The shack three miles north of town was unprotected and cold. He lay
on the floor, the pain continuing to radiate through his body.
"Solly....Solly, please... I need somethin'..."
His older brother knelt down next to him, and checked the gunshot wound yet again.
"You're still bleedin' pretty bad."
"Solly...it hurts...."
Solly ran a comforting hand over his brother's forehead.
"It's goin' to be okay, Bert....just take it easy. I'll think of somethin'....."
Bert groaned in pain, and a moment later, passed out. Solly stood. His little brother was in bad shape. He'd have to risk going into the nearby town they'd passed earlier.
***********
Festus walked up and down the boardwalks, making his final check of the town for the night. It was well past midnight, and most of the good citizens of Dodge were asleep. It was colder than usual for November, and he tugged at his coat, pulling it closer around his body. As he neared Doc Adam's place, he thought of their earlier argument. The old codger's words still stung, even though Miss Kitty had come to him hours later at the Marshal's office, to tell him that ol' Doc was just overtired, and hadn't meant it. She said that he was even going to apologize, but had been called away to deliver a baby.
The deputy's thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of breaking glass: it had come from the second floor of Doc Adams' place. His muscles tightened in response to the sound, and he quickly walked across the street, and up the stairs. The door to the office was slightly ajar, but there was no light on inside. His hand flexed around the wooden handle of his gun as he drew it, silently entering the doctor's office.
By the time he saw the glint of the knife blade reflecting in the moonlight from the open door, it was over.
"Solly....Solly, please... I need somethin'..."
His older brother knelt down next to him, and checked the gunshot wound yet again.
"You're still bleedin' pretty bad."
"Solly...it hurts...."
Solly ran a comforting hand over his brother's forehead.
"It's goin' to be okay, Bert....just take it easy. I'll think of somethin'....."
Bert groaned in pain, and a moment later, passed out. Solly stood. His little brother was in bad shape. He'd have to risk going into the nearby town they'd passed earlier.
***********
Festus walked up and down the boardwalks, making his final check of the town for the night. It was well past midnight, and most of the good citizens of Dodge were asleep. It was colder than usual for November, and he tugged at his coat, pulling it closer around his body. As he neared Doc Adam's place, he thought of their earlier argument. The old codger's words still stung, even though Miss Kitty had come to him hours later at the Marshal's office, to tell him that ol' Doc was just overtired, and hadn't meant it. She said that he was even going to apologize, but had been called away to deliver a baby.
The deputy's thoughts were interrupted when he heard the sound of breaking glass: it had come from the second floor of Doc Adams' place. His muscles tightened in response to the sound, and he quickly walked across the street, and up the stairs. The door to the office was slightly ajar, but there was no light on inside. His hand flexed around the wooden handle of his gun as he drew it, silently entering the doctor's office.
By the time he saw the glint of the knife blade reflecting in the moonlight from the open door, it was over.