Doc ambled to the doors of the Long Branch and stepped inside. His ears instantly picked up the deputy's tinny voice complaining about something. Doc wove his way passed several cowboys who were gathered at the long dark wooden bar.

Festus sat with Matt and Kitty. "Festus. I don't care how little that hurts, you should still see Doc about it."

"Aw, fiddle, Miss Kitty. I don't need his clammy hands on me to tell me that I have a cracked rib and busted skin..." Festus wove his hand in the air. He didn't see Doc standing behind him, but all of a sudden a chilly washed over him as he recognized the looks on Matt's and Kitty's faces. He swallowed deeply.

"Busted rib and broken skin! And you don't think I should look at you!?" Doc barked loudly at the deputy. "One day I am going to have the marshal of this town lock you up for malpractice or practising medicine without a license!" he gave a warning eye to Matt who looked to Kitty for support.

Festus shot a disgruntled look at the town doctor. "If what you do is called 'practising medicine", medicine, I'll eat my hat..." he leaned on his elbow and his shoulders sagged.

Doc shook his head and then ran his hand over his moustache. "Come on, Festus. I want to take a look at you..." He pat his friend on the shoulder who slowly rose to his feet with the aid of his old friend.

"You can use the office, Doc." Kitty smiled. "Thanks, Kitty." Doc winked as the two men walked to the back of the saloon and left the room through the wooden door.

Sam walked quietly over to the table. "You both look like you could use a drink." Kitty looked up into the dark brown eyes of her barkeep. "We sure could, Sam. Thank you. Two whiskeys."

Sam nodded as he walked back to the bar. "Coming right up." he smiled. Sam was no spring chicken, but he did enjoy his job behind the bar. His personal life was a bit of a mystery, but what ever it held, he knew an awful lot about people and they're kind. The good, the bad and the rotten - he'd seen them all.

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Doc had his glasses perched on his nose as he examined the wound on Festus' side. "Well, Miss Lilly did a fine job cleaning it and dressing it. I giver her that." Doc stood straight and let the deputy's shirt fall back to his side. "I'll leave it for now, but I want to see you tomorrow." Doc looked deeply into the hazel eyes that looked up at him.

"How's Miss Lilly doing, anyway, Doc?" Festus' eyebrow rose with the question.

:Oh, she's a strong woman. She doing just fine. It's a good thing you brought her into Dodge when you did...she gonna have that baby any day now!" Doc kinda chuckled and sat down in a chair next to his hill billy friend. He waited and formulated his question to Festus and finally he got the nerve to ask. "Festus. You like Miss Lilly, don't you?"

Festus fussed with his shirt as he tucked it back into his pants. He didn't answer right off, but instead stood from the chair and paced the floor. "Doc. I surely do think she's special. And she plum told me about that James fella. She don't care ifin she see him again in her life..."

"What 'James' fella?" Doc asked quietly.

"Her almost husband. But he treats her real bad..." Festus stepped forward hoping that Doc would understand, but he already knew. "I've seen the bruises, Festus. He's no man, if that's what he does to women..." Doc stood and walked to Festus and asked him once again, "You're really fond of her, aren't you?"

Festus smiled and looked like a school boy. I sure am, Doc. I sure am..."

Doc shook his head and pat Festus on the shoulder. "Just take one step at a time and be careful..." he smiled as he passed the deputy and left the room. Festus stood in the glow of the lamp and tried to imagine what Doc meant by what he said. All he knew is that he was going to ask Lilly for her hand. A smile creased his lips and his eyes twinkled with the thought.