Clive stood at the fire pit and continued to think about the marshal's visit. He grew increasingly uncomfortable about it. "You know, Emmett. I think that we otta lave here withy the gold," he said.
Emmett stepped down off the ramshackle stoop in front of the shack and crossed the yard to join his brother at the fire pit, "Did you get all the gold out?" hr questioned.
Clive smiled, "I sure did and look at it! No one in a hundred years would know that this was a pile of coins before," he chuckled at their cleverness as showing Emmett some of the blobs of gold.
Emmett looked down at this wrapped, swollen hand, "I sure wish I had more of that medicine," he said.
Clive thought for a second, "You know, I bet that marshal has a posse after us. That wasn't no social call he made. And I bet that he thinks we're up to no good," he said with his eyes narrowing. Emmett agreed, "So?" he asked.
"I wager half of that gold, that we could ride into town and get you all the medicine you want," he smiled.
"I'm sure in need of it," Emmett spoke softly.
Clive nodded, "Let's get out of here then," he said patting his brother on the shoulder before walking to the horses.
"What about the cattle?" Emmett asked as he followed his brother to the horses. Clive began to saddle Emmett's horse, "I think we'd best just leave them. Once we get your medicine and leave this place, we'll start new somewhere else," Clive stated as he adjusted a buckle. "We need to get as many miles between us and that posse," he said.
"That goes for the ranch too?" Emmett asked.
"Yup," Clive smiled. "We still have the gold and each other," he said. "Things changed a little when you go hurt," he looked at Emmett.
Emmett frowned, "Sorry," he said in a hushed voice.
Clive continued with the horses, "I doesn't matter now. We will get your medicine and leave this hell hole," he said.
Within a few minutes, Clive had both horses ready and the saddle bags over the backs of their mounts, "Let's go," he stated and assisted Emmett up onto his horse. With a nod, the Kempenfelt brothers headed to the rugged hills and toward Dodge.
Matt pushed the posse to ride harder and faster toward the shack where he found the men. He knew from Doc's description that the one young man was in no condition to be riding, so he felt confidant that he'd catch both of them. He also felt that they would likely give up easy and seek more of Doc's help for the injured man.
It was later in the day when the posse reached the secluded clearing where the shack sat amongst the tall pines ion the valley. Matt quickly ordered the men to dismount and surround the building. "Newly. You and Burke take the back. Sam you take the far side, "Matt ordered and pointed. Festus held back and was ready with his rifle.
The men swiftly moved into place and waited for Matt to approach. Their nerves were taunt and they were anxious. Matt approached the front of the building with his gun pulled and ready, "This is Matt Dillon. United States Marshal. Come out with your hands in the air," he yelled. There wasn't a sound from within the building. Matt moved a little closer.
Newly rounded the corner, "Marshal, there's no one inside!" he hollered across the yard.
Matt's lips tightened as his eyes scanned the hills. "Damn," was all he could utter through his clenched teeth for the moment. The marshal turned to the other men, "They've made a run for it," he stated as he quickly looked into the building and spotted the empty ladanum bottle.
Festus joined the men, "I don't think is was a total loss, Matthew," he said as he held up one single half melted gold coin.
Matt walked back and took the coin to examine it, "This must be how that one man got injured," he said.
"And," Festus continued, "There's a whole heap of cattle in a corral just over yonder," he pointed. Matt looked at the deputy and then walked briskly in the direction that Festus had pointed. The other men tagged along.
Matt bent forward and stepped though the rails along the side of the small corral, "Well this explains the missing cattle," he said as he pushed his way through the small herd and examined the various brands, and some altered ones.
Newly spotted the horse track on the dry ground, "Looks like they've made a run for the hills," he stated.
Matt thought for a moment, ""There's an empty laudanum bottle in there from Doc's office. I think they are headed back tom Dodge," the marshal said and quickly walked to his horse. The posse also swiftly mounted and followed Matt and Festus who where now tracking the two riders that went before them to the hills.
The sun was well over the hills now and only an hour or so of day light was left. Matt and the posse had to get through the hills with his men before night fall. A plume of dust followed the weary riders.
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Doc stepped out on to the boardwalk in front of Del Monico's and pulled a tooth pick from his vest pocket; picking at his teeth, his eyes scanned Front Street and he wondered if Matt and the posse had returned. He assumed not or he would have heard about it by now. He then wondered how the injured man was and what condition he was in. The original bottle of laudanum that was taken from his from his office wouldn't last that long, and he knew that the man shouldn't even have the quantity that the bottle contained.
The doctor shrugged off anymore thought of the two men, until he saw them face to face. He had better things to occupy his time and thoughts. He crossed the street and waved at Jonas who was finishing up with some customers and trying to close the general store for the night. The store owner acknowledged the doctor with a friendly wave.
Doc made his way up the stairs to his office, and he decided that he was going to write a few letters and ready some prescriptions for some of his patients, and then maybe work his way over to the Long Branch for a night cap. Hopefully, he thought Matt and the posse would be back by then.
Clive Kempenfelt pressed himself against the wall near the back window. He slowly peeked out and watched the doctor enter the office. Doc removed his hat and his coat before he lit an oil lamp over his desk and settled in to write the letters.
Clive carefully inched his way to the door that separated the two rooms. He waited until Doc was busy before his moved out behind him and pulled his gun from his holster, "My brother needs more medicine," he whispered to Doc.
Doc swallowed as he felt the cold of the steel barrel pressed against the back of his neck. "Too much ladanum will kill your brother," he said calmly.
"He's in pain. Get it for me now," Clive sneered,
Doc shook his head no.
Clive swung the doctor around in his swivel chair and pulled him to his feet. "Now," he glared at the doctor.
"Let go of me," Doc stared the man in the eyes.
Clive grew impatient and grabbed Doc by the left wrist, twisting his arm behind his back. Doc arched his back and stood on his toes to try and alleviate the pain that was growing hin his shoulder. "Your brother is in no condition to be riding and if you cared for him as much as you do, you would turn yourselves in," Doc grunted.
"Just get the medicine, old man," Clive growled and turned Doc to the white medical cabinet. He pushed Doc closer, "Now," he wrenched up on Doc's arm causing Doc to flinch. Doc swallowed and tried to think his way out of this very sticky predicament he found himself in. Nothing was coming to mind. The only think he could think of was the growing pain in his shoulder.