Red prepared for the ride to Dodge. It would take him most of the afternoon and into the early evening just to get there. Then the trouble of finding the doctor and bringing him back to Old Dodge Town would be the next hurdle.
Red mounted his horse and Garrett watched him play with the canteen. His eyes shifted to Garrett's. "Don't worry 'bout me. I'll be back with that sawbones and more water. Here, take this for Dutch." Red tossed the canteen over to Garrett. "I figure there's a stream or two between here and Dodge." Red tried to maintain his composure over his leader's austere persona.
Garrett nodded and watched Red ride off toward Dodge. He looked back over his shoulder to his fallen comrade and wondered if Red's journey would do the man any good. His eyes squinted and he began to think of alterative routes to freedom, just in case Red botched his plan.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Doc stood next to Festus at the bar. Kitty and Sam stood opposite them. "What can I get you?" Kitty's voice was slightly flirtatious.
Festus spoke up first. "Ole Doc said he was gonna buy me a beer."
Kitty's eyes went from Festus' to Doc's. "Oh? What's the occasion?"
Doc looked deep into Kitty's eyes. "He's leaving town." A tiny hint of humour was under his tone.
Festus shot a glance at the older man that stood next to him. "You'd like that too, wouldn't ya? Blamed ole scudder."
Kitty laughed at the two of them and had Sam pour Festus a beer. "Doc, what would you like?" She asked gently.
Doc smiled and ran his right hand across his mouth. "I would really enjoy a whiskey...but," he paused, "only if you have one too." Kitty smiled and placed two glasses on the bar and carefully poured the amber liquid into the glasses. "Cheers." She lifted hers. Doc and Festus reciprocated and toasted back to Kitty.
After a sip, Kitty set her glass down. "So, Festus. You're leaving town?" She played along with Doc.
Festus got all flustered. "It ain't nothing like what he's saying, Miss Kitty." He glared at Doc again and then his eyes grew more gentle when he looked back at Kitty. "It's jist that Matthew and I are gonna ride out this afternoon to get a better trail fer them fellas that did that hold up at the Spearville bank and by gonnin today rather than tomorrow...well fiddle, we'll be a whole heap further ahead, don't ya see?"
Doc set his glass down and looked at the deputy. "You can breath in now..." he said sarcastically.
"Oh, Doc, don't be so hard on him." Kitty smirked.
"I suppose. Oh, by the way. I have to go out to the Whittaker's place later today. She's having her first baby!" Doc changed subjects to avoid a tirade of further needling from Festus.
Festus just kept a watchful eye on his old friend and finished his beer.