Doc wiped the towel across his chest and once around his neck. The wash felt good, and so did the clean white shirt he pulled on; the doctor's hands shook slightly as he buttoned the front of the shirt followed by the cuffs.
Newly O'Brien raped lightly on the doctor's office door, before he pushed the door open and entered the office. Doc looked up at the young deputy from the back room where he finished with the shirt and now was tucking the shirttails into his trousers. "Doc, how are you?" Newly asked.
Doc moved slowly into the main office while pulling his suspenders up over his shoulders, "Better, thanks," he said. "I suppose I'll be even more so once I get these whiskers scrapped off," he said in a low tone. Newly smiled.
"Have you seen Matt?" Doc asked the young man.
Newly nodded, "He's over at the jail house. He and Mr. Jonas will be leaving to go out to Sal Coolidge's farm soon," Newly stated.
"What on earth for?" Doc gruffly asked.
"As I understand, the marshal is going to arrest him for attempting to kill Festus, among other things," Newly stated.
Doc rubbed his cheek and chin before he drew his hand across his moustache, "I better talk with him," Doc said as he picked up his vest from the back of his chair. Doc walked to the door and paused, "Check Festus, will you?" he asked. Newly nodded as he watched the doctor leave.
Doc made his way down the stairs and along the boardwalk. He saw Wilbur Jonas walking toward him. The store owner looked distraught which caused the doctor to stop, "Jonas?"
Jonas looked up at the doctor and acknowledged his presence but kept walking toward his store. Doc frowned and wondered what was wrong with the store owner. Doc screwed his index finger into his ear as he thought, but he couldn't think of anything other than Sal Coolidge that would bother the store owner, but not to that extent that he knew of. Doc ticked his head and continued on his way to the jail house.
Matt was seated at his desk, while going over some paperwork that he needed to get done, as the doctor stepped through the door. Matt looked up, "I see you've freshened up," Matt stated.
Doc looked down at his clean shirt and then back to Matt, "A bit, I suppose," he grumbled. "I just passed Jonas. What wrong with him?" Doc thumbed over his shoulder.
Matt made a face and then stood, "I can't tell you. He asked me not to anyone, but it wouldn't hurt for you to see him and Ellen once I arrest Sal Coolidge," Matt said. Doc's eyes narrow, "Something happened, didn't it?"
Matt nodded, "Yes. And I'll leave it at that," the marshal said.
Doc waved his right index finger in the air, "I remember back to that night. Sal was in town drinking. He said something about Sarah being sick and that's why I went out there. But something happened here didn't it?" Doc pushed for the information.
"Doc, I told Jonas I wouldn't say anything," Matt insisted. Doc's eyes narrowed in thought, "All right, I'll talk to Jonas later," he said.
"Good," Matt smiled. "He won't want to talk about it easily, but I think he needs to. He's had something bottled up for some time now," Matt said as he moved to the door.
Doc twisted his mouth in thought, "I suppose you'll want to talk to me too," he said sheepishly. Matt nodded, "Yeah, when I get back," he stated. Doc sighed and looked around the jail house, "I can't believe I was so stupid…" the doctor's voice trailed off.
"We all have our moments, Doc," Matt smiled as he opened the door.
Doc ran his right hand across his whiskery cheek, "So you think Sal did it, huh?"
Matt nodded yes, "Jonas noticed the tracks from Coolidge's horse below your office and down at the livery stable. It puts him in both places to steal your gun and to shoot Festus," Matt stated.
Doc looked down at the floor and snorted, "And they said he was cured," he shook his head then looked back up to Matt. "You know, you'll have to handle him carefully. If he's pulled this stunt, you just won't what will set him off," Doc added.
"Yeah. I've thought about that," Matt said as he began to leave.
"Say, Matt?" Doc stopped the marshal.
"What?" Matt asked.
"Why are you taking Jonas?" Doc's eyebrows knitted together.
"I need positive identification from him that he saw the tracks at the farm and Sal needs to hear that or he'll claim they are from another person's horse," Matt concluded. Doc pursed his lips in thought, "You both be careful then," Doc cautioned as he watched Matt leave the office. Matt smiled, "Thanks, Doc," he said as he left to meet Jonas back at the wagon in front of the general store.
Jonas busied himself and tried to forget the events that led to his break down earlier. He finished with several customers just as Matt arrived, "How are you doing?" the marshal asked with concern.
Jonas looked over his shoulder as he folded some fabric, "I'll be fine," he said in a clear voice as he tried to put the incident behind him. "I assume you'd like to go now," he turned and faced Matt.
"Yes. But I want to check in on Festus, first," Matt stated.
"Certainly," Jonas said as he walked back to his service counter and busied himself again. Matt could tell that the store owner was still stinging from the memories of what Sal Coolidge had done to Ellen.
"I'll be back in a little while," Matt stated and left the store. The marshal turned the corner and climbed the stairs to the doctor's office where he found Newly and Festus in conversation, "Festus? How are you feeling?" Matt asked.
"Foot Matthew I've had worse hurts than this," the deputy looked down at the wrap around his upper chest.
"Well, I'm relieved to hear that," Matt smiled and then looked over to Newly, "Jonas and I are about to head out to Coolidge's," he stated.
Newly smiled weakly, "I try to hold the fort while you're gone," he added with a wink.
Matt smiled, "Thanks, Newly. Just make sure Festus and Doc don't get into any more trouble," Matt said trying to hold back a laugh as the look on Festus' face was a combination of hurt and dismay, but then the hill man caught on and he smiled.
Matt walked down the stairs and found Wilbur Jonas with another customer. The marshal untied his buckskin horse and waited for the store owner to finish with his business. He seemed tense and overly firm as if he had reverted back to old self. Matt frowned and hoped that it wasn't the case and that after Doc had a chance to talk to Jonas he'd come back to the new Jonas - the one he liked.
"I'll see you next Thursday, Mrs. Johnston. Your order will be in then," he said as he placed several packages into the back of her rig. Mrs. Johnston bid the store owner a farewell and clipped her reins over her horse's rump.
Jonas looked over to Matt and without a word he pulled his white apron off and placed in on a shelf just inside the door. He turned the sign over to read closed. Jonas drew a breath as he climb up onto the seat of his wagon and watched Matt mount his horse, "Let's get this over with," Matt said as he tapped Buck in the flanks with his spurs. Jonas flicked his reins and followed the marshal up the street.