Festus was up an hour before the sun even began to show over the horizon. He quietly worked on getting some food ready for breakfast and for later in the day.
Matt stirred with the sounds and stiffly sat up. He rubbed his hands over his face trying to wake himself.
Festus poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Matt. "Must have been reading my mind." Matt mused.
Festus smiled. "I gits know ya likes ta start yer day with a good cup of coffee."
Matt took a sip. "Let me know when the good coffee is ready..."
Festus huffed. "You and ole Doc wouldn't know good coffee even if it were gived to ya." He continued with the food.
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With urgency, Newly and Sam were packed and ready to ride. Both men feared the worst for their friend, the town doctor and neither one of them spoke their thoughts about it.
Newly drew a deep breath. "Best we get going. It's light enough now." He pulled himself up onto the saddle. Once Sam was mounted they quickly moved out and headed to Old Dodge town.
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Some time during the night, Doc made his way back to the jail house where his medical bag was. He decided to wait until daylight to have a better look at this arm. He had found a moth eaten blanket and pulled it over himself on the old bunk where he fell asleep.
Doc's eyes flickered open with the sounds of the song birds outside the jail window. He tried to sit, but his whole body ached and his ribs prohibited any movement what's-so-ever.
Wearily he reached down beside the bunk and picked up the jar of rain water and eased it to his lips. As he swallowed his mind wandered. He wondered how he was going to get back to Dodge. Certainly by now someone had noticed he was missing - he hoped. He gently set the jar back down on the floor and then laid back down on the bunk. Weak from hunger and pain, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
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Matt followed Festus who was trying to pick up any sign of the tracks that Garrett's gang left. Foe the most part they were washed away from the heavy rain the day before. Their direction was placing them in line with Old Dodge Town, as Mat suspected.
"Matthew, I can't find me a single hair of a sign." Festus still scanned the ground.
"Yeah, I know. Let's just ride into Old Dodge. We might surprise them." Matt spurred Buck who lurched forward.
Festus nudged Ruth to follow.
After an hour ride, Matt and Festus reached the outskirts of the abandoned town. Tumble weeds rolled down the street and played with the dust-devils. Festus' watchful eyes scanned the street looking for any sign of life. He noticed the horse tracks outside the old saloon. "Matthew." He pointed them out to the marshal.
Both lawmen dismounted and tied their animals to a near-by hitching post. They drew their guns and careful made their way down the street to the saloon. Matt motioned for Festus to stand on the other side of the swing doors as they would be better covered. Both men stood steel-eyed and in a flash they burst through the doorway into the dark room. The smell of the dead man hit them like a brick wall.
Quickly Matt looked around while Festus walked over to Dutch. "This one's been dead a day or two, Matthew."
Matt put his gun back into his holster and joined Festus. He adjusted his hat back on his head. "Looks like someone tried to save him." Matt observed.
Festus peered closer. "Looks like someone else shot him." He pointed out the bullet hole in the dead man's chest.
Matt wiped his forehead on his sleeve. "Let's find something to bury him with." He turned to leave the saloon when he heard horses approaching quickly. "Festus. Get to that window. They might be back!"