Matt checked Royce McClellan over before he set out to find Kitty and her two captors. The gunman was coming to and confused about where he was, and how he managed to get handcuffed to a post inside a store, "What's going on?" he asked no one in particular, although Matt was still in the room but over at the back door where he was examining the spots of blood on the ground and in the snow. Maybe Festus was right and he did manage to hit one of them with a bullet.
Matt slowly walked over to where McClellan leaned against the post, "Where you in Pratt yesterday?" he asked with great irritation in his voice.
McClellan looked up at Matt, "You're the marshal from Dodge, aren't you?" Matt nodded. McClellan looked at the shackles that held him to the post, "These are yours I presume," he said. Matt nodded again. This time Matt crossed his arms across his chest, "Are you riding with Hatton and Fowler?" he asked.
McClellan looked sharply up at Matt but didn't speak a word. Matt pursed his lips, "I figured as much," he said allowing his arms to drop back down to his sides. "You'll be staying here awhile," Matt stated and began to walk to the back door.
"It was a fair fight, marshal," McClellan shouted to Matt as he left the old general store in search of Kitty.
Hatton and Fowler's adrenalin was running high as they now had Kitty to watch and watch out for Matt. Hatton was about to suggest that they split up, but then he realized someone was bleeding, "Are you hit?" he looked over to Fowler who merely shrugged, "I don't think so!" he said. "I think I'd know if I was shot," he snorted. Hatton continued to study the blood on the floor and the trail that went out the door of the old freight depot to the street.
Hatton thought for a few seconds and a strange tingling sensation came from the back of his left thigh. He slowly moved is hand down to his leg and cupped it under his thigh. As he pulled his hand way, it was covered in blood, "It's me," he looked shocked as he studies his blood-covered hand. Hatton looked up and out the window, "Dillon will easily track us now!" he growled.
Fowler was still struggling with Kitty Russell, "Not if we get him first!" he laughed.
Kitty pulled free and called for Matt as loudly as she could.
Hatton had enough of the woman's protest swung his right fist which hit Kitty across the forehead. The saloon owner slumped in Fowler's arms, "I think you killed her," Fowler looked over to Hatton who was now trying to patch the hole in his leg.
"It isn't right to hit a woman and kill her," Fowler said as he gently put Kitty down on the floor at this feet.
"Shut up will you!" Hatton yelled, "and help me here," he said as he frantically tried to tie a strip of cloth around his wounded leg.
Matt heard Kitty's cry for help and pressed against a building near where he thought he had heard the call come from. His eyes scanned the street while he held his gun in a ready position. He didn't like how all of a sudden it grew quiet in old Dodge Town.
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Festus fought several times to keep Popcorn and the buddy on the road. He also carefully watched Doc who was slumped against the buggy seat and the canape upright. Festus also fretted about Miss Kitty and Matt back at old Dodge Town.
"Come on Popcorn!" he shouted as the rig reached the outskirts of Dodge City. As Festus fought for control and maneuvered through the streets he drew the attention of quite a number of people, "Get Newly!" he shouted as he finally pulled the horse and buggy to a full stop at the foot of the stairs that led up to Doc's office.
Sam Noonan and Louie Pheeters heard the commotion from within the Long Branch and raced to the front doors to see what was going on. Sam opened the outer doors and looked out, "That's Festus with Doc's buggy!" Louie Pheeters said over his shoulder.
"Something is wrong," Sam said in his velvet baritone voice and pushed the doors opened to find out just what that might be.
Festus slowly got down from the buggy, "Someone find Newly and make it snappy!" he yelled and walked around the far side of the rig. Sam caught up to him, "Festus, what's wrong?" he asked and noticed the blood-soaked sleeve on the hill man's coat.
"Doc's been shot," Festus fussed with the blanket he had found under the buggy seat that he covered Doc with some time ago.
"Where's the marshal and Miss Kitty?" Sam quickly asked.
"Sam, Matthew wants a posse formed and to head out to old Dodge Town. He needs help," Festus stated. Sam nodded, "I see to the posse, Festus."
Newly O'Brien finally arrived on the spot once Louie Pheeters found him at his gun shop. O'Brien's eyes quickly surveyed the situation, "Some of you get Doc up to his office quickly," he said and moved over to Festus to look at his arm.
"Newly, you look after Doc. I'm going back out to help Matthew," the hill man stated.
"Festus, your arm is broken. You can't ride!" Newly stated with his eyebrows lifted.
"Matthew needs me," Festus stated.
"He needs you here so I can look after your arm. You won't be any good to him out there. He'd only worry about you too," Newly tried to convince Festus to say.
"Newly, just wrap my arm up and put it in one of those sling thangs," Festus ordered.
"But, Festus!" Newly began when Festus stopped him. "Newly. You know full well, thar ain't no way you can stop me. Matthew and Miss Kitty need me," he said with his left eye scrunched up and his right index finger waving at the young deputy.
Newly's shoulders sagged, "I can't argue with you all day. I need to look after Doc," he said and walked away. Festus pursed his lips and watched as a group of men carried Doc Adams up to his office. He then looked to the ground in discouragement.
Wilbur Jonas watched on and he could see the angst in the hill man's eyes, "It doesn't look like Newly is going to put your arm in that sling," he said.
Festus looked up, "No it don't," he sighed.
Jonas twisted his mouth in thought, "I'll likely catch the devil from Doc and the marshal, but I'll help you," he tried to smile.
Festus smiled further, "Thank you Mister Jonas!" he said and quickly walked over to the general store.
"I remember a few things from my days in the army," Jonas stated as he carefully wrapped a swatch of cloth under Festus' arm and tied it at the neck. "I would suggest you take a shot gun too," the store owner stated.
Sam had gathered a dozen men and watched Festus and Jonas, "Are you sure you should be going, Festus?" the barkeep asked.
"It's not a matter of being sure, it's a matter Miss Kitty and Matthew's lives," the hill man stated and climbed back into Doc's buggy, "Let's make tracks. There isn't much daylight left," he stated. Sam motioned to the men to get on their mounts and follow Festus.
Newly watched from the window in Doc's office, "I hope you know what you are doing, Festus," was all he could think to say before turning back to face the unconscious doctor on the examination table.
Newly lifted the blanket and looked at the wound in the doctor's side and he shook his head. The door of the office opened and Wilbur Jonas stepped through closing it behind him. The look on Newly's face was enough to tell that Doc's injury wasn't good. Jonas swallowed, "Newly, if you need help..." his voice trailed off.
Newly nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Jonas. I do need help," he said looking back at Doc.