Doc walked down the stairs from is office and turned the corner. He realized the general store was open, perhaps soon than he thought. The doctor ambled over to the door and stepped in side. "I thought you were opening tomorrow?" he asked Jonas.
"Oh, you know. I just couldn't sit around anymore," Jonas fussed as he went back to his books.
"Just remember to take it easy. Maybe only half days at first," Doc offered.
"Thanks Doc. I'll remember," the store owner looked up briefly.
Doc pursed his lips and walked closer to Jonas, "Are you sure you are all right?" he studied the man.
Jonas looked up over his glasses, "Well of course. I just have to make sense of these books now," he meekly smiled knowing partly it was the doctor's idea that others ran the store.
"They aren't that bad, are they?" Doc questioned.
Jonas stood and scratched his neck with the end of the pencil, "Not really," he hinted a smiled.
"I'm glad to hear that," the doctor said with a swipe of his moustache. "Make sure you call it a day early. I don't want you straining yourself," he said as he turned to the door. Jonas only said he would. There was something about Jonas that was now bothering the doctor, but he could put a finger on it. It was if the store owner was pulling back. Doc drew a deep breath as he stepped out onto the boardwalk in front of the store. The doctor looked toward the Long Branch – maybe Kitty had some insight into what was going on.
Doc pushed through the swing-doors and entered the saloon. He spotted Kitty at the back of the establishment with the marshal. Doc made his way across the floor and pulled a chair out; sitting down.
"Oh, you look troubled," Kitty noted as he poured the doctor a coffee.
Doc made a face, "Perhaps I'm just over reacting," he said as he pulled the cup toward him.
"About what?" Matt asked as he leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table.
"Well, I was just talking with Jonas and he just doesn't seem the same," Doc stated.
"The same as what?" Kitty asked.
"Well, before all this happened," Doc stated. "It's like he's gone back to his old way and miserly self," Doc sigh as if he had just lost a friend.
"Well, Doc, you know yourself, he's been through a hellofa lot this past week," Matt said.
Doc nodded, "I suppose that could be it. But he seemed distant," the doctor said as he sipped on his coffee.
"Keep an eye on him Doc. I'm sure that he's just tired and overwhelmed," Kitty offered. Doc nodded, "I'm sure you're right Kitty," he said with a tick of the head and a wink. He hoped that Kitty and Matt were right and that the store owner wasn't suffering any kind of distress that he hadn't talked about. The doctor decided that if the store owner wanted to talk he would as he had in the past – even thought it bothered him, he had to let go.
It was early the next morning when Doc awoke to some hammering. He narrowed his eyes and tried to think as he dressed himself who was building what. There were no hangings taking place, so it couldn't be a scaffold. As he pulled on his suit coat and hat he opened the door and heard the banging coming from below. The doctor frowned, "What in thunder is Jonas doing?" he asked himself as he walked down the stairs and rounded the corner.
Wilbur Jonas was standing back looking at a sign he just posted. Doc swallowed, "Jonas? You're selling the store?" he choked.
"And the house," Jonas looked down, "I've done a lot of thinking Doc. I need to move from here," his eyes watered and he didn't want to make eye contact. "I've been robbed and beaten one too many times," he stated. "My hearts not in the store anymore," Jonas sighed.
Doc's jowl muscles flexed. He was somewhat put out that the store owner was just willing to sell everything and leave without some discussion with his friends. "I see," Doc said coolly. "Well, I suppose you have to do what you feel is right. Sometimes I feel like quitting too," the doctor shrugged. "I bet Kitty's thought about it as well. And then there's Matt. Good heavens I bet he'd of quit a hundred times by now if he didn't know we need him," he said glancing sideways to the store owner. Doc knew he was listening, because Jonas was blinking trying not to get annoyed. Without another word, Jonas turned and walked away. Doc frowned as he was swept with sadness as he watched his friend walk away.
Doc pushed his hands down into his trouser pockets and walked to the Long Branch. Doc pushed through the swing door and walked to the long bar. Sam looked up from drying a glass and then looked over to Kitty who was now watching the doctor. "What on earth is wrong?" Kitty finally asked as the doctor leaned on the bar.
"I trust you heard the hammering," Doc growled.
"Well, it must have gotten you out of the wrong side of bed," Kitty quipped.
Doc drew his right hand across his moustache, "It sure did."
"Doc, what's wrong?" Kitty moved closer.
"Jonas just put his store up for sale. He's leaving Dodge," Doc said flatly.
Kitty's mouth dropped open. "But why? We did our best to keep his customers," Kitty stated.
Doc nodded, "I know, but he said his heart's not in it anymore after this last robbery," the doctor rested his cheek on his balled-up fist and sighed.
"We can't just let them leave. He needs to know how much we need him and the store here," Kitty stated.
Doc shrugged, "He's made up his mind."
"Well, we have to unmake it," Kitty frowned. Doc knew the look on the saloon owner's face. She was hatching a plan. After a moment, Kitty looked at the doctor. "We'll have send-off party for the Jonases. I'll make sure his customers and their friends know. I'll even have a banner made and hang it from the balcony. We'll show them they mean a lot to Dodge," Kitty smiled.
"Jonas hates being the centre of attention," Doc grumbled.
"It's your job to persuade him to be here. I'll let Ellen in on it. I'm sure she doesn't want to leave her friends here," Kitty added as she poke the doctor in the should. "We'll hold the party this Saturday night," the saloon owner smiled – there was mischief in her eyes.
"Well, I hope this works," Doc said with little assurance. Kitty smiled and winked, "It will," she patted the doctor on the shoulder.
Doc left the saloon with his assignment. He wasn't sure how to phrase the message to Wilbur as part of him was ticked off. Doc stopped in front of the little house look at the for sale sign with a huff he walked with purpose to the front door and knocked. Ellen opened the door and was surprised to see the doctor, "Doc?" she asked.
The doctor tipped his hat, "Can I speak to Wilbur for a moment?" he asked. His eyes notice that the usually tidy house had crates and such scattered around. "Certainly," Ellen said then called for her husband.
Doc remained on the veranda when Jonas joined him, "Doc?"
The doctor drew a breath and looked into Wilbur's eyes. "Looks like you're busy, so I won't keep you," Doc started. "I was just talking to Kitty and," he paused, "well, we want to hold a farewell party for you and Ellen on Saturday night," he sputtered.
"Oh, I..." Jonas stammered. "I don't know, Doc," the store owner grew flustered.
"Look, if you are leaving Dodge, just do me this one favour, will you?" Doc urged. Jonas sensed what his friend was saying. Jonas looked down and then to Ellen who was nodding yes. "We'll be there," he said before excusing himself to return to packing up their belongings.
It was Saturday night and Ellen adjusted Wilbur's tie, "There, that's better," she said as she brushed off the shoulders of his suit coat. It had been a while since he'd dressed up for any occasion. "Well, I guess we should get going now," Wilbur said as he opened the door for his wife, then closied behind them. Ellen wrapped her arm around her husband's left arm as he was still using the cane for his leg, which was slowly healing. The Jonases walked along Front Street and paused in front of the saloon. Wilbur stiffened then opened the swing door into the Long Branch.
Ellen looked up at her husband who stood agape. A lump formed in his throat as he looked around the crowded room of his friends, customers and other business people he has worked with. His eyes lifted to the banner and his eyes welt with tears.
Someone shouted from the crowd shouted, "Speech!"
Jonas stood staring; he then blinked his eyes and looked at Ellen before he turned around and walked back out the door. Everyone in the room looked at each other. Doc looked at Kitty, "I said this wasn't going to work." Doc followed Jonas out to the street and found him standing looking at the store.
The doctor walked to the store owner's side, "You all right?" he softly asked.
Jonas said nothing at first. "We did a good job fixing it up," he finally spoke.
Doc tugged his ear, "You and Reverend Joe did a great job," he replied as he studied his friend. "You know a lot of people are going to miss you and Ellen," he added.
Again Jonas said nothing. Tears finally fell from his light blue eyes. "Leave me be for a moment, please," he looked at the doctor. Doc nodded and turned away. "Folks are expecting a speech," he said as he approached the saloon. The doctor stood on the boardwalk and looked back at the store owner. He ticked his head and went into the establishment. Everyone in the room expected Jonas to be with him. "Just give him some time," Doc said as he joined Kitty and Matt at the bar. Kitty felt terrible, "I would have sworn this would have worked," she sighed.
Jonas drew a deep breath and stepped up onto the boardwalk in front of his store. He wet his lips then pulled the sale sign off the building then looked down at the cardboard hand painted sign, "You'll get your speech," he smiled slightly and limped back to the saloon.
The store owner held his head high as he pushed thought the swing-doors. His eyes still wet, "I owe you a speech," said looking around the room. "Here it is," Jonas said firmly as he ripped the sign in half and dropped it to the floor. Ellen screamed with joy and quickly hugged her husband before kissing him. The room was filled with whistles and applause. Ellen guided Wilbur to the bar, "And the first round of drinks is on me!" Jonas said as Doc, Matt and the rest patted the store owner. He had no idea how many people cared and he suddenly found purpose again. Over the jubilant crowd, Jonas saw the look on Doc's face and smiled.