The firemen seemed to quickly get the blaze under control. Sam and Newly cleared the tables and chairs out of the way to assist. It was hot work. While moving the last table a flame licked up and caught Sam's arm. He screamed in pain - Newly rushed to aid him out of the building.
Hootie stood among the crowd watching the horrible event unfold. She spotted Newly and Sam and rushed over to them. "Oh, you poor dear..." She said helping Newly with Sam. "Here. You just sit right there and let me have a look at that arm." Sam nodded in agreement as Hootie set to looking at the wound. "Newly, I'm going to need clean bandages and warm water."
Newly obliged and ran off to Doc's office to get the supplies Hootie required. All the way up the stairs he wondered if Matt and Festus had found Kitty and Doc yet. And more so, were they all right.
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Despite his earlier injury, Festus was nibble and quickly made his way through the thick smoke that filled the back alleyways. He and Matt took different alleys to better their searching capabilities.
Kitty heard the familiar jiggle of the deputy's spurs and shouted out to him. "Festus! Over here!"
Festus followed the voice and found Kitty kneeling next to Doc. His heart jumped at the sight and he froze in his tracks.
"Quickly Festus. We have to get to fresh air. Doc's got soot in his eyes and he can't see!" Kitty spoke while tugging on Doc to sit. "Come on Doc."
Doc sputtered as he sat. "Doc, you gonna be okay, are ya?" Festus reached down and assisted the older man to his feet. Doc couldn't talk, he just coughed for air. He thought he was going make himself sick. Kitty took Doc's other arm to help guide him.
Matt heard the commotion and wound his way through a maze of crates before finding the trio. "Kitty! Doc! Thank God you're all right." Matt rushed over to help Kitty who looked up at him. "That's a matter of..." she coughed, "of opinion..."
Matt looked over to Doc. "You okay Doc?"
Doc's voice was throaty caused by the smoke. "Sure..." Was all he could get out.
Kitty rubbed her hand across his back as they made their way out to Front Street, "He's got soot in his eyes, and I think he may have breathed in a ton of smoke..." she told Matt. His facial expression saddened as he watched Kitty and Festus help his old friend to the steps of the Dodge house for a place to sit.