He continued to toss and turn until he couldn't stand it anymore. Angrily tossing the sheets back, Doc rose and padded into the outer office, noting how damned cold it had grown in his room. After lighting a lantern, he added wood to the stove and looked at the pocketwatch lying on his desk: it was well after three in the morning. A wind had risen during the course of the night, and it howled against the building, sending a draft through his office. Adams shivered as he turned to go back into his bedroom; there was no point in staying in his nightshirt, it was obvious sleep would continue to evade him. Doc put his clothes on, and then put a pot of coffee on the stove.
He started a moment later when he heard a soft knock on his door. He opened it to find Kitty standing there, wrapped in a shawl.
"Kitty...is something wrong?"
Her blue eyes seemed troubled, but she shook her head. "Not exactly, Doc. I'm sorry about the lateness of the hour, but I saw your light on..."
He held out his hand to her, and gently pulled her in through the door. "I can't sleep either. Come in and get warm."
Doc pulled out a chair for her near the wood stove, and Kitty sat in it, suppressing a shiver as she did so.
"You really cold, honey? I can get you blanket." She was about to decline the offer, but her hesitation spoke louder, and he continued. "You just stay right there..."
A moment later he wrapped her in a blanket from his bed, and sat down next to her.
"Coffee smells good, Doc."
"It'll be ready in just a minute."
They stared at each other for a moment, the awkward sense of foreboding overtaking the air in the room. Kitty frowned and looked down at her hands. The old man watched her carefully until she finally spoke.
"Doc...I...I've got this terrible feeling...I can't explain it, and I can't shake it. It's just there."
His voice was soft, "Kinda like something bad's gonna happen, and you can't do nothin' to stop it."
She looked up at him sharply. "That's it exactly."
The pale blue eyes stared into the brighter ones. "It's been gnawin' at me all night."
"Are we just goin' round the bend, Doc?"
He smiled lightly at her. "I hope so, Kitty. I'd hate to think we're feelin' this way for a reason ya know."
He poured her a steaming cup of coffee and one for himself. "That'll warm you right up."
Her voice held a slight quiver in it, even though she bit down on her lip, "When's Festus due back?"
The old doctor swallowed hard, the uncomfortable feeling in his belly surging with the mention of Haggen's name. "I think tomorrow, Kitty, but I ain't sure."
Sensing that she struck a nerve, Kitty's brow furrowed. "We're both feelin' it, Doc. It has to be real." Doc simply nodded, and they sat in silence for a few moments. Kitty placed a soft hand on his forearm, and his eyes darted up to hers. "I know it seems silly, but let's go get Matt."
"It's the middle of the night, honey..."
"Doc...this just doesn't feel right, and I'm scared."
The old man looked at the floor, his voice soft. "I know."
The knock on the door made both of them start. Doc got up and opened the door, walking away to make room for the large man.
"Come on in, Matt, we were just talking about you..."
"We?" The marshall looked at Russell. "Kitty...what are you doing here?"
"The same thing you are, I imagine. None of us can sleep."
Matt leaned against the wall, his hands resting on his gunbelt. "I've had the oddest feeling all night long. It's like I'm just waiting for something to happen."
Doc heaved a sigh and sat in his chair. "Might as well pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee. I doubt any of us is going to be able to get any sleep tonight."
There was a palpable tension hovering in the room with them, and after several minutes of unbearable silence, Kitty could no longer take it.
"I can't stand this. We have to do something."
Matt looked at her. "Do something about what? Nothing's happened."
She looked sharply at him. "That's where you're wrong, Matt. Something has happened. I can feel it; so can you." She looked at Adams. "Doc..."
The old man looked at the marshal. "Matt...when's Festus due back?"
The wind whipped hard outside, suddenly howling loudly against the windows, eking through enough to blow out Doc's lantern. Kitty's sharp intake of breath caused Adams to grab her hand in his, tightly holding it. Instinctively Matt drew his gun, but then felt silly that he had done so. He holstered it and leaned over to re-light the lantern, once again illuminating the room. Matt stared hard at Adams.
"Why did you bring up Festus?"
The old man shrugged. "I don't know really. Guess I just can't get him out of my mind."
"Neither can I," Kitty added quickly.
Matt stared hard at them, then leaned back against the wall. "That makes three of us." He looked at Doc. "He's due back tomorrow morning."
The old man frowned. "We can't wait, Matt."
The marshal looked at him. "I know."