Doc pushed himself up and swung his legs off the side of the bed. His side was still very tender and with every little move jolted him to the severity of his wound. He grit is teeth and was about to stand when Kitty knocked on the door to his room. "It's open..." Doc uttered. Kitty smiled from the other side and turned the knob. She almost dropped the tray she was carrying when she saw Doc trying to get off the bed. "Doc! I told you to stay put..."
"I can't lay around all day. It's bad enough being cooped up in here..." He spoke without thinking and now wished he could take back the last statement. "Sorry, Kitty. You know what I mean..."
Kitty smiled gently at the man who stood in front of her. "Sure I do, Doc." Kitty placed the tray of food on a small table next to the winged arm chair. "Here. Come sit down and have something to eat. You must be starving!"
Doc swept his hand over his moustache and arched his eyebrows. "You're not kidding. Say...whatcha got there anyway?" He slowly walked to the chair and lowered himself painfully into it.
Kitty pulled the red and white gingham cloth from off the tray to expose toast, jam, eggs and several strips of beacon. "Just the way you like it..." Kitty walked to the door. "Would you like some coffee?"
"Sure would...but not Festus'! You gonna join me?" Doc asked while nibbling on a piece of toast.
Kitty chuckled and placed her fists on her hips. "Is that anew proposal?"
Doc looked up at her impishly. "Nope. Same old one..." Then he smiled.
With that Kitty laughed and left to get the coffee pot and two cups. Doc chuckled and then focussed on eating his breakfast.
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Judge Brooker placed his napkin on his plate. "Always a good meal here." He said as he picked up his cup of coffee.
"So, judge. Now that Doc is on the mend, when do you want to start the trial? I have to find jurors..." Matt's blue eyes meet the judges.
Brooker swallowed a mouthful of coffee and set his cup down on the saucer. "If Doc is willing, I would like to gt things underway tomorrow. I don't like when cases like this linger. People's perceptions and memories play tricks on them. It also gives good folks too much time to talk, and as you know, too much talk spreads rumours. Enough time has passed and I'm sorry if I might seem to be rushing the doctor's care, but even in his state he might forget key information to this case."
Matt nodded. "I understand. I'll set up a list for possible jurors and then stop in and see Doc. I'm sure he will want this over with as quickly as possible too." Matt stood and placed money on the table for the food. "Stay and finish your coffee. I'll see you back at the jail house later."
Brooker knew he hit a nerve in the marshal when he asked to push the trial forward. He knew it was going to be hard on Doctor Adams and that hit Matt the most. Matt didn't want to pressure Doc and force him in his current condition, but now he had too and that hurt Matt just as much.