The sun continued to warm the late autumn day and the snow melted quickly. Festus figured that he and Lilly were about fifteen minutes from Dodge and with a little luck they'd make it. Ruth was now working hard at pulling the cutter as the road was a mixture of slush and mud. It was sloppy going and the runners on the cutter ground against the mixture and over rocks that were exposed. "Come on Ruth. Jist a little further. You wouldn't want to let Miss Lilly down, now would ya?" Festus encouraged the animal. "I'll see that ol Hank gives ya some extra oats!" Ruth seemed to spring to life and Festus smiled widely.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Doc opened his office door to the sunshine. A slight smile curled under his greying moustache. The early snow had just about melted, which was fine by him. He seemed to hate winter more and more as he aged. He always chuckled to himself when Festus claimed that he had a magical way of predicting the weather - in fact it was just rheumatism and is seemed that every passing year it showed itself elsewhere. However, his thoughts were refocused after his stomach reminded him why he stood in the doorway. He pulled on his suit jacket and placed his black felt hat in his head before stepping out on the landing and pulling the door closed behind him. From his stairs he admired the view of Dodge and with a tick of his head he started down the stairs hoping to meet Matt or Kitty to join him at breakfast over at Del Monico's.
As Doc reached the board walk he was stopped in his tracks by the sight of the rickety old cutter, drawn by Ruth, coming up Front Street. The steel runners were not much more than a plough blade in the muddy street. Festus was humming and singing one of his Haggen hill songs to the woman who sat bundled up next to him.
"What in thunder?" Doc stepped closer to the edge of the boardwalk as Festus pulled Ruth to a stop. "Mornin' Doc!" the deputy smiled as he climbed out of the sleight and onto the boardwalk next to his friend.
"Who's she?" Doc pointed to Lilly who was asleep in the cutter and then looked sharply to the hill man.
"Miss Lilly. Why?" Festus eyed the doctor in question.
"I haven't seen her around here before, that's why..." Doc remained looking at the woman. "She doesn't look well..."
Festus stepped forward and shook Lilly gently. "Lilly? We're in Dodge. Ol Doc is right here..." Doc stood next to Festus and watched. Lilly slowly woke and smiled at Festus and then Doc. "Guess I fell asleep again."
Doc drew his right hand over his moustache then stepped passed Festus. "Please forgive me for asking, but are you feeling well...What I mean you look a little flushed."
Lilly smiled. "So you're Doctor Adams..."
Doc nodded and looked over his shoulder to Festus who was smiling and nodding. Slowly he looked back to Lilly. "Yes. I'm Doctor Adams..."
Lilly smiled even more. "You don't look like the kind of person who'd tar and feather a person..."
Doc's eyebrows slid up toward his black hat. "Well no...but right now I think that I better have a look at you."
Lilly sighed. "Festus brought me here so you could look at me. I'm carrying my baby..."
Doc stood straight. "Good heavens! How far did you travel in that rig?!"
Festus stepped in before Lilly could answer. "That ain't the point, Doc. You gotta help Miss Lilly." Festus leaned forward to help Lilly from the cutter and his coat fell open. Doc didn't say anything at first but he did notice the rich stain of blood on Festus' shirt.
"I will Festus. Help her up to my office. I'll be up in a moment." Doc watched as Festus helped Lilly climb the stairs. His mind searched for the right thing to do, and right now that was to inform Matt that Festus was back in town with a pregnant woman.