Doc climbed up into the back of the wagon and Matt flicked the reins. The horses jolted and began to move. Doc looked over to Clarence Cox. The trapper sat quietly on the opposite side of the wagon. "You aren't a half bad fellow," Doc finally said.

Cox looked over to the older man and tried to smile. "Thanks, Doc," he said.

"There's something more to your story, isn't there?" Doc questioned.

Cox looked up abruptly, "No!" Doc knew he had hit a nerve and let it got at that for now. His mind was on how fast Matt could get to the old mine and how Jonas was. He assumed the worst for Isaac Talbot.

Doc made a face and looked out over the fields which lay deep in snow. He could sense Cox looking at him. Slowly Doc looked over to the trapper, "It's not just the money is it?"

Clarence swallowed deep and nodded. Doc knew what he was hiding and the doctor didn't push any further for which Cox was received. "It's a tough life," Doc said with a tick of his head as he returned his gaze to the scenery.

Cox smiled, "You are a wise man, doctor," the trapper looked down at his hands. All of a sudden they looked like they belong to a man much older.

"I one had a lady," Doc smiled. "The war got in the way and I never saw her again. And then I felt too old to do much more about it," the doctor looked over to his travel companion. "It didn't help matters that I spent the last two years of the war at Libby," Doc commented.

"Libby?" Cox asked.

"A Confederate prison," Doc answered. "I suppose it could have been worse," Doc said.

Clarence tried to put the pieces together in his mind and realized that trying to comprehend what the doctor experienced was far beyond him. Cox also realized that his material problems were minuscule in comparison. "There was a woman," Cox admitted.

Doc smiled, "Usually there is," was all he said. The doctor didn't press any further. He figured that the trapper would tell his story in good time. In the meantime Doc wondered how much further it was to the old silver mine. Matt pushed the horses hard. "Matthew, the mine entrance is jist around the bend," Festus pointed from the wagon seat next to the marshal. Matt slowed the team of horses down slightly and then finally to a stop.

The four men scrambled down off the wagon and raced to the entrance. Matt pulled his gun to shot the lock but Doc stopped him, "No, Matt. We don't know where Jonas is! He might be on the other side of the door," the doctor warned. Matt put his gun back into his holster and looked at the door.

Clarence stepped past the marshal and grabbed a hold of one of the planks near the top. The trapped tugged hard and the plank budged, but only slightly. Matt and Festus joined the trapper as Doc watched on. He then caught the stench of death, "Someone or something is dead in there," he stated.

After a few minutes the wooden door finally gave way to the men. Clarence tossed it aside. Doc pushed past the men and stared into the mine entrance. Wilbur Jonas was curled up on his side. His eyes clamped shut. Doc and Matt swiftly moved to the store owner's side, "Jonas?" Doc called.

Wilbur Jonas opened his eyes - he gazed up at the doctor, "Doc?" he said in a tired cold voice as he pushed himself up to his elbow. He struggled to sit, however, both Matt and Doc assisted him. "You all right?" Doc asked as he looked Jonas over.

"I'm frozen half to death," Jonas stated.

"I bet you are. Come on," Doc stood helping Jonas to his feet, "We've got some blankets in the wagon," Doc said as he helped the store owner out to the wagon and got him settled in with the blankets.

Doc returned to the mine where Matt and Festus watched Clarence. The trapper studied the dead man's face, "All in all, he was a good man," Cox stated as he opened the man's coat. He's obviously been shot. Cox stood, "I'd like to know who killed him," he said looked up to Matt and Festus. Doc knelt down next to the dead man, "I'll have Percy Crump come out with a wagon. We'll get him back to Dodge where I can examine his body," Doc said standing up. "Let's get Jonas back to town. He's needs a long hot bath and a good hot meal," Doc said as he stepped past Matt.

Matt nodded and followed the doctor. Clarence and Festus followed. Festus paused and looked down at the tracks in the snow, "Matthew, these here tracks look like they were made by my ol' Ruth!" the hill man's voice was whinny.

Jonas looked over to the deputy, "They were," he said through his chattering teeth. "Harvey Miller brought me out here on Ruth," the store owner shuttered and pulled the blankets tighter around his head and shoulders.

Festus growled, "Once I get my hands on that ol'," he was about to say something more when Matt interrupted, "Come on Festus. We'll certainly be paying Harvey Miller a visit," he stated out flat. Festus climbed up beside the marshal and angrily crossed his arms over his chest. Festus clamped his teeth tight to the point he thought they might shatter.

Matt turned the wagon back to Dodge. The ride back was solemn - Cox thought about his dead partner, Doc was thinking about Jonas, who had fallen sleep, and both lawmen where trying to make sense of the whole situation.

Matt pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the general store and the doctor's office, "Come on Jonas," Doc nudged the store owner who slowly awoke from his groggy slumber. "Let's get you up to my office so I can check you over before I soak you in a hot bath," Doc patted Jonas on the back. Matt and Clarence assisted Jonas up the stairs.

Festus stood next to Doc, "Is he going to be all right, Doc?"

"Oh, I think so, Festus," Doc looked over to the deputy, "He would have complained by now if something was wrong," Doc slightly joked knowing that the store owner was one for past complaints.

Doc started to the stairs and then stopped, "Festus?" he called after the deputy.

"Doc?"

"Go easy on Harvey Miller, will you?" Doc asked.

Festus wasn't thrilled with the request as he had his heart set on thumping ol' Harvey Miller on the nose for stealing Ruth - not to mention what he did to Jonas. "I'll do my best Doc. That's all I can promise," the hill man said before turning away. Doc pursed his lips and watched Festus walk across the street.

Doc shook his head and continued his journey up the stairs.

Doc stepped through the door and closed it behind him. He watched as Matt played with the fire in the little wood stove, "I'm going to need a lot of hot water," Doc stated as he walked over to Jonas who sat bundled in blankets on the examination table.

"I'll get Festus to give me a hand with some water, Doc," Matt offered.

"I'll help too," Clarence offered.

"Thanks, but I'd like you to go and see Ma Smalley. See if she has some hot soup or stew or something. Let her know what you need it for," Doc asked Cox. The trapper nodded and quickly left the room. Matt followed.

Matt stopped the trapper on the stairs, "I don't want you leaving town," Matt warned.

"Trust me marshal. I won't until I know what happened to Isaac," Cox said firmly. The trapper pulled way from the marshal and walked across the street to the boardinghouse.