The sound of the four men talking caused Doc to stir. He groaned as he opened his eyes. Festus bolted to his friend's side. "Doc? You gonna be okay?"
Doc swallowed and nodded. "Water." Was all he could say. By now Newly was next to Festus and between the two of them got Doc in a better position to drink from the jar. They could see the satisfaction on his bruised face as he swallowed.
Matt hovered behind Festus and Newly. "Doc. Who did this to you?"
Doc gently pushed the jar from his lips with his right hand. "Thanks for the water." He looked at Festus and Newly before turning his attention to the marshal's question. "Some gorilla named Red. One of Garrett's men. One died back in the saloon. I tried to save him..." Doc stopped talking quickly as a spasm of pain ran though his ribs.
"We found him, Doc. Now, you just hush. Newly and Sam are taking you back to Dodge. Matthew and I will find them yahoos. They will pay fer this, I guarantee." Festus was more determined than before to help Matt find Garrett and his lone companion. "Now you just relax and wait till we get a carrying bed ready fer ya." Doc didn't hear the words that the deputy spoke. He had passed out again.
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Kitty sat at her table at the back of the Long Branch. The room was filled with patrons, but it seem somehow empty of personality. She leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table, clasped her fingers together and rested her chin on them. She thought back at the number of times that Matt was late, or Festus was over due, but the emptiness inside her caused by Doc being missing, was almost unbearable. She knew that Matt and Festus were armed and capable of getting out of pretty much any situation. But Doc - he rarely travelled with a gun anymore. She didn't like the thoughts that flooded her mind. Tears welt up in her eyes and not even Sam was around to talk to. She had never felt more alone. She sighed heavily.
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Festus finished with the last of the rope to tie the canvas awning to the two poles. He tugged at the knots to make sure they would hold and he was satisfied they would do the trick. Now it was a matter of getting Doc on to the carrying bed and ensuring he wouldn't bounce out on the way back to Dodge. Festus had a plan in mind and set to getting Newly to help him carry Doc to the bed.
"Easy does it now." Festus said as he and Newly lifted the doctor off the cot and carried him to the bed. Gently they laid him down and covered him with the blanket eh had found - it was better than nothing.
Festus poked a few holes down the side of the canvas bed with his knife and then fed a rope through. He wove it back and forth over Doc and then snugged it up. "You might have to tighten that from time to time, Newly. But it'll do the trick."
Newly and Sam mounted their horses. "Marshal. You and Festus watch out for yourselves." Sam spoke.
"Sure thing. Now get going. I hope you get Doc before night fall." Matt said as the two men tipped their hats and rode out of sight. Festus stood with his thumbs tucked in his vest. "Sure hope ole Doc's gonna be okay Matthew."
Matt nodded. "Me too. Come on," He nudged his deputy, "we have work to do." Not only was Matt referring to finding Garrett and Red, but also to bury the dead man. They slowly walked back to the saloon.