It was mid afternoon when Doc Adams and Doc Baker left the convention room and walked to the lobby of the hotel, "Well, Doctor Adams. What did you think about that?" Baker mused.

"Not much, I'm afraid!" Adams said as he ran his hand over his moustache. "I guess it will be a very long time before Dodge City gets a clinic or hospital. Just doesn't seem like the advancement of medicine passed the prairies is going to happen in my lifetime."

"Make that "our lifetimes,"" Baker said with a frown as he thought of Walnut Grove.

Matt had just entered the hotel when he spotted the two doctors. The marshal walked over to them, "So, how was the rest of the convention?" he didn't ask either of them directly.

"Well, I can't say that the convention was all that much to write home about, but it certainly has been an interesting time!" Baker chuckled.

"You're not kidding," Doc Adams smiled.

Matt looked around the lobby of the hotel, "Where's your friend the Reverend?"

"I think he said he was just going to stay in and read the newspaper," Doc Baker stated. "I suspect he's up in the room."

Doc Adams looked at the two men, "Why don't we all go out for dinner? I mean, we really haven't had time to talk."

Matt smiled, "That's sounds like a good idea, Doc."

"I'll go and get the Reverend and then we can decide where to go," Doc Baker smiled and turned up the hall.

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Reverend Alden shook his head at the report of Wallace Mason and the fire. He wasn't amused about how the reporter stated that, "It appears that the visiting Reverend prefers the kid-glove approach to the law, rather than making the scoundrel Wallace Mason go to hell and back as he so richly deserves."

Alden folded the paper and dropped it roughly onto the table next to the chair he was sitting in. He began to wonder if he had done the right thing with Wallace Mason. It was certain that many people had different views than his own view.

He sighed as he realized that the event was big enough in the history of Topeka that the story was spread far and wide. Alden dreaded the thought of story reaching the hands of Harriet Oleson at Walnut Grove. If it did, he was certain she'd have some say on the matter which would likely be unkind and likely threatening to his future with the church in the small community. He couldn't stop thinking about it as he stood and walked to the window. He'd had enough of Topeka and longed to go home.

Doc Baker opened the door into the room. He didn't say anything at first as he walked over to the Reverend, "Everything all right, Reverend?" Baker asked with concern.

"I just wish that there was more tolerance in the world." Alden spoke softly.

"Oh? What brought this on?" Baker looked his friend in the eyes, which held personal hurt.

Alden said nothing instead he just picked up the newspaper and handed it to the doctor. Doc Baker twisted his jaw in thought as he read the article, "I see what you mean. Well, Reverend, we'll soon be leaving here and we can leave all this behind us," Baker smiled as he dropped the paper back down onto the table.

"True," Alden said as he turned to the doctor, "However, can you imagine what might happen to me if all of this gets back to Walnut Grove?"

"Well, I'd like to think your friends would be concerned for you, but you're thinking about Harriet Oleson, aren't you?" Baker asked.

"Precisely," Reverend Alden said.

"Hum," Baker thought, "She'd be on this like a dog on a bone."

Alden shot the doctor a scolding look before he smiled, "That is one way to put it!" he then couldn't help but laugh. Baker smiled widely and patted his friend on the shoulder, "We'll cross that bridge when and if we get there. In the mean time, lets join Doctor Adams and the marshal for supper. I'm starved!"

The Reverend looked at his friend, "I must admit that I'm a little peckish too!" his familiar chuckle resinated throughout the room as both men walked to the door.

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Reverend Alden sat back from his empty dinner plate, "I don't think I could eat another bite!" he smiled to his friends.

Matt looked at the preacher, "I know what you mean..."

Doc Adams relaxed in his chair next to Doctor Baker, "I'll bet you will be happy to get home to Walnut Grove and way from here," he looked at the Reverend.

"Yes, I suppose. However, I must say this has been an enlightening experience for me," Alden smiled.

"What the Reverend mean, is that he's gained enough experience and personal growth from this, that the congregation at Walnut Grove could go for years on this," Doc Baker chuckled as he watched Alden's face.

Finally the Reverend laughed, "I must admit, I certainly will draw from this from time to time," he smiled as he sat forward and clasped his hands on the table in front of him. "You'll be heading home tomorrow, also?" he asked the marshal and Doc Adams.

"Yeah, I guess I'd better. I just hope there's something to go home to," Adams chuckled. Alden looked at the doctor strangely.

"What he means, Reverend, is I left the town in the care of my deputy, who has had some challenge managing time and a few other things," Matt explained. Doc Adams rolled his eyes, "Just tell him he's next door to incompetent," Doc groaned.

Doc Baker and Reverend Alden exchanged looks. Adams caught it, "Doesn't look like you are exactly planning a parade either," he chuckled.

"Not exactly," Baker sighed. "We just hope that the town know-it-all hasn't been keeping up with out-of-state news..."

"I see," Adams said, "It's that Mrs. Oleson, huh?" Reverend Alden nodded yes. Doc Baker continued, "She makes a yearly habit of having Reverend Alden's superiors make ridiculous trips to prove that she was wrong. She'll never learn..."

"Now Hiram..." Alden stated, "She can be a handful, I will admit that, but she likes her ways," the Reverend said.

"Well, if you are doing your job to the best of your abilities and the other folks are happy, I should think that would mean more to you than her word," Matt said.

"Thank you, marshal. That means a lot . . . " Alden smiled.

"She just doesn't learn easily from her past mistakes, is all," Baker added to the chagrin of his friend across the table.

Matt stood up and the others followed, "I'm not sure if we'll see each other in the morning, so, I'd just like to say what a pleasure it has been to meet you both," Matt extended his hand to Doc Baker and then to Reverend Alden.

Alden smiled, "Thank you for everything you've done for me, and it has been an absolute privilege to meet you both!" Alden's smiled was wide and his eyes twinkled, "I do hope that we can stay in touch, despite our busy lives - even if it is just a note to say hello," he continued to smile.

Doc Adams extended his hand to the preacher, "Although you don't know it, I think you've enriched our lives," the old doctor smiled. And if Matt didn't know any better, he thought he saw Doc Adams' eyes mist over.

With a final good night, the four men ended their evening and headed to their respective rooms to prepare for their journeys home.

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Matt and Doc sat down in their seats on the passenger car. Matt sighed and was thankful that their trip back to Dodge City would only take six or so hours. The marshal looked at his doctor friend, "So, Doc. Did you get anything out of that convention at all?" Matt was hopeful that the doctor might have picked up a new skill or two.

Doc looked over to the marshal, "No, not much. Except that I'm going to have my small office for the foreseeable future," he ticked his head in disappointment.

"Well, you do some incredible things in that small office Doc. You should be proud," Matt smiled.

Doc looked at the marshal, "Well, it's good of you to notice what I do, 'cause most of it is on you!"

Matt's shoulders sagged as he watched his doctor friend glow, as he finally got him good. Doc smiled to himself as he looked out the window of the train car. The train began to pull away from the station and the two Kansans where headed home.

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It was mid the next day when the stagecoach pulled up in front of the Oleson's Mercantile. Nels was on the steps with broom in hand as he watched Doc Baker and Reverend Alden step down from the coach, "Doc Baker. Reverend. How was the trip?" he asked in his usual friendly way.

"Nels, we'll have to tell you later..." Baker stated as he placed his carpet bag down and assisted the driver with the Reverend's.

"Uh, we heard about the fire and such," Nels gave both men a heads up as he ticked his head toward the store.

Alden looked over to the doctor, "I told you..."

Just then, Harriet Oleson appeared in the doorway, "So you've both returned, I see," she smiled in her usual condescending way.

Baker stepped forward, "Did you not expect that we would, Harriet?" he held his voice level which also was bitting.

"Oh, I knew you'd come back, even after all that ridiculousness I read about. Murder and fires," she huffed, "And you of all people Reverend Alden! I warned you about this frivolous trip..."

Alden felt his stomach flip.

"I took it upon myself as a town councillor to contact your superior about your actions," she waved the newspaper around. Nels rolled his eyes. He didn't even want to witness the next stage of the Reverend's prosecution, Harriet Oleson style. "They sent this for you!" she thrust out her hand with an envelope.

Reverend Alden's jaw muscles flexed as he slowly took the letter. His eyes were intense and glared at Harriet. Slowly his eyes lowed as he opened the letter and read the note. Harriet had folded her arms across her chest and waited for the Reverend to excuse himself from further duties as Walnut Grove's minister.

With a deep breath, Reverend Alden looked over to his friend Hiram baker. He passed the note to him. Baker broke into a laugh.

Harriet gasped, "What on earth?" she said as she stormed down the steps and snatched the letter from the doctor's hands. She read it and her mouth dropped open, "Blah, blah, blah...Dear Robert, Please know that we support you though this tragic sting of events. From what we've learned you are an extremely lucky man and you have God on your side. We wish you continued luck in Walnut Grove. As for this complaint registered toward you from one Mrs. Harriet Oleson, we will file it with all the others, I'm sure you understand what I mean. Best wishes, Robert in all you do. Signed Dean Harmon..." Harriet glared at the message and finally shoved it back into the Reverend's hand just before she stormed back into the store.

Nels could no longer contain himself and he broke out laughing as did the Reverend and Doc Baker.