Doc's eyes narrowed as he hastily brushed past Mike and moved quickly down the stairs.
"What happened?" he asked looking into the back of the wagon.
"He's been shot," Mike replied watching the physician. "It's a long story."
With only the light from the moon to see by, Doc did his best to assess Matt's condition. "How long ago?"
"Two days," Mike said quietly. "I did what I could for him, I was able to stop the bleeding but I couldn't do anything about the fever."
"Infection," Doc said thoughtfully. "We have to get him up to my office. Festus has a room in the stable, if you can go wake him, tell him to bring Newly and get over here as fast as they can."
"I can do that," Mike said with a determined nod.
"Well," Mike said worriedly an hour later. "Ya ain't said nothing since we got him up here?"
Doc looked up over the rims of his glasses to meet Mike's eyes. "What do you want me to say?"
"You could tell me how he's doing," Mike exclaimed angrily. "Whether or not he's gonna make it!"
"Well," Doc said swiping at his mustache. "I can't tell you that right now. He's lost a lot of blood, he's weak and the infection is the worst I've seen in a long time."
"So your saying, he's gonna die?" Mike asked slowly and with such emotion that Doc actually felt sorry for her.
"No," Doc replied quickly. "That's not what I'm saying at all, least not if I can help it anyway."
Mike sighed as she crossed her arms and turned around to pace near the window which gave Festus the opportunity to side up to Doc.
"You think, I should let Miss Kitty know," he whispered as Doc shook his head no.
Festus nodded as he slowly slid away from the exam table.
"Newly," Doc said looking at the younger man. "Infection or not, I've got to get that bullet out."
"Just tell me what you need," Newly replied ready to help.
(Long Branch)
Kitty slowly made her way across the wooden floor the next morning and stopped in front of Sam who was busy behind the bar.
"Sam," she said looking around. "Doc or Festus hasn't come in yet?"
"No, ma'am," Sam replied checking the time. "Maybe they went to Delmonico's for breakfast."
"Maybe," Kitty said as Newly poked his head into the door.
"Miss Kitty," he said using his index finger to beckon the woman to him.
"What is it, Newly?" Kitty asked making her way toward the door.
"Doc needs to see you in his office," Newly said leading the woman outside and across the street.
"What's wrong?" Kitty asked worriedly. "Is Doc alright?"
"Yes, ma'am," Newly said following the woman upstairs. "He's fine."
Kitty looked around as she entered Doc's office but she only found the physician cleaning some instruments with Festus watching intently.
"Doc," Kitty said meeting his eyes. "Newly said, you wanted to see me?"
Doc nodded but before he could speak, the door to his back room opened and Mike stepped out.
All eyes fell on her as she made her way toward the stove. "Well now, don't I feel like Daniel in the lions den."
"Mike," Doc said indicating Kitty. "This is Kitty Russell, a very good friend of Matt's."
Mike nodded in acknowledgment as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "Mike Yardner," she said meeting Kitty's eyes. "I found him almost two months ago. Bleeding from a head wound and left for dead in the hot desert sun. When he came to, he didn't remember a thing. After a week, he was feeling better and talked about movin on but not knowing who he was, I asked him to stay and he said, yes."
"Didn't you wonder who he was, where he came from or if he had a family?" Kitty asked.
"I knew, he wasn't married if that's what your asking," Mike replied evenly. "And when I found out who he was from Fortunate, I told him."
"And he still didn't remember?" Kitty asked in disbelief.
"Nope," Mike said equally amazed. "Even after a visit from Festus there, he still didn't remember. I brought him here after we was ambushed by the people that wanted my land. Dan...I mean...Matt stood up to them for my sake and got shot in the back for his effort so I thought, the least I could do for him, was to bring him back to the people that cared about him the most."
"Can I see him, Doc?" Kitty asked.
"He hasn't awakened yet," Doc replied tugging on his ear. "Until he does and because of the amnesia, I think Mike should be the first person he see's when he wakes up."
Kitty nodded, although she was disappointed, she knew that Doc was only looking out for Matt.
"I'll be at the Long Branch when he comes around," she said starting for the door.
"Miss Russell," Mike said as Kitty opened the door. "It wasn't ever my intentions to take him away from anyone."
"I know," Kitty replied graciously as Newly and Festus followed her out the door.
Mike sighed as she started for Doc's back room but then turned to look at Doc. "Any more condemnation?"
"No," Doc said shuffling toward the woman. "I don't think you took advantage of the situation any more than he did."
"Thank you," Mike said swooning slightly before catching herself on the doorway.
"Here now," Doc said taking the woman's arm. "When was the last time you had any sleep?"
"About three days," Mike replied as Doc lead her to the chair by his desk.
"I think it's time you got some rest, young lady," he said taking her pulse.
Putting away his pocket watch, he swiped his mustache before taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "But that's not the reason you feel faint, is it?"
Mike met his eyes before shaking her head no. "Promise me, you won't tell Matt or anyone else for that matter!"
"I won't," Doc said with a nod. "I promise."
