NIGHT OF THE RED DOG

(This may be my second favorite episode, certainly in my top five anyway, and I am sure it has nothing to do with the Kid hurt/comfort element of the story. It is a very humerus episode, but it failed to explain what happened between the time Clarence bequeathed the gold claim to the group and the time they set out in search of the claim. This explains that interlude.).

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"How soon do you think we will be able to leave to find this gold claim?" Dr. Beauregard asked as they all stood about, looking at the map poor Clarence had bequeathed to them.

"Well, we can't just leave poor Clarence in an empty undertaker's parlor to leave this world all alone," Heyes replied.

"Suppose we should wait until Doctor Irwin gets back. Then we can move Clarence to the doctor's office," Ralph Marsden, the undertaker replied.

"So, likely a day or two," Billy Boggs suggested.

"In the mean time, Doc Beauregard likely ought to stay with him, in case he takes a turn for the worse," Kid suggested.

"I certainly will not," Dr. Beauregard replied and found himself staring into the aghast faces of his five new partners. "What I mean is, I think we should take turns. Someone should be with Clarence at all times, but there's nothing medical to be done for him, so we can split that time up evenly."

Billy nodded his head. "That seems like the fair thing to do," he replied.

"What do we do with that two hundred pounds of gold in there with him?" Jason asked.

"I suppose we could divide it up among the six of us," Dr. Beauregard suggested.

"We can't split that up," Heyes protested. "The man ain't even dead yet, so technically it don't belong to us."

"We could give it to Dr. Irwin for safe keeping. Then when Clarence does pass on, it would pay for Dr. Irwin's expenses while he takes care of poor Clarence," Kid suggested.

"I agree with Mr. Jones," Heyes said emphatically and everyone except Dr. Beauregard agreed.

"It's settled, then," Heyes stated.

"We should probably count the number of bags Clarence has, just to keep everyone honest," Jason suggested.

With that said, everyone moved back into the room where Clarence lay sleeping and the bags were counted, one at a time, and within view of everyone.

"Seems like we're starting out on a rather mistrusting foot," Marsden said. "Perhaps we should move this gold to the bank or the Sheriff's office for safe keeping, until Dr. Irwin returns."

"That's just going to get more people wanting in on this claim," Dr. Beauregard concluded.

"I hate to admit it, but the doc here has a point," Heyes said. "Let's just leave it here, but we'll check each bag right before we carry it over to Dr. Irwin's office when he gets back."

Every head nodded in agreement.

"So, now we got to come up with some sort of schedule for who's here tending to Clarence when," Kid said.

"Well, there's six of us to cover forty-eight hours, so we could each take an eight hour shift," Marsden suggested and again five of six heads nodded in agreement.

All eyes fell on Dr. Beauregard once again, they only person who had not agreed to an eight hour shift.

"Fine," Beauregard said indignantly. "Now in what order, gentlemen?"

Once a working schedule had been arranged and written down on a piece of paper, each man set to work purchasing what equipment and clothing he deemed necessary for panning for gold and each purchased a mule to carry his equipment and belongings.

Kid's eight hour shift began the following morning and Heyes' shift immediately followed Kid's.

"Heyes, come here," Kid whispered urgently as he sat beside Clarence's bed.

Heyes quickly approached the bed, worried that Clarence had passed away.

"He woke up a little while ago, took some water, and then started grabbin at his belly, saying it was hurting him."

"Did you go get Doc Beauregard?"

Kid shook his head. "No, he fell back asleep real quick, but..."

"But what?"

"Well... feel this, Heyes," Kid said placing his open hand on the lower part of Clarence's belly.

"I ain't feeling down there!" Heyes protested.

"Not that far!" Kid snarled in return. "Right here, feel this."

Ever so cautiously, Heyes lowered his hand to Clarence's belly and Kid saw the look of surprise on Heyes' face.

"Is that some kind of growth, Heyes?" Kid asked.

Heyes' expression told Kid that his partner had no idea what it was he was feeling.

"It gets bigger and harder when he tries to sit up," Kid added.

"You're probably right, Kid. It's probably some kind of growth. That's likely what's killing him."

"Think I should go get the doctor?"

Heyes shook his head. He was a bit skeptical about how competent Dr. Beauregard really was. "But we'll tell Doctor Irwin about it when he gets back."

As luck would have it, Dr. Irwin returned to town late that same afternoon. Clarence was transported by wagon to Dr. Irwin's office and Kid, Heyes, Jason, and Billy each carried fifty pounds of gold dust to Dr. Irwin's office and explained to Dr. Irwin what it was and what it was for.

As they were all leaving the doctor's office, Kid pulled Dr. Irwin aside and told him about the lump in Clarence's belly. Dr. Irwin promised to thoroughly examine his new patient.

So the next morning, with Clarence now in good hands, and all their equipment packed on their mules, the six men set out to seek their fortunes.