Chapter 21

Morning came slowly for the three as the night and their dreams were filled with their fears and concerns for Festus. The dawn broke through their restlessness, spreading its golden rays over the still awakening prairie. Song birds sang their morning wakeup calls to the world as the group slowly slipped from sleep's hold.

Matt woke slowly from the uneasy sleep. Stretching and trying to work the kinks from his back for a moment, he wished he'd had a softer piece of ground to sleep on. Then, remembering where he was and what had happened, he sat up quickly and turned his eyes to find Kitty. He rose and knelt by her side where Festus, his head in her lap, lay unconscious and still, her hand absently stroking his forehead. She looked up at him and smiled a small, tired half smile.

"Morning, Cowboy. Sleep well?"

Dillon gazed into her eyes for a moment before answering. "Not really. You?"

"No. He was restless most of the night. He's warm, Matt. Too warm," she said looking down at Festus. "He seemed to calm down some when I talked to him. But I think there's infection."

"I wouldn't be surprised," Doc said from his place on the other side of the fire. "How long has it been? Almost twenty-four hours since he…well…since he went over that cliff. Who knows what's in that flood water down there."

Doc rose from his spot by the fire and walked over to Festus and knelt by his side. Placing a cool hand on his forehead, he shook his head then looked up into Matt's concerned eyes. "I gotta take that bullet outta there, Matt. Then we gotta get him back to Dodge as quickly as we can."

"What can I do?" Dillon asked.

"While I get ready to take that bullet out, can you make a travois? He's not gonna be able to ride when we're done."

Nodding brusquely, he headed off to prepare the bed.

"What can I do?" Kitty asked, looking at Doc with worry in her eyes.

You're doing it, honey. Just let him know he's not alone and keep him calm."

Kitty nodded and looked down into the face of the man who had saved their lives. She blessed the day he had come into their lives and prayed he would be around for many years to come.

Matt gathered branches from a nearby copse of woods and tied them together to form a framework for the travois, then attached a blanket to the frame to cushion Festus on his ride. When he was done, he stood up, stretching his back and looked over to where Kitty sat on the ground watching him and smiled. He had come so close to losing her. If it weren't for Festus….He left the thought unfinished as he walked back to where Doc was preparing to operate and leaned down.

"Doc? What are his chances?" he asked softly.

Looking up quickly, Doc stared into Dillon's eyes for a moment then looked away. "You know Festus. Nothing keeps him down. He'll be all right."

"Do you really believe that or just saying it to make me feel better?"

Doc said nothing for a moment, continuing on with his preparations. "I have to believe it, Matt. I'm not gonna let him die. I owe him more than I can ever…" Doc's voice broke and he stopped what he was doing for a moment. "He'll make it."

Dillon stood up, knowing Doc was hurting for their friend who was fighting so hard to stay alive.

Finished with his preparations, Doc stood and walked to Festus, staring down at the man who had saved their lives and closed his eyes for a moment. He had to save him, there was no other option. Nothing he would ever be able to live with at least. Silently, he said a brief prayer.

"All right, let's get this bullet outta him and get home," Doc said firmly.

The three friends worked together to save the man they all called friend. Kneeling by Festus, Doc prepared to remove the bullet, hesitating because he knew he had no way of deadening the pain. "Hold him tight as you can, Matt. This is gonna hurt. Kitty, hold his legs down if ya can," Doc said as he took a probe and placed it in Festus' chest, searching for the bullet.

Kitty bit her lip as she watched Festus writhe in agony, trying to ignore his gasps as Doc probed for the bullet. After what seemed like hours, Doc removed the offending bullet from Festus and quickly cauterized the wound and dressed it.

Finished, Doc leaned back and stared down at the man on the ground, reaching out a shaky hand to Festus' wrist, grasping it briefly before checking his pulse. Grimacing, he laid it back down and looked up into the expectant faces hovering nearby.

"Well, Doc?" Dillon asked quietly.

Doc shook his head briefly. "He's weak, Matt. So weak."

Feeling his emotions rise, he looked down at the man on the ground in sadness. He had done everything he could to save him yet he couldn't help but feel the hopelessness of the situation. They were still more than a full day's ride from Dodge and their supply of medicine was non-existent. "It'll be a miracle if he makes it," he said quietly, trying to ignore Kitty's gasp and tears.

After a quick, meager breakfast, the three broke camp. Doc and Matt lifted Festus into their arms and carried him to the travois, putting him on the bed gently. Kitty knelt down beside it, placing a cool hand to Festus' hot brow and whispered softly, "You hold on, Festus. Do you hear me? You don't give up. No matter what." She stroked his forehead and smiled when she thought she felt him nod briefly.

Rising, Kitty grabbed the reins of her horse and climbed into the saddle, waiting while the men readied the bed and Festus for travel. She stared about her at the remote prairie and felt overwhelmed with the task ahead of getting all of them back to Dodge alive.

The bed ready and the men on their horses, the group moved out slowly, headed for home.