"I'm so coolllddd," Jonas stuttered through his chattering teeth. His eyes watched Matt and Festus with buckets of hot water.

"I know you are. Let me see your hands," Doc said as he took each of Jonas' hands and looked at them. They were chilled to the bone. In all honestly Doc was surprised that Jonas was taking all of this as well as he was. There had been days when the smallest of inconvenience would have upset the store owner.

"Well, it doesn't look like you had frostbite," Doc as he also examined Jonas' ears. Doc pulled his spectacles off and folded the arms as he placed the glasses into the metal case the doctor kept in his vest pocket.

"I've set up a large tub in the other room. I want you to strip out of those clothes and climb into the hot water for a good long time," Doc ordered the store owner. Jonas slowly slid off the examination table and walked to the back room and paused at the door, "Thanks, Doc," Jonas said before continuing.

Doc shook his head in slight amusement and picked up another pot of hot water. He followed Jonas into the back room.

Clarence opened the office door and stepped into the room, "I have a large pot of stew here, Doc," stated.

Doc walked back into the main office, "Thank you, Clarence," Doc said as he sat the pot on the wood stove.

"How is he?" Cox asked.

"Oh, he'll be just fine. Once he gets warmed up and some of this food into him, he'll be just like new," Doc smiled.

"Good," Cox said. "I need to settle a matter with him later," he added.

"Seems to me there's a few folks you need to settle matters with," Doc added in a fatherly way. Cox nodded, "I know," he sighed.

Doc stirred the pot of stew and went on about his business. Cox was just about to leave the doctor's office when the door opened. Ellen Jonas stepped through with Kitty Russell right behind her.

"Oh, for Heaven's sakes! This isn't Grand Central Sation!" Doc grumbled. Ellen and Kitty exchanged looks, "I was talking with Matt and he said that Mr. Jonas was up here so I decided to get Ellen," Kitty said with a slight huff.

"Matt should mind his own business," Doc said as he moved around the room doing things.

"Well it so happens, Doc, that Wilbur is my husband!" Ellen quipped.

"I know that," Doc said with a grunt. "I just wanted him to get warmed up and have something to eat before you saw him. He's a little rough around the edges," Doc cautioned as Ellen walked to the back room and opened the door, "Oh, Wilbur," she said and stepped into the room closing the door behind her.

Kitty stepped forward and Doc stopped her, "He's just fine, Kitty. In fact, I'm surprised he's weathered this as good as he has. He just needs warmth, food and sleep," Doc stated.

Kitty smiled, "Poor Ellen. She's been worried sick," she said.

"We all have," Doc turned Kitty to the door. "Let's give them some time together," he smiled. Kitty looked at the doctor, "I'll bye you a drink to pass the time," she winked.

"Just one. I have to get Percy Crump and go out to the mine," Doc said as he picked up his coat and followed Kitty to the door.

Kitty and Doc walked down the stairs and met with Matt and Festus, "Kitty's buying drinks," Doc smiled and looked at Kitty with a wink. Kitty's mouth dropped open before she playfully swatted the doctor across the shoulder, "Come along," she mused and walked to the Long Branch.

Ellen Jonas entered the room to find her husband neck deep in hot water. He smiled at his wife, "Ellen," he said.

"Oh, Wilbur. Miss Kitty told me everything, you poor thing," she said as she sat on the chair next to the bath tub. Carefully she pushed several strands of unruly sliver hair back off of Wilbur's brow. "Are you all right?"

Jonas nodded, "I will be once I warm up," he looked up at his wife with a smile.

Ellen stood, "I think I saw some stew on Doc's stove. I'll get some for you," she stated as she left the room. Jonas tilted his head back against the tub and sighed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Doc leaned on the bar next to Kitty and Matt, "You know, a year ago, I don't think Jonas would have taken this matter all that well," he said almost surprising himself.

"No, I don't think he would have either," Matt agreed.

"He just needed to know that he's part of the community. I don't think he felt that way for a long time," Kitty added.

"Well, he is a fairly private man," Doc stated as he lifted his glass and took a sip of his drink. Matt nodded in agreement before he pushed off the bar, "I guess we'd better go and see Percy Crump, Doc," Matt added.

"I was just thinking the same thing," the doctor said finishing his drink before he followed the marshal to the door.

Matt and Doc walked up the street to the undertaker's office. On their route, they passed the boardinghouse where Clarence Cox was just stepping out onto the boardwalk. He noted that the two men seemed deep in thought, "When are you going out to the mine?"

Matt looked at the trapper and studied his face and eyes, "Doc and I are just going to make arrangements with the undertaker now," he said in a solemn tone.

"I see," Cox said.

"You can join us, if you want," Doc said. Cox nodded, "Thanks, Doc," the trapper tried to smile. "What do you think happened to him?" Cox asked the marshal.

"We won't know for sure until Doc and Percy look Isaac over," Matt explained.

"Do you think Miller had anything to do about it?" Cox asked.

Matt stopped the trapper, "If Miller is responsible, he will pay for it," the marshal warned. "I don't want you involved." Cox said nothing - there was clearly rancour about him.

The three men walked to Percy Crump's. The undertaker was in the back room with another individual who had succumbed to his age. Crump stood back from the casket and looked at the old man. He nodded and fussed with the man's tie, "There," Crump smiled as if he'd just painted a masterpiece. The undertaker looked up from his work, "Doc. Marshal," he welcomed the men into the room which was dimly lit and draped in dark fabrics - a fitting place to rest. "What may I do for you?" Crump asked.

Doc drew his hand across his moustache, "We need you to pick up a body," the doctor stated.

"I see. Where might this body be?" Crump asked.

Clarence stepped forward, "Isaac Talbot is in the old sliver mine," he stated.

Matt looked from Cox to Crump, "They were friends," the marshal said.

"I see," Crump said again as he gathered his coat. "Let us retrieve the deceased."