He forced himself to sit still and listen to Halligan's testimony about the night Doc threatened Aaron Bradley at Delmonico's, but he was growing increasingly queasy with every passing word. Matt glanced over to see Kitty fighting to maintain her decorum, and next to her, Festus was squirming in his seat. Dillon then looked toward the defense table just beyond the wooden rail separating the gallery from the courtroom floor; Tom McClennan sat upright with his hands neatly folded on the table, looking as confident as ever; while in contrast, Adams slumped in his chair, defeat clinging to him like a cloud of dust. In all the years he had known Doc, he had never seen the man look so desolate, and so alone. Matt swallowed hard trying to rid his throat of the lump that had formed, his heart aching with desire to be able to look Doc in the eye and tell him that everything was going to be all right; that it was going to go their way. But Marshall Matt Dillon had attended enough trials, and had seen plenty of jurors to know that this one wasn't going their way at all.

Beeman's voice cut into Matt's thoughts. "What did Dr. Adams do then, Mr. Halligan?"

"Well Marshall Dillon had to pull him off of Dr. Bradley. Ol' Doc was madder'n a wet hen. I ain't never seen him so mad..."

"Was he mad enough to kill, Mr. Halligan?"

"Objection!" Tom McClennan stood. "Your honor, that is conjecture. There is no way that Mr. Halligan can know what the defendant was thinking."

Judge Dalton nodded. "Sustained." He looked at Beeman. "Confine your questions to facts, Mr. Beeman."

The D.A. smiled. "Yes, your honor." He turned toward Halligan once again. "In your opinion, Mr. Halligan, did Dr. Adams seem mad enough to kill?"

McClennan banged his hand on the table and stood. "Objection! Your honor--"

"--Mind your tone, Counselor."

"I apologize, your honor, but he asked the same question."

Beeman spoke up, "No, I did not. I asked if Dr. Adams seemed mad enough to kill in Mr. Halligan's opinion. It is not conjecture, nor is it speaking to any absolute other than the mind of the witness based upon what he saw."

Dalton raised an eyebrow, but looked toward McClennan. "I'd have to agree with Mr. Beeman on this one. An opinion is just that and is admissible from an eyewitness."

McClennan sighed deeply, but sat down. Dillon noticed that Doc's head never raised up during the exchange, nor did he show any interest in the outcome. Matt had seen the behavior before in defendants who had given up all hope. Dillon felt his eyes sting; he couldn't bear the thought of Doc being so lost. He felt the hand touch his and he glanced over to see Kitty smile slightly at him. He squeezed her hand, and then returned his attention to the proceeding.

"As I said before," Halligan stated with confidence, "I ain't never seen Doc Adams so mad. I mean, he's got quite a temper on him in general, but I ain't never seen him look like that."

"Doctor Adams has a bad temper, Mr. Halligan?"

Halligan smiled, as if it were all some kind of fanciful play-acting, "Everybody in Dodge knows about ol' Doc's temper! Why ya don't never wanna git him mad...he might take out your liver when ya ain't lookin' or somethin'!"

There was general laughter from the courtroom, and Dalton banged his gavel on the bench. "Order! This court will have order!" After a moment the room quieted, and Dalton looked at Beeman. "Is that all, counsel?"

"Yes your honor, I'm finished with this witness."

"Very well." He looked at Tom. "Mr. McClennan, he's all yours."

McClennan stood up and approached Halligan. "Let's go back for a moment, Mr. Halligan. You made the comment that Dr. Adams might take out a man's liver simply because he was angry. Did you mean that literally?"

"Literally?"

"Yes, did you mean it seriously? Would Dr. Adams take out a man's liver because he was mad?"

"Well of course not! He's a crotchety old coot, but he's too good a sawbones to do somethin' like that. I just meant that his goat can be got."

"But he wouldn't literally--uh, seriously in a real way--inflict harm on another person?"

"Objection! Leading the witness and straying from fact of case, your honor."

"Sustained. Mr. McClennan, please stick to the case at hand, and phrase your questions in an appropriate manner."

"Yes, your honor." He faced Halligan once more. "In your opinion, Mr. Halligan, would Dr. Adams willfully harm another human being?"

"Nah..." McClennan, sensing he had the upper hand, smiled; but then Halligan continued, "Not unless he had reason."

"I want that comment struck, your honor, the witness went beyond the question."

"Indeed he did, Mr. McClennan, but I'd like to hear more. Mr. Halligan, you were saying?"

"I was just sayin' that in my opinion, Doc Adams wouldn't never do nothin' to nobody unless he had some kinda reason."

The judge prompted him. "Such as?"

"Well you know, judge...like somebody hurt Miss Kitty, or Festus or the marshall, and Doc was payin' 'em back."

"Like revenge?"

"Yeah judge, like that. But outside of that, I can't see it..."

"Oh hell, Halligan!" Festus stood, anger lighting his eyes. "Why don't you jes' put the noose 'round ol' Doc's neck? It'd be a helluva lot faster!"

The judge banged his gavel on the bench. "Who are you?"

"Festus Haggen, yer honor, from Dodge City."

"A friend of the defendant's, judge," Beeman filled in.

"I see...well Mr. Haggen, please refrain from any further outbursts, or I will have you remanded to jail for contempt. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clear as mud..."

"What?"

Festus snarled, "Yes, yer honor, I hear ya..."

Kitty took Haggen's hand, and gently pulled him back down in his chair. "Take it easy, Festus, Doc needs all of us here, not in jail."

He nodded, but the look on his face didn't leave Kitty with any kind of secure feeling.

Judge Dalton glanced at McClennan. "Counsel?"

"I'm finished with this witness, your honor."

"Very well. I'm calling a recess for dinner. We will reconvene in one hour. Court is adjourned."

Kitty, Matt and Festus moved forward to surround Doc's chair, and McClennan sat down heavily next to him as the courtroom quickly emptied for the recess.

"That didn't go too well," Dillon commented.

"No marshall," McClennan answered, "no it didn't."

Kitty brushed her fingers through Doc's hair. "You okay, handsome? You look a little peaked."

He smiled weakly up at her. "I'm fine, honey."

Festus pat Doc's shoulder. "Come on ya ol' scudder, let's get some vittles in ya before we have ta come back here for round two."

"Thanks Festus, but I'm not particularly hungry just now. I think I'd like to just go lie down for awhile. Why don't the three of you get somethin' and I'll see you back here..."

Matt's voice was gentle, but held concern, "Doc, you didn't eat breakfast, or supper last night, I really think you should try and eat something."

"I'm the doctor, and I know what I need. Now the three of you go on." He turned to his lawyer. "Tom, I'd like to speak with you if I could."

"Sure Doc, about the case?"

The old man shook his head. "No sir. I wanna make out a will."

Doc stood, and accompanied by the sheriff and McClennan, left the room. Kitty couldn't keep the tears from falling.

"Oh Matt..."

He pulled her into his chest, and held her. Festus, on the verge of tears himself, just stood there, uncomfortable and unable to do anything to help.

"Festus, why don't you go get us a table at Wiley's?"

"I'll do her, Matthew, but I don't see none of us eatin' nuthin'..."

"Probably not, but we can at least have some coffee. Kitty and I'll join you directly."

"All right, Matthew."

Festus walked out of the courtroom, and Matt sat Kitty down for a minute. "You okay?"

She shook her head. "No. Doc was right. I can't handle this..."

Matt brushed her cheeks with the back of his hand. "Sure you can. We all can, because that's what Doc needs us to do."

"Matt..." She glanced down, ashamed of the question she wanted to ask.

"What is it, Kitty?"

She looked up at him then, her eyes intense with fear. "If they convict him, what are you gonna do about it?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're not gonna let them hang him... You're not gonna let them hang Doc."

Not wanting to involve her in the conspiracy that he knew he and Festus would perpetrate, Matt didn't want to answer.

"Matt, I'm askin' you where you stand."

"Kitty, I've lived by this badge my whole life," he looked at her meaningfully, "I've given up a lot, because I've always believed in the law. Do you honestly expect me to turn my back on it now?"

"You'd honor that damned badge before the man who's been one of the best friends you ever had?"

Dillon swallowed hard, his voice soft. "He's a lot more than just a friend..."

"And you'll let him die?" When he didn't answer her, Kitty glared at him. "I sure as hell hope I'm never in a predicament like this, because I know you'll choose the badge over my life too."

Matt felt sicker than he ever had in his life as he watched Kitty storm away, but he had to let her go: she was far safer not knowing what would transpire if the jury found Doc guilty. And Matt Dillon had a sinking feeling that just such a verdict would come to pass.

"Oh Mr. Beeman..."

The D.A. turned to see Ruth Bradley heading right toward him. "Yes ma'am?"

"Did I understand right? Mr. Halligan testified that Doc Adams is vengeful?"

"Yes, you did, why?"

"Well, Marshall Dillon came to me last night, and told me a very interesting history about Doc Adams and my father."

"Are you saying there's a motive for revenge?"

She smiled, "Yes, Mr. Beeman, I think there is..."