Doc sat down at the back table in the Long Branch; Newly next to him as Sam went back to work. Kitty read into the situation and was quick to get her dear friend a stiff drink, "For a doctor, you lead a very interesting and dangerous life," she said as she placed the glass of whiskey down on the green felt-covered table.
The doctor shot a glare over to the saloon own before he huffed, "Don't I know it," and took a long swig from the glass. With a satisfied look now on his face, Doc set the half empty glass down, and then sighed with a tick of his head, "The sooner Matt can get those hunters out of Dodge, the better off we all will be," he said to no one in particular.
Newly looked at the doctor, "Doc, are you all right?" he asked again, seeing he didn't get an answer when he asked back at the boarding house. "I mean they didn't hurt you did they?"
"I'm fine, Newly," Doc blinked. "No, they didn't harm me, but they sure threatened to do so, and more. I can't remember a more insidious bunch in my life. They are down right miserable," he shook his head in despair and took another drink.
Kitty patted the doctor on the forearm, "Well, I'm glad they didn't hurt you, or you would have seen a whole different side of me," the saloon owner said firmly.
Doc's eyebrows lifted and he looked at Kitty, "I think that would scare them out of their skins. I know it would me!" he exclaimed with a slight twinkle in his eyes. Kitty smiled at the comment, "I only reserve that side of me for special occasions," she winked.
"None of this is going to make them move on any faster," Newly changed the subject back to the buffalo hunters hoping to get some information that he could use to either jail them or send them on their way.
"That one that was shot, isn't going anywhere for a few days," Doc noted as he poked the table with his right index finger. "That's why they took me the way they did. I guess asking isn't in their nature," he added as he took another sip from his glass. Doc's crystal blue eyes then shifted to Newly, "I know you did your best with him, Newly, but they way those hunters live," he blinked and paused with a tick of his head, "well, let's just say that that wound got infected pretty fast. I warned him to keep it clean, so whether he does is yet to be seen," he said before he finished his drink as he frowned at his own words. Despite his Hypocritical Oath, Doc fell he still need to attend to the wounded buffalo hunter just as he would anyone else; regardless of what they had done to him and his friends, and what was yet to be.
Sam Noonan arrived at the table with a plate with a steak and eggs on it, "Miss Kitty thought you might be hungry, Doc," he smiled as he placed the plate down in front of the doctor. Doc's eyes were wide with delight, "Kitty was right," he smiled and picked up the knife and fork to dig into the steak. He closed his eyes as he savoured the bite he was chewing.
Kitty chuckled, "I'll get you a beer to wash that down with," she said as she stood. "You look like you could use one as well," she noted the look on the young deputy's face. Newly merely nodded with a sheepish grin on his face.
Patty O'Shea was restless on the bed, "That old saw bones has got me all in a lather," he grumbled to Kirkland.
"About what?" the buffalo hunter asked.
"Well, I'm glad you asked," Patty huffed. Kirkland rolled his eyes. "You see that old doctor told me that if I don't keep me self tidy that this here wound won't heel proper," He said as he folded his arms across his chest.
Kirkland laughed out loud, "He told you to wash?"
Patty frowned at the comment, "Indeed he did."
Morrison looked up from where he was sitting, sharpening his big hunting knife, "Make sure I'm up wind of you when we ride out of here," he laughed.
"It would be like you to make light of the situation," the Irishman growled.
"Did you ever stop to think that the old quack is just funning with you?" Kirkland asked.
"Well if he was, I'll be sure ta thank him good and proper," Patty snarled as he balled up his right hand into a fist. Morrison laughed at the Irishman and continued on with this knife.
Newly had already left the saloon to do his rounds about town, as Doc finished his meal and beer, "I'm heading up to the office to check on Festus," he said as he slowly stood up from the table; his back still bothering him from the tumble.
"Will he be all right, Doc?" Kitty asked with concern.
"I don't know right now, Kitty. It is a very serious wound. Unfortunately I had to rather invasive to remove the bullet and stop the bleeding," the doctor ticked his head as he drew his right hand across his moustache. "I won't know until he comes to," he added, as he patted Kitty on the shoulder before he began to walk to the door, "He's tough, you know it," he looked back and smiled slightly hoping that his words offered some reassurance to the worried saloon owner. Kitty nodded as she watched the doctor leave the saloon.
It was much later in the day than the doctor thought as he pulled his coat collar tight. The evening breeze was cooler, but not as cold as the night before; regardless, it made him shiver. Doc crossed the little alley and stepped up onto the boardwalk, just as Wilbur Jonas was locking the door of his store, "Newly was looking for you earlier," Jonas stated.
Doc nodded, "He found me." There was a hint of bemusement in the doctor's statement, wondering how long ago it was that Newly had asked about his where-a-bouts.
"Well, I hope everything is all right. Newly sure looked up set," Jonas smiled. "Good night, Doc," he said as he turned and walked away.
Doc scratched his cheek and then headed up the stairs to his office, "I bet he wondered where I was all day," he said to himself as he thought about the store owner's comment. The doctor shook his head as a slight smile curled his lips.
Once inside the office, Doc pulled off his winter coat and dropped in on the chair next to his roll-top desk. He then checked the wood stove and then lit a lamp before he turned his attention to the prone deputy. The doctor lifted the sheet covering the hill man and gently peeked under the gauze; he was satisfied that the incision was clean and holding. It was now a matter of waiting for Festus to wake up. Doc plucked his pocket watch from his vest pocket and tilted it toward the lamp light as he picked up the hill man's limp wrist to check his pulse, which seemed satisfactory so he put the watch away. He then placed Festus' hand back on the examination table and pulled the sheet back up under his whiskered chin, "Hold on, ol' boy," he said as he studied the reposed face of the deputy.
Doc walked back to the daybed and picked up the quilt. The settee looked more comfortable than his swivel chair at his desk. Slowly the doctor sat down and rolled to his side as he pulled the quilt over his shoulder. His head no sooner hit the pillow and his eyes shut; he was sound asleep.