Doc opened the door into the jail house and looked back into the holding cells. Wilbur Jonas sat on the edge of the cot with his face buried in his left hand. His right hand drooped limply between his knees. "Jonas? You all right?" the doctor asked as he moved toward the jail cell.

Jonas looked up through his fingers, "I feel terrible," he mumbled.

"Well if it's any consolation, you look it too," Doc reached for the keys and walked to the cell door. Doc pushed the key into the lock and turned it as Jonas watched. The store owner sighed, "I can't believe I spent the night in jail," his left hand dropped between his knees and he starred at the floor in the cell.

"Well," Doc started, "there are other worse places you could have spent the night," he looked at Jonas.

"I can't think of one," Jonas lifted his eyes to the doctor.

Doc pursed his lips in thought and squinted his right eye, "How about my office, or over at Percy Crumps?"

Jonas drew a deep breath, "Point well taken, Doc."

"Humph," Doc replied as he sat down next to the man. Doc studied Jonas for a moment. He's seen a change in the man ever since he tried to walk to Cimarron, "You know, Jonas, I've had my office above your store for close to fifteen years and I don't recall in all that time we've spoken to each other as much as we have in the past six months," Doc snorted with a bit of a chuckle.

Jonas looked over at the doctor, "It is kinda funny that, isn't it?"

Doc's eyebrows rose upward, "Funny, I suppose. But I was thinking more sad. We tend to go through life taking people and things for granted," Doc stated.

Jonas tried to comprehend what Doc was trying to say, "Doc. I'm not following you," he held his aching jaw.

"It's all about assumptions. Day after day, I assume that you will be at the store. You likely assume that I'll be in the office and that Ellen was at home baking bread..." Doc paused as he watched Jonas. The store owner's eyes weld with tears, "I see what you mean now," he said in a hushed voice.

"Jonas. Look at me," Doc said sternly.

Jonas slowly looked at the doctor and swallowed. Something inside made him think of the worst. "What is it, Doc?" he kept his tone calm.

Doc blinked and a slight smile curled under his greying moustache, "Ellen told me that she moved her right leg last night."

Jonas sighed, and wavered slightly. The good news took him by surprise, "Honest?"

"You betcha. She's like to see you soon," Doc slowly stood and patted Jonas on the shoulder as he did. "I suggest you clean up a bit before you visit, however," Doc smiled again.

Jonas ran his left hand over his chin, "I suppose I could use a cleaning," he smiled at the doctor.

Doc limped to the cell door and stopped and turned, "Jonas, you've not half bad," he smiled again.

Jonas pulled himself to his feet, "I never had any complaints about you either, Doc."

Doc smiled, "Go and clean up and get to my office to see your wife." Jonas nodded, "Thanks, Doc."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Joe sighed, "That's all I can tell you sir," he said to the major.

Matt stepped forward, "He's told us the exact same thing," he said to the major. Beaumont drew a breath and walked toward the door, "Matt, I would have thought that you would have known better. Certainly the army has an interest in this investigation, but what charges that man faces has to come from you," Beaumont stated as he glanced from Matt to Joe and back again.

Matt frowned, "Sorry major. You're right. I haven't had more than three hours sleep and I guess I just wasn't thinking straight," he looked back over his shoulder to Joe who had now drifted off.

"He's a nice fellow, I'll give him that," Beaumont stated. "I'm sure you'll do the right thing, Matt," Beaumont smiled and opened the door just as Doc returned.

Doc studied the officer and then Matt before his eyes drifted over to Joe on the examination table, "So?"

"So what? Matt asked.

"Is he guilty?" Doc looked at the two men standing near the doorway.

"Doctor, it is not for me to decide," Beaumont said," Your marshal will be the one who will decide that," the major tipped his hat, "Good afternoon, gentlemen," he said as he left.

Doc's eyes narrowed, "You?"

Matt looked at the doctor sheepishly, "Yeah. Me. I must have been too tired to comprehend my jurisdiction with regards to law enforcement." Matt looked over to Joe.

"So?" Doc waited.

"So what?" Matt asked back.

"What are you going to do with Joe?" Doc snapped at the marshal.

"I don't know just yet, Doc. I guess I really haven't had time to think it through properly," Matt said sternly. "When the time comes, I'll tell you," Matt growled back at the doctor who was taken back by Matt's harsh tone.

"As your doctor, I suggest you get a good night's sleep before you even start thinking about this case. In your current state you're liable to take him out into the plains and tie him to an ant hill!" Doc barked back.

Matt looked at the doctor, "There might be room for two," he muttered before he turned and left the doctor's office.

"Hump!" Doc snorted. "I think I'm beginning to like Jonas more than him," Doc chirped as he limped over to Joe's side to take his pulse. Instinctively Doc's hand reached into his pocket when he realized that his pocket watch was broken. He frowned again about the timepiece.

Matt practically stormed down the stairs. He was mad at Doc and even more mad at himself for not picking up on the whole issue of who was responsible for conviction against Joe, if any. Matt huffed as he reached the street. His eyes scanned the street when he spotted Festus and Newly heading in his direction. Matt waited.

"Matthew?" Festus spoke, "Seems like them soldier boys have everythang under control," Festus thumbed over his shoulder and smiled.

"Major Beaumont was relieved that not more people were injured or killed," Newly added.

Matt made a face, "That makes two of us," the marshal's eyes then lifted to the door of the doctor's office.

"Matthew?" Festus noted something was afoot.

Matt's eyes came back to the deputies, "I'd appreciate it, if you two could keep an eye on things. I need to talk to Kitty about something," Matt stated as he sidestepped the two men.

Festus turned and watched Matt walk to the Long Branch, "He sure has something stuck in his craw," the hill man stated.