Kitty dabbed a cloth over the gashes left on Festus' scalp that were left by the water pitcher that was broken over his skull. Matt did his best to hold the deputy still as he wriggled in discomfort. "I know it hurts Festus, but I have to clean these wounds..." Festus only groaned with a slight hint of recognition of what Kitty had just said.
Matt looked over his shoulder when he heard the door to the office open. His eyes quickly travelled to Kitty's as she too looked at the door. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of her dear friend and the state he was in. Billy helped Doc to the chair next to his desk. Doc was thankful for it. "How's Festus?" Doc's smooth baritone voice asked calmly.
"He'll be fine, I'm sure..." Kitty handed Matt the cloth she was using on Festus and then turn her attention to Doc. "Let's have a look..." She winced as much ad the doctor did when she slowly pulled his hand away to look a the swelling and cut over his eye. "Oh, Doc..."
Doc said not a word as Kitty went to work on cleaning the deep cut. "That should have stiches, you know..." she said as she used yet another swab to clean the dried blood from Doc's face. "This town's getting rough. I keep wondering when you're gonna ask me to marry you..."
"And what's that gonna change?" Doc looked up with his right eye.
"Well..." Kitty torn a piece of the cloth and started to cover the wound, "if you did, I could convince you to stay home and retire to that rocking chair and out of harms way." She then started to wrap the cloth around Doc's head. "After all, you keep getting into this kind of trouble, I won't be able to call you handsome, will I?" Doc snorted. His eyebrow hurt too much to continue anymore banter. He then eyed Billy who stood silently next to the door. "Billy? Go see Lilly...she in the back room. She could use some comfort right now after what she just saw..."
Billy smiled meekly then shyly stepped passed Kitty and Matt who exchanged looks. Kitty's eyebrows rose in question which was quickly lost as her attention refocused on what she was doing for Doc. "That should do until tomorrow." Kitty placed her hands on her hips and smiled at Doc.
"Thank you Kitty." the doctor said as he struggled to up onto his wobbly legs. "Where do you think you're goin'?" Kitty asked as she helped to steady him.
"I'm gonna look at my patients...this is a doctor's and I happen to be the doctor." Doc quipped.
"But you're hurt!" Kitty tired to intervene but gave up with a sigh as Doc made his way to Matt's side to look at Festus. Kitty just shook her head in admiration.
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Billy gently sat down on the side of the bed next to Lilly who watched him silently. He studied her face with his intense blue eyes and slowly he smiled. His right hand reached out to touch her cheek and she cupped it into her own, kissing it tenderly. "Hey...easy...Doc said you need rest."
"I do, but I was so worried about you. James is out of control..." Lilly's eyes filled with moisture and fear. "He's gonna kill someone, if he ain't stopped."
Billy nodded. "I know. The doc said that if I help the marshal, the judge might go easy on me." Billy slowly ran his thumb over the back of Lilly's hand.
"Are you?" Lilly's gripped grew more intense.
"I don't know what to do. He's my only kin now. And I'm afraid of what he might do to you, or me...or anyone of them out there." he indicated the four people out in the main part of Doc's office. "I gotta think hard on this."
"Don't wait too long Billy. Doc said the baby is due any day."
Billy nodded and bent gently over Lilly and kissed her on the lips. "You don't fret and get some sleep." He pulled back and stood. All of a sudden the young man need to grow up and face his older brother or the law. He smiled down to Lilly who closed her eyes hoping and praying that Billy Charles would make the right decision.