Newly watched Doc carefully as he began to close the incision in Festus' side. The doctor was visibly fatigued and wavered slightly on his feet, "Newly, you finish this," he said looking over his silver-rimmed glasses. Newly nodded and quickly took over from where the doctor left off.
Doc turned and dabbled his bloodied hands around in the basin of warm water, grabbed a towel to dry his hands as he slowly walked to the daybed by the window. The doctor slowly lowered himself down, and pulled his glasses off before he rolled sideways and closed his eyes; his right hand still holding the spectacles was flopped across his chest.
Newly shook his head at the sight, but pursued with finishing with the sutures to close the wound. Once done, O'Brien gently washed the area and placed a bandage over the incision before he pulled a sheet up under Festus' chin. The hill man seemed to be breathing better.
O'Brien then walked over to Doc and carefully lifted Doc's legs up to the daybed, and sorted the doctor out, to make him more comfortable. He then covered Doc with a quilt; it looked like the doctor was going to be there for some time to come.
Newly went back to the hill man and checked on the closed incision, to make sure there was no bleeding and once satisfied, the young deputy sat down at the doctor's desk, to get some rest as well.
"Now come on Jonas," Bodkin begged, "Come to your senses, man!" the bank manager barked.
"Harry, I know what you mean, and I get it, but I don't want another thing to do with those buffalo hunters," Jonas stated firmly. "I've had enough grief in the last year to last me the rest of my life, and I don't want anymore," the store owner said as he busied himself at a table of blankets.
"Matt said things could get worse," Bodkin growled. "I guess he was right," he huffed, shaking his head in disappointment.
Jonas dropped a blanket and turned sharply to the bank manager, "If I did charge those two, there's no telling what they'd do. I know for fact that they'd find a way to get revenge," the store owner's jowls flexed with anger.
"How could they do anything if they were behind bars, where they deserve to..." Bodkin's voice trailed off as he swallowed while he stared at the door of the general store.
Jonas slowly turned and his eyes widened as he stepped back toward the service counter, "Can I help you?" he gulped as Morrison and Kirkland entered the store.
Morrison stepped further into the store and glared at the two men, "Revenge?" he said in a tone that was very unsettling. Bodkin and Jonas exchanged glances, "I didn't mean it like that," the store owner sputtered as he slowly backed away.
"It sure sounded like you meant something by it," Kirkland chimed in.
"If you two know what's good for you, you'd leave right now," Jonas pointed to the door; he was now up against the service counter.
"You are one feisty one, ain'tcha?" Morrison laughed and turned to Kirkland. "Look at him telling us to leave," he continued to laugh and he grabbed Jonas by the lapels, jerking him close to his chest. The bigger man glared down at the store owner whose eyes were wide open in fright.
Bodkin's eyes were now equally wide. The bank manager raced to the door and yelled for help.
Newly heard the call of distress and determined that it was close by; he rushed to the door and saw Bodkin down on the boardwalk. O'Brien scurried down the stairs and headed in the direction that Bodkin was indicating, "Hold it right there," the young deputy said calmly as the pointed his gun at the two buffalo hunters.
Morrison slowly released Jonas who retreated behind the service counter to retrieve his shotgun, "If you want to buy something, take your business to Clab Chummer! He's more your type," the store owner growled.
"I told you, Wilbur!" Bodkin waged his finger, "Now you have to have them locked up," he shouted at Jonas and Newly.
Jonas shook his head, "Just get out of my store," he motioned with the gun.
Morrison slowly walked to the door with Kirkland at his side; he stopped in front of Harry Bodkin, "You should keep your mouth shut," he sneered.
The bank manager's mouth hung open in awe, "How dare you?! Newly, aren't you going to do something?" Bodkin sputtered as he backed away from the hunters.
"Mister Jonas? Do you want these two charged with harassment?" O'Brien asked.
Jonas again shook his head no, "Just get them out of my store," he growled; his face growing redder by the minute.
"Damn you Jonas!" Bodkin barked.
"They're making enough mistakes on their own, to get caught proper," Jonas said calmly which caused Morrison to fire a hateful glare in the store owner's direction. Morrison cuffed Kirkland, "Let's go to that other store. The customer service here is disgusting," he said spitting at Bodkin's feet before leaving the store.
The bank manager balled up his hands, "You know they are planning to rob the bank, don't you?" Bodkin pointed at the two men as they crossed the street.
The young deputy nodded, "I saw the telegram, but we can't lock anyone away on hear-say. That's why the marshal is riding out to Hays to hear what this other buffalo hunter that has allegedly said about it," O'Brien explained.
"This is all ridiculous!" Bodkin huffed. "I'll have your badges if my bank is robbed by the likes of them," he warned as he stormed out of the general store.
Jonas walked over and stood next to Newly, "You don't think they'll really rob the bank, do you?" he quietly asked.
Newly shrugged, "Not until they can travel, and with their friend laid up like he is, that won't be for a few days, I reckon," O'Brien surmised.
Matt pulled his horse to a stop in front of the wheelwright's shop and slowly stepped down. The buffalo hunter's big rig was parked in the side lot, and it still had Doc's buggy wheel on it. The marshal looped the reins around the hitching post and walked to the big door. The heat from the large forge was welcoming, considering that even though the temperature wasn't as bad as it was yesterday, it was still cold and damp.
Jack Pence was busy shaving a spoke when he noticed Matt at the door, "What can I do for you marshal?"
"Hank tells me that the buffalo hunters were giving you a hard time," Matt said as he entered the work room and walked over to here the wheelwright was working.
Pence stopped what he was doing, placing the draw-blade down in the wooden chest next to him before he stood up, "If you mean that they threatened me to get their wagon fixed, then yes, they were," he said sliding his hands into his back trouser pockets. "I didn't heed their words, though," he smiled.
Matt looked around, "If they continue to bother you, let Newly or Sam know," he stated.
"I told them that I can't rush a wheel. They won't have it for another day or two at least. Maybe even three," Pence stated. "I think they got that much through their heads," the wheelwright noted.
"Well, that's kind of good news, in a way," Matt smiled. "I should have enough time to get to Hays and find out what's going on there with their "friend" that's behind bars," the marshal stated. "If you see Newly, tell him I'll send an telegram, will you?" Matt asked as he began to leave.
"Sure thing marshal. I'll be happy when these fellas are gone for good," Pence said and went back to work.
"You aren't the only one," Matt stated and left the wheelwright's building.