Newly finished cleaning Harvey Miller's wounded hand and began to wrap it when he began to stir, "Where am I'm" he growled and tried to pull his hand free.
"You're in Doc's office and in very serious condition. With the amount of infection in this hand of your's, you might just lose it," Newly held Miller's wrist until he stopped squirming.
"Just let me be," Miller growled again.
"The only place you are going is to jail," Newly stated.
"What the hell for?" Miller barked at newly from the examination table.
"For stealing from Doc and assaulting Mr. Jonas," Newly said looking over to Jonas who had remained in the office with the gunsmith.
"Like hell I am going to jail!" Miller sat up abruptly pulling Newly's gun from his holster. He motioned to Newly to join Jonas on the far side of the room. Jonas' eyes were wide with fear. Slowly the store owner raised his hands in the air. Newly glared at Miller, "You're too sick to be wandering around," he warned.
"I'll be my own judge," Miller sneered. "Now move over there with Jonas," he pointed again with the gun.
"I'll be right after you," Newly warned.
"Oh, I don't think so," Miller said pulling the trigger. The bullet grazed Newly's left thigh sending the gunsmith to the floor. Jonas was quick to kneel down next to Newly. Newly's teeth were clenched tight. The two men watched as Harvey Miller hastily left the doctor's office into the cold winter night.
Newly? Are you all right?" Jonas looked at the younger man.
"The bullet just grazed me. But I have to say, it still hurts like the dickens," Newly said as he pushed himself up into a sitting position to have a better look at the wound.
"It looks pretty bad to me," Jonas said while looking on as Newly tore the hole in his trouser leg open. "Boy. What a day it's been," Newly said as he examined the gash.
"What can I do?" Jonas stood and looked around the doctor's office.
"Help me up," Newly said and extended his hand to the store owner. Jonas pulled Newly to his feet and assisted him over to Doc's chair.
Jonas nervously handed Newly a wad of clean gauze from the examination table. "Do you want me to see where he went?" Jonas asked.
Newly shook his head no, "If he shot me just for this, he'll surely kill anyone that follows him," the part time deputy stated. Jonas could understand, however, he was also feeling useless. "Tell me what to do..." he blinked at Newly trying to make sense of the situation.
Newly smiled, "Hand me that bottle over there, will you?" He knew Jonas wanted to help somehow. Jonas picked up the bottle and handed it to Newly. "Now if you could bring Doc's medical bag over to me," he said watching the store owner as he retrieved the black leather bag. Newly poured some of the contents from the bottle into the gauze and held it to his leg. He had to judge whether the gash required sutures or not.
Kitty and Sam had heard the single shot and had noticed that the door to Doc's office was open. "Something has happened at Doc's," Kitty looked at Sam with concern in her eyes. The two quickly made their way up the stairs and peeked into the room.
"Newly!" Kitty said as she stepped closer. Sam was right behind his boss and closed the door.
Both Newly and Jonas looked up.
"What happened?" Kitty moved closer.
"Harvey Miller," Jonas said before Newly could open his mouth.
"I don't follow," Kitty frowned.
"We found Miller in the stable. He was in bad shape with this hand," Newly said as he watched Jonas gather more clean gauze and hand it to him.
"For no reason at all he shot Newly," Jonas said shaking his head in disgust.
"Are you all right?" Kitty asked.
"I'll be fine. The bullet just creased my leg," Newly looked at his wound again.
Kitty made a face. "Where's Harvey Miller now?"
"He just ran off into the night," Jonas answered. "He's out of his head."
"I sure wish Matt and Festus were here," Kitty said.
"I wish Doc was here!" Newly replied as he winced. "Miller can wait. Maybe he'll come to his scenes," he added.
Kitty stepped forward and looked at Newly's leg. "Will it need stitches?" she looked the gunsmith in the eyes. Newly shook his head no and continued to clean the gash before he wrapped it with bandage. The look on Newly's face made Kitty cringe.
Jonas stood near the door, next to Sam. "You know someone needs to stop him," Jonas said.
Sam looked at the store owner, "I think we'd best wait until the marshal's back. Newly is right. In his state, Miller might just do anything," the bar keep added.
"That's what I mean! He could break into my store, or the Long Branch..." Jonas warned.
Kitty walked over to Wilbur, "Why don't you go home and get some rest? You've had a rough day," Kitty smiled and patted Jonas on his upper arm.
"Yes, I suppose I should get back to Ellen. She must be wondering what has happened to me but now," he sheepishly smiled and reached for the doorknob, "I hope you are better soon, Newly," he said.
Newly smiled, "Thanks for your help tonight Mr. Jonas," the gunsmith said as he watched Jonas put on his bowler hat and pull his coat closer around his neck. "Good night," Jonas bid everyone adieu and left the doctor's office. Jonas shuttered as he stepped down the stairs and began his journey home.
Front Street was quiet and the coal oil lamps seemed to give off an extra crisp light - it may have been the contrast to the night, or the fact that it was once again cold. Nevertheless, Jonas looked forward to enjoying a hot cup of tea in front of his hearth with his wife in the chair next to him. Jonas pulled his coat even tighter as he walked swiftly toward the lane that took him to his front porch.
Jonas turned the corner and walked briskly along the lane that was adequately lit for his journey. He could almost feel the warmth of his home. That was until Harvey Miller stepped out in front of him with Newly's gun still in his hand. "Well, well, well..." Miller mused. "I wanted someone, but I didn't expect to get you!" he laughed and smiled at Jonas.
The store owner's mouth dropped open, "What do you want with me?" Jonas growled.
"You are my collateral. You're a man of business. Therefore you know what I mean," Miller stepped closer and pulled the hammer back on the gun. "Move. Do exactly as I say and you won't get hurt," Miller said sternly. Jonas swallowed hard and nodded. Slowly the store owner turned and listened to the whispered instructions given to him from Miller. Jonas didn't like where this was leading.