Matt's ride back to Dodge was far from easy; the "spirited" horse seemed to have lost it's spirit the moment it was saddled. The marshal kept spurring the animal only to get a little run and then back to a canter, "I could probably walk back to town faster!" he grunted, and the horse turned it's ears back at the comment and then snorted as if to mock the lawman. Matt frowned and spurred the horse again, and this time he got a little more from it. The marshal was confident that he'd reach Dodge sometime in the early evening at the rate that he was travelling.
Patty was sitting up in the bed and enjoying the new bottle of whiskey that his friends had supplied. "Now," he smiled, "This is what the doctor ordered!" he then laughed at what he thought was a joke, considering that the doctor said nothing of the sort.
"Just drink it and shut up," Morrison said from the chair across the room. "You have to be in good shape for us to ride," he added.
"And when will that be?" the Irishman asked.
"Hopefully later today," Kirkland stated. "The wagon wheel has finally been replaced," he added.
"I'll be in fine form," Patty winked and took another swig from the bottle. "I hardly feel any pain atall," he mumbled. "I look forward to getting out of this town."
The other two buffalo hunters returned to their planning of the bank robbery, "I say we wait until it's just about to close," Kirkland noted. "That way the bulk of the banking would be done for the day and there'd be more money to be had," he smiled.
Slowly a wicked smile appeared on Morrison's whiskered face, "Ain't you the clever one," he laughed and patted his partner hard on the right shoulder, just about sending Kirkland off his chair.
Kitty was finally able to join the doctor at the back table in the saloon. Doc wore an inquisitive look on his face and the saloon owner noticed it, "Doc? You all right?" she asked as the set a drink down in front of the doctor.
Doc blinked and looked over to his friend, "Do I smell? "I mean do I smell terrible?" he asked straight out.
Kitty's eyebrow knit together, "What do you mean by that?" she then almost laughed before she took a sip from her own drink.
"I just came from treating that buffalo hunter. Their room," he paused, "Well the smell in there would gang a cat," Doc huffed. "And I just wondered if, well," he stammered.
"If you smelled like them," Kitty smiled. And out of curiosity she leaned forward and sniffed the air. She then patted her friend on the forearm, "No, you don't smell," she winked. Doc seemed relieved by the news, and took a satisfying mouthful of whiskey. "I sure will be glad to see them leave," Kitty added.
"That reminds me," Doc stated as he clicked his fingers. "Have you seen Newly?" he then asked as he got to his feet.
Kitty shook her head no, "Not for a while. Why?" she watched the doctor finish his drink and pull on his coat.
"They are planning on robbing the bank. They as much as told me so," Doc stated. "Thanks for the drink," he smiled and left the saloon in search of the young deputy.
Kitty walked to the bar, and leaned on the end, "I sure hope Matt gets back soon. This is going to lead to trouble. I just know it," Kitty sighed.
Sam heard the saloon owner, "I'm sure he's on his way, Miss Kitty."
Doc crossed the little alley and was about to go up to his office to check on Festus, when he spotted Newly O'Brien leaving the restaurant across the street. It seemed like the young deputy was heading in his direction, so he stayed put. O'Brien was carrying a covered tray, "Whatcha got there, Newly?" the doctor asked as Newly approached.
"Festus said he was hungry," O'Brien pointed up to the doctor's office. "I thought some soup and bread would do," he smiled.
"Festus is awake?" Doc almost seemed shocked.
"You could say that," Newly stated without trying to say too much more. Doc's eyes narrowed at the comment but decided to leave it alone. The two men climbed the stairs and entered the office to find Festus sitting up on the examination table, "Hiya, Doc!" the hill man smiled.
Doc walked over to the deputy, "What do you think you're doing?" he looked the hill man over for any signs of duress, but there appeared to be none. The doctor drew his right hand across his moustache as he studied Festus.
Newly placed the tray on the examination table, next to the hill man, "Thanks, Newly," the deputy smiled and pulled the gingham cloth off. The first thing he grabbed was the bread and began to eat. "A beer would wash this down but good," he hinted.
"Well, you aren't going to get a beer," Doc snapped.
Festus made a face and looked over to Newly. O'Brien shrugged, "I'm going to get beer for you if Doc says no."
"I'll go down to Jonas' and get you a ginger beer," Doc stated as he wagged his finger at the deputy before he left the office. It was late in the day and the shadows were getting long. Doc reached the boardwalk just as Jonas was stepping out of his store, "Doc," he said as he pulled the door closed and locked it.
"Jonas. I was just coming down here to get Festus some ginger beer," the doctor stated.
"Oh. Festus is awake, is he," Jonas asked.
"Yes, and he seems to be on the mend," Doc said as he scratched the side of his head.
"That's good news. Now, if you can wait just a few minutes, I'll be right back," the store owner looked fidgety.
"Sure, but where are you going?" Doc had to ask.
"I need to get this deposit to the bank. I don't want to leave it in the store over night, if you know what I mean," Jonas stated. "I'll be right back," he said as he darted off in the direction of the bank. Doc was about to say something about the buffalo hunters, but the store owner was too quick to leave; the doctor shook his head and decided to go back to his office, where it was warm. He didn't feel any urgency to run after the store owner, at least not in the last condition that he saw Patty O'Shea was in.
Doc stepped into his office and shrugged to Festus, "I guess you have to wait until Jonas gets back from the bank."
"Maybe I should go over there," Newly suggested. "I heard that the buffalo hunters' wagon is ready," O'Brien stated.
Doc pursed his lips and nodded, "Yes. Go," he encouraged the young deputy.
Newly quickly left the doctor's office. Doc stood looking at the door. "Doc? Is Matthew back yet?" Festus asked.
Doc swallowed, "No. No, he isn't Festus."