Matt walked into Doc's office, and finding no one in the outer room, quietly entered the bedroom. Kitty was sitting in the chair by the bed, and looked up at him, barely restrained tears shining in her eyes. He removed his hat and stepped into the room.

"Kitty....."

"Matt, thank god you're here."

After an awkward moment, she reached for him, and he curled her into his chest, holding her close. He rubbed his hands on her arms in response to the slight shiver he felt from her.

"You holding up okay?"

She nodded her head against his chest, "Just tired."

He waited a moment, then pushed her gently away from him so that he could look into her eyes.

"How's Festus?"

She didn't know how to tell him, so she just said it.

"Doc's not sure he's gonna make it, Matt."

Dillon's brow furrowed, trying in vain to keep his feelings hidden. It was an effort to keep his voice soft and calm.

"Where is Doc?"

"Getting some rest in my room at the Long Branch, I hope." They shared a long look, and he knew there was more. Kitty continued, "He's taking this pretty hard."

"Newly mentioned that Sam said the two of them had some words at the Long Branch yesterday afternoon."

Kitty nodded, "Doc gave him a wicked snoutful, I'm afraid."

"Newly didn't know how Festus came to be stabbed, do you?"

"Doc's the one who found him. He was coming back from the Hansen place, and discovered Festus on the staircase, a hole in his belly from a knife. The door to Doc's office was open, and a window was broken, but there was no one around."

"Festus probably surprised a thief. Was there anything missing?"

Kitty shook her head, "You know Matt, I don't think Doc even thought to look. It took most of the night and the morning to patch Festus up, and after that he didn't leave his side until I made him go get some sleep."

Matt nodded, "Okay. I'm going to go door to door around town, and see if folks heard or saw anything."

"Matt....you have to find out who did this...."

Kitty couldn't finish the sentence, her emotions bubbling up into her throat.

Matt placed a soft hand on her shoulder, "I will."

Dillon set a gentle hand on Haggen's forehead, then he quickly put his hat on, and walked out of the room, leaving Kitty to take care of one of his most trusted friends.

***********

He wrapped another blanket around his shivering brother, and adjusted the clothes serving as a pillow under his head. Then he pulled out the bottle of laudanum from his jacket pocket, and uncorked it. He gently lifted Bert's head, and poured some of the liquid into his mouth. The young man sputtered slightly, coughing.

"You gotta drink it, Bert. It'll help with the pain."

"Where'd ya get it?"

"Some doctor's office in Dodge..."

"Dodge? Solly..... that's Dillon territory, are you crazy?"

"Don't you worry yourself none, I got away clean."

The boy's eyes fluttered closed, and Solly carefully put his head back down on the pile of clothes. He needed to get Bert somewhere better than this; somewhere warm with a bed, some food, and maybe some doctoring. He put his hat back on, and headed out in the direction of Dodge. He was quite certain the deputy who surprised him last night wouldn't be around to recognize him. He pulled the gun with the initials F.H. burned into its barrel and smiled. He was quite certain the deputy no longer needed his gun either.