Festus steered the wagon along the road with great skill and consideration for his passengers as he tried to steer clear of ruts and rocks that dotted the road. Doc thought the hill man had gone mad with the wild way he was handling the wagon.

Kitty was the only one of the injured that was awake and she groaned as she tried to make herself comfortable. Doc moved closer and gently propped her head up on a carpetbag. "That should help ease the pain," he smiled down at his dear friend.

Kitty smiled up at Doc, "How badly is Matt hurt?" she asked in a hushed voice.

Doc ticked his head, "Matt has lost a lot of blood. I'm not sure that I can take that bullet out just yet," he said as he adjusted Kitty's blankets.

"What about Jonas?" She looked over to the store owner.

"He's banged up pretty good, and has a nasty gash on his forehead, but he'll be fine," Doc sighed as he looked over to Jonas and back to Kitty. "And now I'm going to ask you how you are," he said looking down at Kitty.

Kitty rolled her eyes, "Oh, Doc, that crash was terrible," she said shaking her head.

"I bet it was," Doc commented.

"I think Jonas might have fallen on me," Kitty half joked.

Doc wore a slight look of bemusement on his face, "I'll look at your ribs as soon as I get Matt settled at my office," he spoke kindly. Kitty nodded and then closed her eyes.

Doc figured that they were fairly close to Dodge as more and more scenery was becoming familiar. The doctor's eyes drifted over to the unconscious marshal and wondered what the extent of his injury was.

Within the hour, Festus turned the wagon and the horses raced up Front Street, which caused a flurry of activity along the stretch of the street. Town's people watched on. Festus pulled the horses to a stop, in front of the general store. Festus hopped down and scurried over to the Long Branch to seek help. Louie Pheeters was busily sweeping the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch saloon when he looked up to see what the commotion was about.

Louie quickly leaned the broom against the outside wall of the saloon and pushed through the crowded doorway, "Sam!" he called across the room to the barkeep, "Festus is here!"

There was a murmur in the room as word had already been around about what had happened with the stagecoach. Sam quickly stepped out from behind the long dark wooden bar and walked to the door where Festus now stood. More men began to move as Festus quickly told Sam Noonan, Nathan Burke, Louie Pheeters and several other men what was happening.

The small group headed out to the street where Doc and Newly now stood on the boardwalk next to the wagon. Jonas was now sitting at the end of the wagon and talking to the doctor. Doc nodded and his eyes drifted passed the store owner to the group of men who were approaching the wagon.

Doc patted Jonas on the forearm and moved away, "I need to get Matt up to my office and Kitty to her room and be careful, she has some broken bibs. Find a room for Jonas too," Doc ordered.

"Doc can't I just go home?" Jonas asked.

Doc shook his head no, "I want to have a good look at your injuries before I let you out of my sight," he stated. Jonas' shoulders sagged. He remained in the wagon while Sam, Newly and Festus carried Matt up the stairs to Doc office. The doctor led the way.

Burke, Louie and Harry Bodkin assisted Miss Kitty to her room. Kitty tightened her lips as she held back a yelp as the men moved her as carefully as they could. "Are yo okay, Miss Kitty?" Louie asked as he patted her on the hand. Kitty looked at the older man and nodded, "Thanks, Louie," she tried to smile through the pain.

Percy Crump and Howie helped Wilbur Jonas to the saloon. With the support of the two men, Jonas limped across the alley and up to the boardwalk. He groaned as every joint in his body ached in part from the accident, but also having spent the night outside in the cold. Percy Crump and Howie Uzzell carefully walked up the stairs with the store owner and found him a room.

Jonas was thankful as Crump and Uzzell set him on the edge of the bed. Jonas layed back and closed his eyes while pulling a blanket up over him, "Thank you," he breathed. Crump and Uzzell looked at each other and left the room - both men shook their heads and wanted to know more details about what happened. They'd have to wait by the looks of things and as they did they made their way quietly down to the main floor of the saloon.

Down the hall, Kitty eased herself onto her bed and Harry Bodkin pulled the blankets up so that she could reach them herself, "Thanks, fellas," she said with a groan and a sigh. Kitty couldn't get her mind off Matt and Doc.

Festus, Sam and Newly had placed Matt on the doctor's bed in the back room. Festus and Sam waited in the office while Doc and Newly examined the marshal's condition. Doc looked up from where he sat on the bed next to Matt, "I can't get that bullet out today. Maybe not even tomorrow," Doc sounded tired as he spoke. "He's lost a lot of blood and I need him to rest so his body can rebuild its supply," Doc said as he slowly stood pulling his stethoscope from around his neck. His pinched the corners of his eyes near the bridge of his nose and drew a deep breath.

"I'll stay with him," Newly smiled and understood the doctor's concerns.

Doc nodded and placed a reassuring hand on Newly's shoulder. He didn't have to say anything. His actions spoke volumes.

Doc entered the office area where Festus and Sam waited. "Wall, how's Matthew?" Festus squeaked out while holding his ragged hat in his hands.

"He's not good. I can't operate just yet," Doc said as he gathered together some supplies so he could treat Kitty and Jonas.

"Wall, when can ya?" Festus stepped forward.

Doc paused what he was doing and looked Festus in the eyes, "I honestly don't know. I hope he'll be stronger tomorrow," Doc puled his eyes away to mask his fear.

Sam and Festus exchanged glances. Festus looked down at his hat and then turned to the door, "I gots rounds to make," he said.

Doc looked up at the door and then over to Sam. "You should get back to the Long Branch too," he said to the barkeep. "Kitty's relying on you."

Sam said nothing. He tightened his lips in thought and followed Festus out the door. Doc felt like the weight of the world had just crashed down on his shoulders, and there was very little he could do about it.