While Newly rode to the nearest farm for a wagon, Matt retrieved a blanket to wrap Festus body in. "Did your father ever tell you how we met?" Robert nodded as Matt shook out the blanket and gently laid it over the body of his friend. "Back then," Matt said quietly. "I thought he was the most untrustworthy man you could ever meet. But now, I'd trust him with my life a thousand times over."

"I know, he felt the same way about you, Matt," Robert said sadly as he dabbed at the gash on his head. "Just tell me one thing?"

"What's that?" Matt asked with a heavy sigh.

"Those two in jail, they are going to pay for this, aren't they?"

"As long as I got anything to say about it, they will!" Matt said firmly as Robert nodded.

"I don't want them to hang out of revenge, Matt," Robert said evenly. "I'm only interested in seeing justice for my Pa."

"I understand," Matt replied. "And that will come but in the meantime, we have to think about Abelia and the kids."

"Yeah," Robert said softly. "I'm going to make sure they're taken care of."

"We all will," Matt said putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's what he would have wanted."

Abelia stepped into the ward with Abby just in time to see Doc on his feet. The physician smiled as Festus youngest daughter raced over to climb on Julie's lap.

"Well," Julie said looking up in surprise at Abelia. "This child isn't a baby anymore, she's a young lady."

"I'm not a baby," Abby replied petulantly. "But, Ma says, I'm not grown neither."

"That's right," Abelia replied exasperated. "That child turns more and more into her father every day."

"Well, of course she does," Doc said with a smirk. "It's just pure stubbornness!"

"That's right, Doc," Abelia said with a grin before her face became somber. "They're not back yet, are they?"

"They will be," Kitty said reassuringly. "Don't you worry. Matt and Newly will handle it."

"I know," Abelia said quietly. "I just don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to Festus."

Robert sat alongside Newly as he drove the burrowed wagon back to Dodge. "You alright?" Newly asked as Robert shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Yeah," Robert said thoughtfully. "My pain is nothing compared to how painful my Ma's pain will be." Newly nodded as Robert continued. "I want to bring him to the hospital first, Newly. So my Ma can have a private place to see him and I can clean him up before we bring him to Crump's place."

"Sure," Newly said understandingly. "I'm here if you need help."

"Thank you," Robert said sullenly. "But, this is something, I have to do myself."

Twilight had already fallen and everywhere they looked, street lamps were being lit as Matt rode ahead of the wagon. Newly stopped in front of the hospital's doors as Matt dismounted and met them. "I think...I'd better go inside first," Robert said meeting both their eyes. "This isn't going to be easy, is it?"

Matt shook his head no as Robert started to limp toward the front door. "Robert," Matt said going to Robert's side. Wrapping an arm around the young physician, he looked over at the Marshal. "Stay with the wagon. I'll be back shortly." Robert gratefully accepted Matt's help as Newly nodded.

Matt opened the front door as he supported Robert's weight. As they stepped inside, Kitty and Vera were coming out of the kitchen. "Matt," Kitty said going to his side as Vera went to Robert's.

"Are you alright?" Vera asked as Matt led the younger man to a chair.

"I will be," Robert said meeting their worried looks. "Where's my Ma?"

"She's upstairs with Doc," Kitty said looking from Robert to her husband's somber look. "Matt, what's wrong? What's happened?" She asked looking back to Robert. "Where's Festus?"

"He's in the wagon outside," Robert said quietly. "I got to go see my Ma before they bring him in."

"No," Kitty said putting a hand to her mouth as Vera started to cry.

Robert stood up and walked slowly toward the stairs as Matt put an arm around his wife's shoulders. "What are we going to do, Matt?" She asked emotionally.

"Just what we've always done," he said grimly. "Just be there for each other."

Robert forced himself to climb the stairs to the ward where Doc had been since his surgery. His heart sank when he heard Abelia and Abby giggling with Doc and Julie. He stood outside the door for a moment to get his thoughts right when Abelia stepped out and surprised him.

"Robert," she said looking him up and down. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," he replied with a quick nod before grabbing her hand. "I'm fine, Ma."

"Good," she said gently squeezing his hand. "Is your Pa at the jail?"

"No," Robert said softly before taking a deep breath. "I have to tell you something, Ma. But, it's going to hurt you and that's the last thing I've ever wanted to do."

"Robert," Abelia said looking into his hazel eyes. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"It's about Pa," Robert replied. "He got hurt awfully bad today, Ma."

"He's been hurt before," Abelia said with a wiry grin. "Is Matt and Newly bringing him in?"

"Yes, but this time was different," Robert said when she went for the stairs. "This time, there wasn't anything I could do."

"Wasn't anything you could do?" Abelia asked thoughtfully. "I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me. He's alright, isn't he?"

Robert shook his head slowly side to side before he met her eyes. "He's gone, Ma."

Doc shuffled toward the door of the ward as Abelia let out a distraught cry. "What's happened?" he asked when he saw Robert trying to comfort his step mother.

"Doc," Robert said leading Abelia toward him. "I need a sedative, quick."

"No," Abelia screamed. "Please, it can't be true! Bring him here! I want to see him!"

"I will," Robert said gently as Doc returned with a glass. "But, I need you to calm down first," he said with a nod aimed at his mentor. Doc sat down next to Abelia and wrapped an arm around her as Robert handed her the glass. "Drink this, it'll make you feel better."

Doc looked up at Robert as Abelia, subdued by grief, took the glass and drank it. "I'll have Newly and Matt bring up Pa now," he said slowly backing away.

Abelia put her head on Doc's shoulder as Julie came and knelt beside her. "It can't be true," she said sadly as she held Abigail tightly.

Robert returned a short time later looking more somber and defeated than Doc had ever seen him to be. "He's in the surgical ward," Robert said with a nod toward the door.

"C'mon honey," Doc said helping Abelia to her feet before looking at his wife.

"We'll stay here," Julie said looking down at Abby's bewildered look. "We'll be just fine."

Robert smiled, he was grateful for the help. It was hard enough to try and explain what happened to Abelia let alone having to look into his baby sister's eyes while he did. "Thank you," he said kindly before leading Doc and Abelia into the next room.

Festus was lying extended on the table, still enveloped in the blanket they had wrapped him in as Abelia slowly approached. Robert slowly pulled back the top of the blanket to uncover his father's face for her to see. Abelia closed her eyes and turned away as Doc came forward.

"Wait a minute," Doc said noticing the hill man's color wasn't quite right. Looking at the time, he said. "How long ago did you say this happened?"

Robert glance absently at the time while he shrugged his shoulders. "I'd say at least four hours or more. Why?"

Doc flipped back the blanket and wrapped his fingers around Festus wrist. "What are you doing, Doc?" Robert asked curiously as the older man swiped at his mustache before he went to the nearest cabinet and opened a drawer.

Pulling out a stethoscope, Doc returned to the table. "I don't suppose you bothered to do an exam?"

"For what?" Robert said disapprovingly. "He's gone!"

Doc smirked as he used the stethoscope to listen to the hill man's chest. "I can barely hear a pulse," he said shaking his head. "Anyone else surly would be a goner but not him."

"You mean, he's not dead?" Abelia asked looking from Robert to Doc.

"No, he's not," Doc said putting a hand on his friends forehead. "For what ever reason, he's still fighting."

"But, I didn't feel anything or hear anything," Robert said looking down at his father in awe. "He went limp in my arms! How could I have missed it?"

"Easy," Doc said with a nod. "Excessive blood loss slows down all the organs to almost the point of stopping. But for now, the question is, how are we going to keep him alive?"

*The consensus was the same all around;) *