Luke Fleming stepped through the doors of the Lady Gay Saloon. For the hour, the room was busy with customers at the bar as well as at various tables. There was only one poker game which was active that caught Fleming's attention.
Fleming moved to the bar and leaned down on his right elbow as his eyes scanned the room. Several cowboys were just up the bar and looked over to Fleming, "Those are some fancy duds," one of them stated.
Fleming slowly looked over to the man that spoke, "You could get some yourself, if you had the mind to do an honest day's work," he stated.
The man began to move toward Fleming but his friend pulled him back, "Leave it be, Jack," he stated. The cowboy glared at Fleming while he steeled in again at the bar. Fleming chuckled to himself.
"What will it be, mister?" the barkeep asked as he walked over to where Fleming stood.
Fleming pursed his lips, "Whiskey," he then said.
The barkeep pulled a bottle off the shelf from behind him and pulled the cork. He slid a clean glass across the bar before he filled it with the whiskey. Fleming dropped a few coins onto the bar, "This should cover the bottle," he said.
The barkeep placed the bottle down onto the bar next to Fleming. She scooped up the coins and walked away.
Fleming lifted the drink to his lips and shot back the glass full before he picked up the bottle and pushed off from the bar walking in the direction of the card game.
Fleming poured another drink and hovered off to the side of the table waiting for someone to acknowledge him. Craig Morton looked up as he finished folding, "Wasn't a good game anyway," Morton chuckled.
"Mind if I sit in?" Fleming said as he sat the bottle purposely down next to the man. Morton eyes the bottle but didn't say anything at first, "Sure if you want to join us," he said still looking at the bottle.
Fleming eased himself into the chair in front of him and glanced over to his new friend, "Oh, sorry," he smiled. "Help yourself," he nudged the bottle toward Morton who was glad to oblige and swiftly filled his glass. Both men waited until the last hand was played before they asked to join the next game.
When Fleming pulled a considerable pile of bills from his vest pocket, other men around the table nudged each other, "Play often?" one man asked from the table.
Fleming sipped from his drink, and shook his head no, "Hardly ever," she smiled politely.
"Well, if you don't mind my saying so, you have a sizable amount of money there," the man said.
Fleming chuckled, "You might say I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth," she smiled and drank again. Most of the men around the table looked at each other and they all had the same thought - this new player will be easy prey and easy money.
The cards were quickly dealt and the game was under way. And once again, to gain their trust, Fleming lost the first two hands. The men ravelled at their winnings. And the cards were dealt again but this time Fleming aimed to win and just as planned, Brad Warner and Morgan Thompson walked into the saloon. Their eyes quickly connected before Fleming went on about his business. It was the scene from the Oasis all over again.
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Doc drew his forearm across his sweat-beaded brow as he continued to check for Festus' pulse and with a heave of relief he could hear a faint beat of the hill man's heard when he pressed his head to Festus' chest. Doc gulped and looked upward thanking his marker. The doctor closed his eyes and took a moment before he tried to find the bullet in Festus.
Louie watched on, "Doc?" he asked from the chair next to the desk.
Doc's eyes fluttered open and he turned. He'd completely forgotten about Louie, "Oh, Louie," he said while watching Louie with the blood-soaked handkerchief. "Take this," the doctor said handing Pheeters a new cloth. "As soon as I get this bullet out of Festus, I'll look at your lip," the doctor stated. Louie nodded in understanding.
Doc tried to clear his mind of the thought that he had just about lost his best friend, "Stay with me Festus," he said as he picked up the bullet probe again and gently lowering in it into the bullet wound.
There was a barely audible moan from Festus, but Doc still took it as a good thing, "Hang in there ol' boy," he whispered.
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Matt quickly exchanged horses, and looked over his shoulder as he prepared to leave the stage stop, "I'll be back in a day or two for my horse," he said and then dug his spurs into the horse's flanks and he was on the road again. The marshal was tired and worried which was not a good mixture for anyone at the other end of his journey.
He pressed on, and was making good time, he figured.
The sun was beginning to dip behind the distance hills which meant Matt would be arriving in Dodge by dark. Matt thought that might be an advantage for his deputies, obviously not knowing Festus was severely wounded and in Doc's care.
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Newly stepped down from the front boardwalk of the jail house. Front Street was quiet, almost eerily so, he thought. Lamps began to glow in shop windows and the street lamp lighter was beginning his rounds. O'Brien's eyes lifted to the light in the doctor's office and he decided that he should pay the doctor a visit before dark.
Newly crossed the street, his eyes scanning for McLean and his men, but they were nowhere in sight. For a brief moment he was grateful of the fact, but then he wonder where they were and what they were up to. Newly stopped on the boardwalk and glanced back at the jail house and then down to his pocket where he held the keys for the holding cells. A cold shiver ran up his spin as he tried not think about McLean. He returned his attention to Doc's office and quickly climbed the stairs.
Doc finally found the bullet and held it in the forceps just as Newly opened the office door. Doc looked over his shoulder and let the bullet and forceps fall gently into the enamelled tray, "I just got it out of him," Doc said looking back down to Festus.
Newly walked over to Doc, "How is he?" he looked down at his friend.
"Weak. Very weak," Doc said as he drew his hand across his moustache and looked up to Newly.
O'Brien looked over to the doctor, "There's no sign of McLean or his other men. I'm not sure I want to know where they are at the moment," the young deputy said.
"They'll surface when they want. I suggest you stay close to the jail with that one you've got locked up," Doc said as he began to clean Festus' wound.
"They can't get at him, unless they go through me," Newly said.
Doc quickly looked over to Newly who patted his vest pocket, "I have the jail keys with me," he said with a smiled.
"You better watch your back then." Doc warned. "It seems to me that these men don't stop at anything," he said and went back to work on the hill man. "I don't need any more business tonight," Doc stated.
Newly nodded, "I understand, Doc," he said with a smiled. "I'll see if Miss Kitty can spare Sam until the marshal arrives," he said.
"I can help too," Louie stated.
"You've already have done enough," Doc said looking over to Louie who still held the cloth to his lip. Louie looked down at the bloodied cloth and sighed, "I suppose I have," he said in a dry calculated tone.
