James slowly rode his wearied horse into Dodge. He chose to take his time as he really wasn't sure how or what he was going to do to get Lilly back and teach the deputy a lesson. One thing was certain, he was hell bent on doing something, and pretty much anything was possible at this point.
He stopped the lathered horse at the livery stable and slowly slip off the saddle. Hank greeted him. "Want me to feed him and put him up?"
James scratched his whiskered chin as he looked up and down the street. "Yeah. Sure. I'll be back later. Where's a good place to scrape off these whiskers?" he looked sharply at the old man holding his horse.
"Well, there's the boarding house up the street run by Ma Smalley and then there's the Dodge House over there", Hank pointed across the muddy street, "but if your looking for something cheaper then just about any saloon in town will put you up." Hank smiled at the young stanger.
James removed his saddle bags and rifle then started up the street without so much as a thank you. Hank grunted and shook his head. "Young folks today are just so ungrateful..." he muttered to himself as he pulled the horse inside the stable.
As James Charles made his way up the street he was stopped in his tracks as he saw his young brother ride around the corner and onto Front Street. The younger Charles' eyes searched the crowded boardwalk for his brother. James turned his back and gazed into a shop window and watched his brother ride by in the reflection. He ducted down the near-by alley thinking that Billy spotted him. "Damn that kid brother of mine..." he grunted angrily wondering what next to do.
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Doc removed his stethoscope and placed it back in his medical bag and the removed his silver rimmed glasses. "How am I Doc?" Lilly asked from the backroom bed.
Doc smiled and pat her hand. "Fine. Just fine." He stood and closed the black leather bag. "You're gonna be a mother in a few days, and as far as I can tell, everything is right on track." he said as he placed his glasses in the metal case and returned it to his vest pocket. "I don't want to be too intrusive, but..." he searched for a way of saying what he wanted to ask.
"You want to know if I know the father, don't you?" Lilly wearily smiled.
"Yes." Doc said with honesty in his deep voice as he nodded.
"I do. He's not here. In fact I couldn't care if he ever came back..." Lilly turned her head and tried to hide her tears that were mixed with anger and fatigue. "He never treated me particularly well..."
Doc nodded. "I gathered that by some of those bruises on your arms and back." Doc took the opportunity to sit next to his young patient. "If he does come back and continues to treat you like that, I'll personally see that the marshal deals with him..." his crystal blue eyes bore deeply into Lilly's. "You mean that. Don't you Doc?" she asked meekly. "You bet I do. I'll even take him on myself if I have too..." Doc pulled the quilted blanket up under the young woman's chin. "You get some rest now. Doctor's orders." he stood. Lilly nodded and closed her eyes as Doc picked up his bag and left the room pulling the door quietly behind him.
Doc didn't know what to make of the woman that Festus brought to Dodge. However the thought of Festus reminded the doctor that his friend also needed attention. Doc pulled on his coat and placed his hat on his head and picked up his medical bag. He was now in search of his deputy friend and his first place to look was of course the Long Branch Saloon.