"Newly, hand me that clamp, will you?" Doc urged Newly and obliged just as the office door opened, Doc took a quick glance over his shoulder as the marshal entered the office, quickly closing the door behind him.
"How is he Doc?" Matt asked.
"I'll know better once I stop this bleeding," the doctor said; his hands covered in blood as he worked the forceps around in the wound as he searched the open cavity. Newly used a cloth to wipe blood away from the opening in the hill man's side. "Looks like a bone fragment from his rib punctured his lung, but I'll have that fixed in a moment once I find it," he said over his shoulder and his silver-rimmed glasses to the marshal.
Matt noted how tired the doctor looked, "Well, that's good to hear, Doc," Matt said as he moved back to the door, "Newly, I'm going over to the bank," he informed the young deputy.
"Sure marshal," O'Brien nodded. "As soon as we're done here, I'll join you," he indicated.
"You stay as long as Doc needs you," Matt stated. O'Brien understood, "Certainly," he said as he watched the marshal leave the office, a swirl of cool winter air creeped in, causing Doc to shutter as he remember his last night out in the cold. The doctor quickly refocused, "Why's Matt going to the bank?" Doc asked as he continued to work on Festus' wound. The doctor sensed something in the marshal's tone and his brief stay.
Newly hesitated but saw the drawn look on the doctor's face; he wasn't messing around and wanted an answer. "He received a telegram that indicates that the buffalo hunters are planning on robbing it, but we don't have solid proof. All we have is what another buffalo hunter is saying. After he talks to Mr Bodkin, he's going to have ride to Hayes to get the truth," Newly stated as he assisted the doctor.
Doc ticked his head, "How timely," he grumbled under his breath. "Seems they have it all planned out," he shook his head and then said nothing. His silence spoke volumes. "You'd better be careful, or you might be the next one lying here," Doc looked over to the young deputy. Newly's expression changed instantly.
Matt entered the bank and walked to the door of the office. Bodkin was at his large mahogany desk and busy with some papers when Matt rapped on the jamb. The bank manager looked up and was surprised to see the marshal, "Matt?" he said placing his pen back into its holder next to the inkwell at the top of his desk. As Matt stepped into the room, Bodkin quickly rocked the blotter over his signature on the paper ans set the lot aside. "What can I do for you?" he smiled as he asked.
Matt approached the desk and adjusted his hat back on his head, "I received this," he said pulling the slip of paper from his his shirt pocket and handing the telegram to Bodkin. The bank manager quickly read it and looked up at the marshal as he stood up from behind the desk, "Now what?" he asked handing the paper back.
"I want you to reduce your hours, and have our tellers to carry guns, or at least have one ready," Matt suggested. "I don't anticipate them doing anything until their friend can ride, and that they get the wheel replaced on their wagon," the marshal stated.
"I just can't change the hours of the bank," Bodkin protested. "Business rely on the operating hours to do their deposits," the reported.
"I know that, but until I can substantiate what this says, those buffalo hunters are a real treat," Matt stated. "I need to ride to Hayes," he added.
"Lock them up," Bodkin ordered.
"Nothing would please me more," Matt huffed. "But I haven't got anything to charge them with," he explained.
"Jonas told me what happened to him. Have him charged with assault," Bodkin was working himself into a lather.
"And Jonas told me he wants nothing to do with them," Matt stated.
Bodkin frowned, "This is a fine mess," the bank manager grumbled as he stuffed his hands down into his trouser pockets. "I can just imagine the talk around town over this," he added.
"If this spooks the hunters they may move on," Matt said; he almost prayed for it. "If it doesn't and they may dig in and I'm afraid they might try anything to finish the job," he said while watching the bank manager.
Bodkin drew his lips tight out of frustration, "It sure would be a lot easier if Jonas would just charge them and then you could lock them away," he grumbled.
"I've talked to Jonas and he said he's had enough troubles lately, and frankly I don't blame him for his decision," Matt sided with the store owner.
"Well I don't by it. Jonas has more of a back-bone than that. I'll talk to him," Bodkin had had enough of Matt. "Now please let me get back to my business," he said as he sat down.
"Consider this a waring, Mr Bodkin. Things could get pretty ugly around here," Matt stated as he readjusted his hat and turned to leave. He stopped in the door way and looked over his shoulder at the back manager, but Bodkin kept his head down – just long enough for the marshal to leave. The bank manager's eyes narrow, "How could Jonas be so selfish!" he grunted to himself.
Matt left the bank and walked back down the street to the livery stable to saddle his horse. As he passed the general store, and the doctor's office he sighed. Yes, it would be great if Jonas did charge the hunters, but that was his decision and no one else. And then there was the sad state of affairs up in the doctor's office. Doc not in too good of shape himself, and yet he's fighting to save a friend's life. He reached the stable as Hank was just leaving. "I'll get my horse," the marshal told the stable master.
"Doesn't seem like good weather to be travelling, marshal," Miller stated.
"No, but it has to be done," Matt frowned as he continued into the stalls and pulled Buck out so he could be saddled.
"I heard that those buffalo hunter were giving Jack Pence a hard time about getting their wagon wheel replaced," Hank stated.
"Thanks, Hank. I'll stop in to see him before I leave town," Matt said as he draped the blanket of the horse's back.
"It sure makes me wonder why God created the likes of them," Hank left the stable shaking his head. Matt couldn't help but agree.