It was slow going for Festus and Doc, having to cut a new trail through the deep snow and drifts as they went along. Neither man knew if the horse had even eaten since they last saw it. So they dare not push it in case of fatigue; it was likely hard enough for the horse to carry the two men to begin with.
Festus could feel Doc shivering, as the frigid weather was slowly getting to him, especially since they were away from the fire. "It won't be long now, Doc," the hill man tried to reassure the doctor that they would soon be safe and warm back in Dodge. "The road is just up ahead," Festus steered the animal to the right and through a small grove of trees, to the road.
Doc pointed, "Looks like someone's been here," he stated as he noted the horse tracks thought the deep snow.
Festus looked down at the marks and then up the road, "Who ever it is was headed to the Person place," he said. "They'll find yer, buggy, or what's left of it," he added.
"I bet it was one of the buffalo hunters. I bet they came for the other wheel," Doc growled. The doctor was tired and hungry. Even he knew the statement seem illogical after he said it.
"Might be Matthew, too," Festus suggested. He gently patted the doctor on the shoulder.
"That would be rich," Doc half laughed and then shivered again. "Come on, let's get moving again," he urged. With that, Festus nudged Popcorn with his spurs and they were on route again.
Matt on the other hand was trying to catch up to the men as he followed their tracks through the snow and woods, across several fields. He knew Festus was trying to take a shorter route, and figured that by the time he reached them they'd be on the outskirts of Dodge. He spurred Buck and had the horse pick up the pace for a little bit while they were in the clear.
The marshal reached the road, but couldn't see them, but he did notice the second set of tracks beside his own which eventually became one. He spurred Buck again so that he could catch up with his friends.
Kirkland and Morrison walked down the street toward Del Monicos. They paused when they saw the store owner watching them, "That old boy is on nosey coot," Kirkland snarled.
"Let him look. We gots just as much rights to eat here as he does," Morrison said as he watched Jonas across the street.
Newly happened along and stopped to chat with the store owner, "Is there a problem, Mr Jonas?" the young deputy asked.
"Not as long as they stay over there," Jonas flicked his right hand in the direction of the buffalo hunters.
Newly looked over, "That's them, huh?" he asked.
Jonas rubbed his jaw, "That's them, alright," he said before he turned and walked back into his store. Newly followed him, "What happened before?" the young deputy asked.
"They thought I was Doc and wanted me to look at their friend," Jonas stated. "They were pretty mean about it. I sure was glad that Matt came along,"
"What about their friend?" O'Brien was eager to know.
Jonas shrugged, "They never said what his problem was. Likely hung over," he said as he nervously straightened some blankets on the display shelf. He looked out the window and was happy to see no sign of the two men. "I'll be glad when they're gone," he stated as he turned back the Newly.
"Maybe I should ask them about their friend," Newly wondered aloud.
"Just don't bring him here," Jonas begged.
Newly smiled, "Where ever he is, I'll look at him there," he said as he left the general store and crossed the street to the restaurant.
Jonas watched again out the window, "Better you than me, Newly, and good luck," he said with a quick tick of his head and went straight back to the job at hand.
Newly entered the restaurant and eyed the two buffalo hunters. It seems their smell was causing a stir and most patrons were making faces, as well as comments. The two grizzled men cared nothing and demanded to be served, "Our money's as good as anyone's," Kirkland had the waiter tight be the lapels of his vest.
"Hey now," Newly walked through the room, "Let him go," he said firmly to Kirkland.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Kirkland snarled.
"Well for one, I'm a deputy here in Dodge. And for two, I hear that a friend of yours needs a doctor," O'Brien's words seem to ease the mounting situation as Kirkland slowly let for of Joe. "Go make our breakfast," he then snapped at the waiter. Morrison eyed Newly from head to foot and then turned his attention to the coffee on the table.
"You don't look old enough to be any saw-bone," Kirkland laughed.
"That might be the case, but I have on may occasions help Doctor Adams with his practice," Newly replied.
"You helped him? Why? Is he a drunkard?" Morrison laughed out loud. "This here Dodge is rich! A drunken doc, a deputy that thinks he's a doc and big marshal that likes to throw his badge around," he continued to laugh. Several people got up and left Del Monicos fearing that there might be trouble.
Newly nodded, "Go ahead and have your fun. I guess your friend doesn't need help after all," he turned and began walking to the door when Kirkland grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. "Are you some kind of smart mouth?" he asked as he pulled Newly tight against his chest and looked him in the eyes.
"You do realize that you are assaulting a deputy of the Federal Marshal, right?" Newly asked.
Kirkland's eyes narrowed as he gruffly released Newly; shoving him slightly in doing so. "Okay, so you're a part time quack. Patty needs looking at," he huffed.
"Where is this Patty?" Newly asked as he carefully watched the two men.
"He's resting at that flea-bit boarding house at the end of town that your marshal friend suggested," Morrison stated as he chewed on a slice of bread.
"What happened to him?" Newly asked.
"Are all the people in this town full of questions?" Kirkland barked.
"I need to know, so that I can get the right instruments and medicine to treat him," O'Brien firmly stated.
"This town is full of smart-mouths," Morrison said as he stood up. "Okay, Patty was shot. And he was shot in the back, and we don't take lightly to back shooters," he growled.
"Do you know who shot him?" Newly asked.
"Let's put it this way, if we see him, he'll get the same," Kirkland grunted. "Get your stuff. Patty needs you," he prodded Newly to the door.