Kitty followed Matt out onto the boardwalk and quickly made her way up to Doc's office. She paused at the door and looked down at the marshal, "God, I hope Doc is all right," her voice wavered slightly.

"Me too," Matt said as he lowered his head and walked toward the livery stable.

Kitty opened the doctor's office door and found Jonas sitting in the chair next to Doc's roll-top desk, "Mr. Jonas?" Jonas was leaning forward and resting his face in his right hand that he had cupped over his eyes. Jonas slowly lifted his head and looked at the saloon owner, "Miss Kitty."

"Matt told me about what happened just now. Are you all right?" Kitty bent over and looked Jonas in the eyes. He nodded slightly, "I'll be all right. Miller just knocked the wind out of me," he said in a hushed voice.

"Matt also mentioned your arm," Kitty carefully rolled Jonas' shirt sleeve up to have a look. "Wow, that trapper really must have hit you hard," Kitty looked at the bruise.

"Hard enough, I suppose," Jonas watched Kitty.

"I'm not one to say if the bone is crack or anything, but I think if we got some ice on it, the swelling will go down. That might help," Kitty smiled. She patted Jonas on the shoulder, "Come on down to the Long Branch and I'll get you an ice pack and a drink. How's that sound?"

Jonas tried to smile, "I hope Doc is okay," he said as he stood.

"So do we," Kitty took Jonas by the arm and walked with him to the door. She sighed as she looked back over to the doctor's empty chair at the desk. Kitty fought back tears as she hoped that Matt would soon find her dearest friend. Jonas could sense Kitty's sadness, "Maybe I should be buying the drinks," he smiled weakly as Kitty looked up to him.

Kitty also smiled, "Let's get that ice pack and those drinks," she winked. Jonas nodded and opened the door for Kitty.

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After about another hour had past, Clarence pulled the wagon to a stop near an abandoned log house. It looked as if the owners had just left the day before. It seemed to be a know stopping point with wood still neatly pilled near the door. Clarence knew of the building having passed it yesterday.

Cox set the break on the wagon and pulled Festus' pistol from his leather belt. He motioned for Festus to get down from the wagon and move to the house. "What about Doc?" Festus said as he cautiously slid off the end of the wagon while watching Cox.

"I'll bring him in one I have you tied up," Cox said while fishing a length of course hemp rope from the box on the side of the wagon. "Now move, and don't make me shoot you," Cox continued to motion with the gun.

"Jist when are you going to get it through yer thick skull, I ain't the feller you think I am?" Festus' voice was high and whinny.

"Just shut up, okay!" Cox barked back as the two men stepped into the cabin. "Sit down there," he poked Festus with the barrel of the gun. Festus moved slowly as he took his place in the wooden chair. Cox was quick with the ropes and quickly bound the deputy tight. Festus wriggled to try and free himself, but it was no use.

Clarence left the cabin and brought Doc in. He had the physician over his shoulder like a sack. Doc groaned.

"Doc? You all right?" Festus asked across the room.

"Where am I?' the doctor said as Clarence placed the smaller man on the cot against the wall. Doc looked up at Cox with a start, "You!" he said abruptly. Cox motioned with his hands to try and calm the doctor. "You keep your hands off me!" Doc continued to protest.

"Look, I...I...I, didn't mean to hurt you," Cox stuttered as he grew agitated. "I only wanted him," he thrust his thumb over his right shoulder to Festus who remained tied up in the chair.

Doc looked over to Festus and struggled to sit up, "Oh, for heaven's sakes, untie him!" Doc growled holding his head.

Now look, Doc. I didn't want you to be involved, but if you continue to act this way, I'll have to tie you up as well," Cox held up some rope.

"You would too," Doc's shoulders sagged. "What on earth are you hoping to gain from this?" Doc asked as he look the younger man in the eyes. Cox sat down on a log, that was next to the fire place. "I expect Isaac to tell me why he ran off with my money," he looked at the doctor and then slowly over to Festus.

"Son. You've made a bad mistake," Doc cautioned. "Festus is Festus and he isn't that fellow you've been hunting all this time." There was something about Doc's words and tone that took Clarence. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"You know I am," looked at the trapper. "You must really have a really good grudge against that Isaac fellow," Doc said while running his hand over the back of his head. He could feel the lump where he had his the floor in the stable. "Ooh..." he winced.

Cox stood and looked over to Festus. He wasn't set to believe the doctor just yet. He in turn decided to light a fire in the fire place and think it over during the night. The shadows where long and blue against the white snow. Clarence left the building to hide the team in the make-shift barn and bring in fire wood.

"Doc!" Festus whispered hard.

"What?" the doctor answered in a less subtle way as he looked over to the hill man that was trusted to the chair.

"Wall you could try and cut me loose!" Festus said as he wiggled trying to get free from the ropes.

Doc shook his head, "No. The last thing we need to do is set this one off," Doc stood and ached his aching back.

"But Doc!" Festus squawked.

"Festus, I think we better ride this one out. I'll see that he doesn't hurt you," Doc said.

"Oh, sure jist like last time. Yell out my name and the whole world goes black," Festus sputtered.

Doc made a motion with his hands to make Festus stop talking. "We'll get to the bottom of this, just be patient," Doc urged. Festus rolled his eyes just as Cox reentered the log cabin with an arm load of wood.

Doc remained on the cot, "Looks like you are planning to stay awhile," he tried to joke.

Cox looked up from the small mix of sticks and bar. In one hand he held a metal strike and the other a good sized piece of flint. "I'm only here long enough to get the truth and my money," he slowly looked over to Doc and then back at his hands. With a quick snap, he struck the flint against the steel and a large spark jumped into the soft tinder. Cox carefully blew at it until a flame popped to life.

"I'd hate to be you when Matthew catches up to you," Festus mumbled. Doc tried to hushed the hill man.

"The marshal should be more aware of whom he hires," Cox said over his shoulder. Both Festus and Doc groaned.