Kitty helped Doc along as much as she could. He knew his leg was starting to swell, not just from infection, but from the bruising and wounds in general. Each step hurt like hell; he grit his teeth to fight the pain. They managed to travel about one mile, when Doc stopped. "Honey, I have to rest. These wounds are bleeding again..." Doc settled on a fallen log, setting the shotgun down beside him then held his leg above the knee with both hands trying to stop the ache from travelling up his leg. The swelling continued.
Kitty knelt down and pushed Doc's pant leg up. She grimaced at the site. "Oh, Doc... We gotta get you out of these woods. You need a doctor!"
Doc looked down at Kitty, "Very funny..." he huffed half jokingly. "I think the bandages need tightening." He leaned over to have a look at what Kitty was doing. Both of them froze at the sound deep in the woods. More tree limbs breaking in the under brush. It seemed to be circling them. Doc gripped the shotgun and slowly opening the breech ensuring that the two barrels held shells. Quietly he snapped the barrel shut and listened. Kitty was standing next to him with her hands wrapped around his upper arm. He pat her hand to calm her while standing.
His crystal blue eyes probed the woods for movement. He could hear his heart pounding and the deep swallow he took, he was certain that even Kitty heard it. They exchanged looks and then returned their eyes to the woods. "I wish you were right Kitty..." Doc held the gun in a more defensive manner, "but I think it's back."
Kitty held him harder. "Oh, Doc. I'm frightened out of my skin..." her words were like a harsh whisper. "Me too." was all Doc could utter.
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Matt and Festus pushed their animals hard. They both knew that something bad had happened to the stage coach and now they needed to know what happened to their friends that were on board.
They had followed the winding road for close to three hours when Festus pulled Ruth to a stop. He stood up in his saddle and looked down through the tall grass. "Matthew!" He nudged his mule down the hill with Matt close behind.
Both of their hearts practically stopped at the sight of the over turned coach. Luggage was scattered all the way down the hill. Festus quickly stepped down from Ruth and surveyed the area. His keen eyes spotted Doc's black felt hat. Slowly the hill man walked toward it and picked it up. A lump swelled in his throat as he turned to Matt.
Matt's jaw muscles tensed as his eyes locked on the body that lay covered at the coach. Slowly he approached and knelt down. His hand almost shaking as he reached down to the canvas cover and pulled it back. He could hear the sigh rush from his lips. Quickly he stood and looked into the empty coach and noted blood.
Festus had joined him and the two looked at each other. "One of them is hurt. There's dried blood in there..." Matt stood back and looked out over the sea of grass. "Do you think you can find a trail?"
Festus looked down at the hat he held in his hands. "I'll die tryin'..." he said then looking up and scanning the horizon in search of Miss Kitty and ol' Doc.