Matt stationed Sam in the alley below Doc's office while Nathan Burke and a few of the towns other men watched the bank. Matt's steely eyes keep a look out on everything else.
Bounding up the steps to Doc's office, he nodded at Newly as he walked in. "Everything alright?"
"Just fine Marshal," Newly said. "Doc's still out but his vital signs are improving and I got Festus to get some rest as well."
"Good," Matt said tipping his hat up. "I'll be back later."
(Bank)
Frank and Ned watched from a distance as Burke and the others patrolled the area around the bank with rifles.
Stepping further into the shadows as Dillion came down the street, Frank nudged Ned and together they headed down the alley.
"What we going to do now Frank?" Ned asked after they had gotten out of hearing range.
"Give me a minute will ya," Frank said thoughtfully before turning back to Ned. "I know just what to do, come on."
Ned followed Frank silently though the alley ways as they came upon Sam making a round by Doc's office.
The barkeep nodded to Ms. Kitty as the woman passed by. "Everything quiet Sam?"
"Yes ma'am," he said smiling.
"Thanks Sam," she said heading up the stairs to Doc's office with a tray in hand.
Sam turned around as Kitty shut the door to Doc's office, a sudden sharp pain to his temple was the last thing he knew before he blacked out.
"You stay down here," Frank said. "Keep yourself hidden while I go up and get us a couple of hostages to bargain with."
"Good idea Frank," Ned said as the man slowly made his way up the stairs.
Kitty set the tray upon the table and handed a sandwich to Newly before looking around the office. "Where's Festus?"
"He's asleep in the back with Doc but I'm sure he could use something to eat if you want to wake him," Newly replied.
"Alright," Kitty said stepping into the room where Doc still unconscious laid peacefully in the bed.
Kitty reached out a hand to Festus arm just as the door to Doc's office flew open. "Don't move," Frank said gun drawn and pointed at an unarmed Newly.
Festus came up out of his seat, his gun drawn but stopped when Frank poked his head into the door way. "I'd put that away if I was you or this saw bones out here ain't going to see the light of day."
Festus looked at Ms. Kitty who nodded before he tossed his gun onto the bed where Doc was laid up.
"Now you two move out here with your friend," Frank demanded as Kitty and Festus moved slowly into the other room.
"Open that door and call that Marshal," he said pointing at Newly.
Newly opened the door and yelled for Dillion who heard the young man's calls from the block away where he had been patrolling.
"Newly," he said calling up to the man as he got to Doc's office and saw the door was open but no one was standing in it.
"Marshal," Frank said calling back. "I got me these three hostages up here and if you don't want to see nothing happen to them, you'll take my parter to the bank and let him get what he wants."
Ned came out of the shadows and disarmed Matt as Frank continued. "I'm serious Marshal," he said cocking his revolver. Looking from Newly to Festus and then to Kitty, he said. "I'm not above killin a woman Marshal!"
Festus put out a hand out and slid Kitty behind him as Matt yelled up. "Alright Kelly," he said. "We'll do it your way!"
But before Matt could take Ned to the bank, a shot from upstairs rang out which caught Ned off guard for just a moment and gave Matt the opportunity to sucker punch the man unconscious.
Bounding up the steps he walked in to find Frank dead on the floor and Doc slumped over in the door way of his room with Festus gun in his hand.
"Festus," Newly said holding Doc's head. "Help me get him back into bed!"
"Crazy ol scudder," Festus said lifting one side of Doc as Newly took the other.
"Who you callin crazy," Doc rasped as he and Newly deposited him back into bed.
"Wal I'm a callin you crazy," Festus said harshly. "You coulda done went and got yerself killed just now, don't ya see."
Doc scoffed before he replied. "Looks to me like you all were just about to get the same thing! So hush, all of you!" he said when Newly and Kitty started to protest. "And go away, let an old man sleep."
"Yes sir," Newly said satisfied that no further damage had been done, he ushered everyone out.
(Long Branch a week later)
"By golly that looks great Kitty," Doc said as the woman put a mug of beer down in front of him.
"Thanks Doc," she said smiling broadly at the older man. "I'm glad you felt good enough to come down and join us."
"Sure do," Doc said with a wink. "Thanks to the care I got from Newly."
"I didn't do anything special," Newly replied bashfully. "Your body did all the work I just helped it along."
"Well, I owe you some thanks," Doc said and looked around. "Speaking of which, I guess I owe Festus some to, where's he gotten off to any way?"
"Oh he said something about bringing back your poles and things from the camp," Kitty said as the hill man suddenly came though the double doors, touting about a dozen large fresh fish.
"Doc!" Festus said slapping the fish on the table. "Look what I done brung ya Doc!"
Doc looked up at Festus and swiped his mustache before rising from the table.
"Doc," Kitty said slightly concerned. "Where you going?"
"Back to bed," Doc said weakly as Festus followed. "You'll be happy to know I got em with your pole Doc!"
Doc waved his hand at the hill man as Festus smiled. "And I got ol Ruth and your horse to, they's in the stable Doc. Ain't ya happy?"
Doc stopped, turned and looked at the hill man. "Happy?" Oh sure I'm happy you got that mangy Jackass back and my horse but I ain't happy you took my poles which you say you can't get no fish with any how and came back with a whole mess of em and you did it all with out me!"
"But Doc," Festus said innocently. "You was laid up, what was a feller to do? They was just a jumping out of that lake just as pretty as you please."
Doc sighed as he turned and went though the double doors, Festus following, he continued to tell Doc how easy it was to catch the fish as Newly, Matt and Kitty laughed.