Festus had walked the team of horses up to the front of the Long Branch Saloon and waited for Kitty Russell. The saloon owner had gone inside to retrieve blankets and a carpet bag. She finally appeared at the front door and handed the blankets off to the deputy. "I'm going to go up to Doc's office and gather a few things, just in case we might need them."
Festus nodded and stood patting the two horses trying to calm them from their interrupted slumber, "I'll be awaitin' fer ya Miss Kitty - but don't be too long - Matthew and ol' Doc are needin' us powerfully bad."
Kitty turned as she reached the stairs that lead up to the doctor's office, "I'll be just a second Festus. I know Doc and Matt are waiting, but if we go without there without some of these things, it could be worse. I can only imagine from what you've told me, that will be needed."
"I know Miss Kitty. I know," the hill man turned his attention back to the two fresh horses and stroked them on the nose. He knew horses didn't like travelling at night with little light. He knew he had to be extra careful to ensured their safety as well as Kitty's and himself. It was going to be a long slow, dark, ride, unless the clouds that covered the moon moved off soon.
After a few minutes, Festus watched Miss Kitty leave the doctor's office and pull the door closed behind her. Carefully she took the steep steps down and was greeted by the hill man, "Are we all ready to go now, Miss Kitty?"
She knew he was anxious as much as she was, "We can go now," she smiled as Festus took the packed carpet bag and gently set it on the buck board floor between them at the seat. Without another word he helped Kitty up on to the seat and then quickly climbed up his side and sat down. With a hefty flick of the reigns the horses jolted forward and with another tap of the leather, they moved down the street and into the night.
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It was well after midnight and Matt felt like he was ready to go through the floor as he had paced it for the last two or more hours. He was certain he'd worn about an inch of wood away as an uneasy feeling gnawed at the pit of his stomach. His watchful eyes moved around the room; Douglas had returned to his young brother's side and had fallen asleep in the chair next to the bed and Jonathan Beck continued to jerk his head upward to stay awake. He kept a constant vigil over the unconscious Dodge City doctor.
Matt admired the young doctor for trying to save Doc's life and with fingers crossed he would succeed. The marshal wondered if the veterinarian planned to settle in Dodge after all of this was through. Part of Matt wanted to pry and ask, and the other part of him decided that Beck needed to make his own mind up as to where this unexpected journey would take him.
Matt noted the temperature in the room as getting cooler, so he moved toward the wood stove and opened the door. The dry metal hinge squealed unmercifully as the door opened and Matt made a face after Beck jolted up from his chair at the sound, "Sorry," Matt said sheepishly and began to place another log on the fire.
Jonathan was about to sit when Doc stirred and moaned deeply. The young man's heart jumped, "Did you hear that?!" Beck asked Matt with excitement in his voice.
"I sure did!" Matt smiled as he closed the door on the stove and walked over to his friend who moaned again, "Doc?" Matt's deep caring voice almost sounded as if he were about to cry with happiness. "Doc. It's me, Matt," he whispered and placed his hand on the doctor's shoulder with Beck standing by watching. He could see the tender underlaying relationship that the marshal had with the older doctor - very much father and son.
Doc groaned again, this time his eyes opened slightly, "Matt?"
"Yeah, Doc. I'm here." Matt smiled while looking down into the weary crystal blue eyes of his friend.
Doc swallowed hard and smiled weakly before closing his eyes again.
Matt stood tall and arched his back and then he sighed heavily in relief, "You just hang in there, Doc. I'll have Festus and Kitty after you otherwise..." he joked even though he knew Doc was no longer cognisant.
"I think he just might make it," Beck said quietly.
"You might be right, son. He's a tough customer..." Matt looked down at Doc and smiled again.
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Festus continued to urge the horses as the night drifted into early morning. Kitty had wrapped a shawl over her shoulders and leaned her head on to the hill man's shoulder and had fallen asleep. They were getting closer to Spearville, but not as fast as Festus would have liked. The night sky had become completely black making the roads harder to see and the sounds of another storm could be heard though the hills.