Several days had passed since the incident at the old mill building, yet the citizens of Dodge were still reeling with the news of what happened. Everywhere the doctor went, people asked him about it, but, he was happy to notice that the questions became fewer over time. Doc picked up his mail as well as Kitty's and ambled down the street toward the Long Branch Saloon.
The physician picked through his mail as he walked, lifting his head every now and then to avoid a mid-boardwalk collision with another person, or a post. Nothing caught his attention, so he stuffed the envelopes into his coat pocket, retaining Kitty's mail.
Doc pushed through the swing doors and stepped down into the saloon, "Kitty," he said as he waved her mail in the air.
"Oh, hiya, Doc," the redheaded saloon owner smiled from her table. "You are just in time for a fresh pot of coffee,' Kitty offered, pushing the morning newspaper aside.
"Sounds good to me," the doctor mused as he sat down at the green felt-covered table, placing Kitty's mail next to her.
"How's your arm today?" Kitty noticed that Doc was still favouring his left shoulder.
Doc glanced at his shoulder, "It still reminds me its there," he said with a slight sigh and looked back at Kitty.
"I'll change the dressing for you later. I know you have difficulties doing it yourself," Kitty said as she poured the doctor a cup of steaming black coffee and slid the cup and saucer over to her friend.
"Thanks, Kitty. I'd appreciate that," Doc tried to smile. His mood was only slightly better.
Kitty poured herself a coffee, "Is there any improvement with Jason?" she asked as she sipped on the drink.
Doc shook his head no, "I would have thought he'd of come to by now," he stated. "Matt chained his leg to the end of the bed," he snorted.
"That was a little premature, wasn't it?" Kitty asked.
Doc shrugged, "He feels that if he was give the chance he'd finish off what he came here to do," he said.
"Why doesn't he lock him in a cell then?" Kitty sounded annoyed.
Doc again shook his head, "I can't leave him in the jail. There's little heat at night and the conditions aren't right. Maybe once he's conscious and has eaten and gotten stronger, then maybe I'll have Matt move him over there," he said.
In away Kitty was pleased to hear Doc talking about Jason Burton as a patient not as a potential murderer. Kitty sipped on her coffee, "I'll be glad when all this is done and put behind us," she stated.
Doc looked up at Kitty, "I couldn't agree more," he said as he too drank his coffee. Kitty looked up and watched Wilbur Jonas step down into the saloon, "It's a little early, isn't it Mr. Jonas?" Kitty joked with the store owner.
"Oh," Jonas chuckled, "I'm not here for a drink, yet, Miss Kitty," he added. "I came for Doc," he said looking down at the physician.
Doc turned and looked up at Jonas, "What for?" he asked as he placed is cup down on the saucer.
"Newly asked me to find you," Jonas stated. "He said that Burton is coming to," he said thumbing over his shoulder.
Doc drew his hand across his moustache, "And so it begins," he said as he slowly stood up from the table.
"Do you want me to go with you, Doc?" Kitty asked with concern filling her voice.
Doc shook his head no, "Thanks Kitty. But no," he said quietly. "I'll see you later," he said as he left.
Jonas and Kitty watched the doctor leave the saloon. "I sure would hate to be in Doc's shoes," Jonas said to no one in particular. "I couldn't agree more," Kitty added.
Doc slowly climbed the wooden stairs, while trying to think of what to say to Jason Burton – nothing was coming, and the thoughts that did were jumbled and incoherent as he tried to make sense of Burton's actions.
Newly heard Doc coming up the stairs and opened the door, "He's really agitated," Newly warned.
"Did you give him anything?" Doc asked as he peeled off his coat and hat, placing them on the rack next to the door.
"No, sir," Newly said.
"That's fine," Adams said. "You go and get something to eat now," he looked over to the young deputy.
"But Doc…" Newly said looking at the doctor.
"I'll be fine," Doc smiled as he placed his coat and hat on the rack near the door.
"Should I let the marshal know?" Newly then asked.
"You can if you want, but I don't see any need for him right now," Doc said as he prepared a syringe with morphine. "I don't Jason waking up too quickly," he added as he flicked his fingers at the syringe to get the air bubbles out.
"Fine, Doc," Newly said reluctantly as he opened the door and left the office.
Doc turned to the back room where he found Jason Burton wriggling on the bed, "You'd better calm down or you'll pull those stitches," Doc commented.
"As if I care," Burton growled.
Doc grabbed hold of the younger man's arm and quickly pulled it out straight in order to inject the contents of the syringe. At first, Burton resisted with a strength that surprised the doctor, however, once the morphine began to work, Jason relaxed and looked up at the doctor, "So you are still alive," he half laughed.
Doc placed the needle down on the dresser behind him and then pulled the chair over, pulling the cloth off the back. His eyes never left the younger man's as he lower himself onto the chair, "Your bullet hit me," he said holding up the bloodied shirt sleeve.
"That's not what I meant," Burton's eyes tried to focus on the shirt.
"I'm sure it wasn't," Doc growled. "Son, you need to know what really happened all those years ago," Doc said.
Burton laughed, "It doesn't matter what you say. I saw you murder my father," he rolled his head toward Doc. There was contempt in his voice.
Doc's eyes narrowed, "Your fate is in my hands right now," he said in a low tone.
Burton's eyes narrowed, "How so?" he wondered.
"Because I haven't decided on what charges I'm going to press against you. The marshal is waiting to hear. And depending on what you say and do, depends on whether you'll hang or not," Doc said.
Jason Burton turned his head away, "Why haven't you made up your mind? It's clear that I came here to kill you," Burton slurred slightly as the morphine began to work.
Doc nodded and blinked, "I know. But you didn't because you remember something very wrongly," Doc stated.
Jason jerked his head sideways and glared at the doctor, "I remember you in our house. I remember you taking my father's gun away from him and I remember you shooting him," he said angrily.
Doc shook his head no, "The first part is true. I did take that gun away. After your father finished beating your mother," he stated. "But what you couldn't see from where you were hiding – out of fear of your own life, was your mother's hand reaching to the gun. It was her finger on the trigger, not mine," the said.
Jason rolled his head back and stared at the ceiling, "You are lying," he said.
"No, son, I'm not. You ran out of the room once the police arrived. You didn't hear any of the conversations. And," Doc paused, "it was shortly afterwards your mother died," he sighed.
"Go to hell!" Jason said turning violently toward Doc.
Doc glared at the young man, "You'd better think about it," he said as he stood. "I'll have to soon tall Matt something," he said placing the chair back where he got it from before he left the room.