He felt the heavy hand on his shoulder and didn't need to look to know that Festus was beside him as he was escorted to the Hays City Courthouse. Adams was silently grateful, and for once didn't jerk away from his friend, as was part of their customary discourse; it wasn't lost on Festus. The deputy tried to keep his voice pleasant and easy.
"I'm a-thankin' that after all o' this hoopla n' folderol's done over with, we should go a-fishin' at Cottonwood Crick." Doc nodded, but was so touched by his friend's effort to comfort him, he couldn't bring himself to speak. Haggen continued, trying to keep things light, "I'm a-fixin' ta catch me that 50-pounder I done seen, and we'll have us a fish fry at the Longbranch that'll set all o' Dodge on its ear." Adams remained silent, but Haggen noticed that the old man's head had dropped some, and he squeezed the shoulder under his hand, His voice took on dismay. "Now Doc, you ortn'ta worry, thangs is gonna turn out all right, don'tcha see?"
Adams looked at him then, no longer able to cover his trepidation. "No Festus, I don't see that right now. I don't see that at all."
Haggen kept his hand on Doc's shoulder. "Wull then I'll just have ta see it for both of us."
The lump in the doctor's throat made his eyes sting with emotion, and if Haggen hadn't been moving him in the direction he needed to go, he would have stumbled from the blur in his eyes for certain. Following several paces behind, Kitty nodded to Dillon, indicating that he should move up with the two men. In as much as she wanted to be with him, she understood that Doc needed the comfort of Festus and Matt far more in that moment.
Matt walked up from behind and stood on the other side of Adams, also putting his arm around Doc's shoulder. "We're with you, Doc. We're gonna get through this together."
Adams' voice was small, "I'm sorry you two have to go through this at all, I truly am."
Festus and Matt exchanged a glance, and Haggen answered, "Aw, fiddle, Doc, we wusn't doin' nuthin' anyways..."
Doc's head snapped up to glare at Haggen, and the sweet smile that met him filled him with warmth. Adams looked away, and while he couldn't muster his usual tone, he responded, "Ya dang mule..."
Festus made a puffing noise with his mouth, "Derned ol' billy goat..."
Matt smiled, and squeezed Doc's shoulder. The three men and the Sheriff's escort walked the rest of the way to the courthouse in silence, with Kitty following several paces behind.