration of exposure to the fire. The sun was now well over head and beating down into the little valley. There weren't many trees for shade, near the fire pit.
Clive brought another jug of whiskey, "The gold should be melted soon, don't you think?" her asked his brother who was now tipping the jug to get a taste of liquid gold, they called it. Emmett lowered the jug and looked at his brother, "I'm sure we are close," he stated and then looked down at the blaze.
"I sure hope so. We're almost out of money and this is our last jug, so go easy on it," Clive warned.
Emmett made a face and then reluctantly sat the jug down next were he was standing. Slowly he moved to the fire and poked at the flaming ambers with a stick, "Maybe we should let it die down a little and then have a look," he said looking over to his brother.
"Hey, that's a good idea!" Clive smiled. "Don't put anymore wood on it for a while," he said as if it was his idea. Emmett nodded.
"Say, what do you think happened to that old coot at the camp?" Emmett asked.
Clive shrugged, "How do I know and why would I care?" he said.
"I was just wondering. Do you suppose he died?" Emmett asked as he walked toward the shack.
"I kinda hope so," Clive said looking down into the fire. "I sure don't want him telling the law what happened. We'd be in big trouble then," he said looking over to Emmett.
"I suppose you're right," Emmett smiled. "I just want to be rich," he laughed.
Clive walked over to the jug and picked it up, "Come on. Let's get something to eat. I'm starved!" he said as he walked back to the shack. Emmett gave the coals another good stir before he followed his brother.
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Doc sat with Kitty at the back ot the Long Branch. He sipped on a beer and nibbled on a sandwich that Kitty had prepared for him. "Are you sure you should be out and about just yet, Doc?" Kitty asked.
Doc shrugged, "I ache just the same lying down. I might as well try and get my mind off of things," The doctor reasoned. Kitty couldn't argue with his logic and gave Doc a smiled. Doc saw the look on the saloon owner's face, "And furthermore, with Festus out of town, I might just get to relax a little bit!" he snorted. Kitty giggled at the doctor as she watched hi sip on this beer.
"I just hope Matt and Festus find out who did this to you," Kitty said.
"Well it wold be nice, but how am I going to know who they are if I can't remember myself!" Doc asked.
Kitty frowned, "You have a point there," she said. "I'm sure someone knows something and it is just a matter of time," she smiled at the doctor who nodded at the comment. "I just hope who ever it was doesn't come to Dodge," she said.
Doc's eyes shifted over to the redheaded saloon owner, "That makes two of us," he said in a hushed voice.
Kitty looked over to the doctor who had removed the bandage from around his head. The area on his left temple was red and bruised, and had some blood encrusted in his greying hair, "What will Newly said about you taking the bandage off?" she asked.
"It was bothering me more than this," Doc said pointing to what Festus would consider a hole in his head. Kitty smiled, "Be sure to take it easy," she said.
"Right now Kitty," Doc said as he slowly stood, "everything I do is in slow motion," he said with a frown on his face as he arched his back stretching it.
"Where you going?" Kitty asked.
Doc looked at his pocket watch, "I think I might try and get a nap in before supper," he said ticking his head. The doctor then headed toward the front doors of the saloon. Kitty shook her head in awe and then smiled as she watched the doctor leave the Long Branch - she admired the spirit that Doc had.
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Matt and Festus rode along the lane that went up to the Bergen ranch. Thomas Bergen, or Butch as he was know had been on his land for over a decade and was well respected in the area. Matt doubted that his ranch hands would have beaten Doc up, but he had to start his search somewhere.
Anthony Cooper saw Matt and Festus as they approached along the lane, "Hey, boss," he shouted across the corral to Bergen. Bergen slowly looked up and looked to see what Cooper was talking about. Butch twisted his mouth in question as he wondered what had brought the marshal and his deputy out to the ranch.
Bergen stepped through and stooped to pass through the rails; straighten as he walked to greet Matt and Festus.
The two law men stopped at the gate of the corral, "Bergen," Matt said in greeting.
"Well, marshal. What brings you out here?" Bergen said as he pulled his work gloves off. Anthony Cooper joined his boss.
"Have you hired on any new men?" Matt asked from on top of his horse.
Bergen shook his head no, "Nope. Why?" he asked.
"Doc was fishing over near Baxter Creek just the other day, and he was beaten up and left for dead. I want to know who did it," Matt stated.
"It couldn't have been any of my men. They've all been over the other side of the ranch searching for some lost cattle," Bergen said as he pointed in the opposite direction of Baxter Creek.
Matt's eyes looked off in the distance. "How many cattle are you missing?" he asked.
"Three calves," Bergen said.
"Any sign of what happened to them?" Matt asked.
"Not one. It's as if they just disappeared. Why?" Bergen asked.
Matt made a face, "Apparently you aren't alone," he said. "Let me know if you find them, will you?" he looked down at the rancher.
"Sure, Matt," Bergen said. "I hope Doc is going to all right. Can't understand why anyone would do that to him," he said shaking his head in disgust.
"That makes two of us," Matt said. "I'll see you later," the marshal said as he turned his horse back to the road. Festus followed.
"This might be a long day," Festus said.
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Emmett drew his forearm across his lips, "I think we should go over to old Danny's and get us another jug. This one won't last the night," he said.
"Hum…" Clive grunted, "It sure is hot out by that fire," he stated as he rummaged around in his pocket for some money. He pulled out his wadded up hand and opened it, "I have about two dollars," he said looking to at his grubby palm.
"Me too," Emmett stated. "That should get us some thing until we get the gold ready," he smiled.
"I'll go. You mind the fire," Clive said as he stood. "I should be back in about an hour and half," he said as he picked up one of the other empty jugs and left the shack.
Emmett followed his brother, "Hurry back," he smiled as Clive walked along a path the led through a small grove of cotton wood trees and up to the top of the hill.
Emmett's eyes quickly came to rest on the smouldering fire. He bit at his low lip wondering how the gold was. He slowly made his way over to the fire pit and stared down at the glowing ambers. He picked up the stick he used for poking and shoved it into to the ashes and ambers. Flames licked at the new wood.
Emmett decided his was going to dowse part of the fire with water. He waked back to the hut and found a bucket and a tin cup. Emmett dunked the bucket into the rain barrel and then walked to the fire. He crouched down and used the stick to poke around through the coals.
Emmett thought he saw some gold and plunged the tin cup into the buck for some water. He leaned further over the ambers and splashed the water into the coals, which created a plumb of scalding hot steam. The steam caught Emmett's hand and face, reeling him backward in pain. Emmett howled and yelped as he rolled around in the dirt.
Clive heard his brother and dropped the jug he was carrying; turning back to the shack, he charged along the path.
By the time Clive reached the hut, Emmett was on his feet with this face and hands in the rain barrel, "On, my God! Stop the pain!" he cried in anguish.
Clive raced to his brother's side and looked down at him, "I'd better get you into Dodge. You need to see a doctor," he said. Emmett didn't argue, "Just stop the pain," he whispered. Clive retrieved the remainder of the jug they had, "Drink the rest of this," he said as he placed the jug into Emmett's uninjured hand before he dashed off to get he horses.