Festus moaned lightly as he opened his eyes, rubbing the back of his head, he got onto all fours and waited for the dizziness to pass before rising to his knees.
"Festus," Doc rasped from some distance away.
Festus looked around and suddenly realized where he was. "Doc," he yelled stumbling to his feet, he tore though the under brush and came upon the old man lying nearby.
"Festus," Doc said softly. "I thought maybe you were dead."
"Wal it would take more than them two horse thieves to do in a Haggen," Festus said falling to his knees next to the doctor.
It was only then that Festus saw the slick of blood across Doc's abdomen in the full moon light. "Ah Doc," he said fully realizing what had taken place. "You've been shot!
"There's nothing you can do," Doc sputtered. "Not close enough to Dodge and it's in the gut."
"What you mean," Festus said lifting the man's head into his arms. "I got to try Doc."
Doc smiled slightly at Festus never give up attitude but he knew better. Even if Festus could get him back to Dodge, the only person that could help him was Newly and Doc knew the young Doctor lacked the skill necessary to perform such a complicated procedure.
"Festus," Doc said slowly. "Now you listen to me. I want you to go back to Dodge."
"And leave you here," Festus said disgusted. "No way Doc! Now ya stop talkin like that cause no matter what! I ain't leavin you." Taking off the bandana from around his neck, he placed it in Doc's shirt and pressed it against the wound.
Putting Doc's head back down before he could protest, Festus stood up and looked around for the horses, he knew the thieves had to have ridden in on them.0
"I'll be right back," he said kneeling and putting a hand on Doc's.
Doc nodded as Festus moved from where the two men had been. First checking to the right, and then backtracking to the left, he finally happened upon one of the horses grazing in the grass.
Taking up the reins, he ran back to where Doc was leaned down. "I'm back Doc," he said. But the older man's eyes were closed and Festus heart stopped as he checked the doctor for a pulse. "You stay in the buggy now Doc," he said after finding the pulse. "I'm gonna hitch this here horse on yer buggy and bring you home."
Festus ran back to their camp, hitched up the old nag to Doc's buggy and then went back after Doc.
Putting his left arm under Doc's shoulders, he put his right arm under the Doctor's legs and then lifted the old man up and carried him to the buggy.
"Now you stay with me Doc," he said slapping the reins.
Matt and Newly slowed and check the road for tracks.
"I don't think they've come this way Newly," Matt said looking around.
"Marshal," Newly said pointing directly in front of them. "That looks like Doc's buggy."
"Ya," Matt said spurring his horse forward. "He's riding fast."
Galloping toward the buggy, Matt saw the driver wasn't Doc but Festus.
"Whoa," Festus said stopping the buggy as Matt and Newly slid off their horses.
"Festus," Matt said after seeing Doc slumped over next to the hill man. "What's happened?"
"He's been shot Matthew," Festus said as Newly lifted Doc's unconscious head, he checked for a pulse before pulling the bandana away, he looked up at Matt and Festus.
"Stomach wound," Newly said as Matt sighed and Festus continued. "A couple of yahoo's bush whacked us and took our horses."
"Newly, give your horse to Festus and take Doc back to Dodge," Matt said. "Festus, you come with me."
"Newly," Festus said letting the younger man climb in to the buggy. "You take care of him now, ya hear."
"I'll do what I can Festus," Newly said slapping the reins.
Festus watched the buggy until they were out of site as Matt turned in the direction Doc and Festus had come from. "Let's head back to your camp and see if we can't pick up there tracks."
"Alright with me Matthew," Festus said leading the way. "I want to find those two."
Newly stopped the buggy in front of Doc's office, climbing out of the buggy, a small crowd started to form. Kitty heard the commotion and stepped to the doors of the Long Branch to see what was going on.
"Sam," she yelled when she saw Newly struggling with Doc in the buggy.
"Newly," she said after racing outside. "What happened?"
"Doc and Festus were ambushed," he said as Sam helped him get Doc out of the buggy.
Carrying the doctor upstairs, they deposited him onto the exam table as Newly grabbed a pair of scissors and cut Doc's shirt off.
"Newly," Kitty said after he examined the wound.
"It's bad Ms. Kitty," he said looking at the red head and Sam. "I've never dealt with anything like this before, not without Doc."
"Newly," Kitty said putting a hand on his arm. "You've got to at least try."