James Doris was doubled over in his saddle with Frank Elcombe assisting him to stay upright. "I can't go much further," Doris groaned through his clenched teeth, "I think I'm bleeding again." The trooper's face was pale and filled with agony.

"Hold on a minute," Elcombe yelled up to Dwight Hodgson who was well ahead of his friends. Hodgson stopped his horse and looked back over his shoulder. He didn't like what he saw and cursed under his breath. Hodgson pulled sharply on his reins to turn his horse back to his friends. As he neared, he could hear James Doris gasping in pain.

Hodgson stopped his horse and dismounted. Quickly he wrapped the reins around a branch on the shrub. "We better get him down from there," Hodgson said with annoyance in his tone. He took hold of Doris' right arm and carefully pulled him down from the horse. Elcombe was quick to get off his horse and assist. Hodgson and Elcombe lowered Doris to the ground where he lay sprawled out.

"Now what?" Elcombe looked up from his friend.

Hodgson said nothing, yet Elcombe could see that he was thinking something. Hodgson drew a deep breath and walked away. He knew that they couldn't travel much further with Doris in his current condition. Hodgson pursed his lips in deep thought. His eyes narrowed as he looked slowly over his shoulder at his two friends. There was only on thought going through his mind – one that even he didn't like, however, if they were going to make their plan work, he had to follow through with it.

Elcombe dabbed a cloth across Doris' forehead. He didn't see Hodgson approach, nor did he notice that Hodgson held his revolver in his hand. Hodgson rolled back the hammer causing Elcombe to lift his head and before he could speak, Hodgson fired a single shot at Doris. The bullet struck Doris in the chest and he gasped.

Elcombe jumped up, "What the hell are you doing?!" he screamed at Hodgson while glaring at the man in front of him.

"I'm assuring our freedom," he said calmly as he slid his gun back into his holster.

Frank Elcombe's eyes drifted back to his friend. He could see now understand what Dwight Hodgson was talking about. "We better get mounted," Hodgson said as he untied the reins and pulled himself up onto his saddle.

"Aren't we going to bury him?" Frank Elcombe asked.

"We don't have time. We've wasted enough by tending to him," Hodgson spurred his horse and it jumped forward.

Elcombe scrambled for his horse and hopped up onto the animal and hurried to catch up with Hodgson. He took another quick over his shoulder and still couldn't believe what Hodgson had just done.

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Festus, Newly and Sam had moved Matt out to the examination table where Doc was finalizing what equipment he was going to need. Matt groaned as Doc had Festus and Newly hold him in a position that he could remove his vest and shirt. Gently they let him back down to the table – Matt groaned again. Festus looked at the barkeep, "Let's give Doc some room," he said in a quiet voice and opened the door. Both men left the office only to further wonder how the marshal was going to do, and whether Doc could save the man's life.

Doc used a wad of cotton to clean around the wound. The doctor was matriculate as he took his time dabbing at the open bullet hole. Doc adjusted his stance and picked up the long probe. Carefully he spread the wound open with his left thumb and index finger while he pushed the metal probe into the hole.

Doc twisted his mouth in thought as he tried to see with the probe the bullet. His skilled hands moved slowly and yet he still felt nothing.

"Doc?" Newly asked from the other side of the examination table.

Doc shook his head and remained focused on the probe's direction, "I can't feel the bullet yet," he said in a hushed voice. "It must be in further than I thought," the doctor looked up quickly into Newly's brown caring eyes. Newly made a face, "You look tired, Doc. I can do that if you want," the young deputy looked at the probe in the doctor's hand before he looked back into Doc's eyes.

Doc shook his head no and looked back down at what he was doing, "Thanks Newly. I may ask you to take over to close the wound," the doctor spoke softly and continued to probe for the bullet. Matt flinched which caused Doc to pause - the doctor's eyes scanned Matt's face and wondered if he should put the marshal under with either.

Matt relaxed again. Doc quickly glanced back up to Newly before he again pushed the long probe into the wound further. Almost twenty minutes had passed and still nothing. Doc wet his lips and readjusted his stance before continuing. He drew his forearm across his sweaty brow and the shook his head in disbelief, "I just can't seem to find that bullet," he muttered.

Newly looked down at the unconscious marshal and then back to the beleaguered doctor, "Give it another try Doc," the young deputy urged.

Doc drew a deep breath and leaned forward again. He worked the probe deeper and then finally after another ten minutes he looked up to Newly, "I found it," he smiled weakly.

"It sure looks awfully deep," Newly commented as Doc withdrew the probe. Doc nodded, "I think it has shifted some from its original place. I didn't want him wandering all over the countryside with that slug in him," Doc grumbled as he picked up the longest forceps he had and inserted them into to the wound to retrieve the lead projectile.

Doc steadied himself and worked the forceps down into Matt's chest. He heard the marshal groan. The forceps had rings on the end in order to grab the bullet, and they required more room to enter the bullet hole. Doc twisted his mouth and tried to go a little faster to cause less trauma to the marshal.

It took Doc less time to find the lead projectile and with a look of relief on his face he opened the forceps enough to grab the lead ball. Doc worked quickly to pull the object out of Matt's chest, "Newly, get some clean gauze and get ready to clean this wound again," Doc said with authority.

Newly nodded and went straight to work soaking gauze. He waited patiently for Doc to pull the bullet free, and when he did, Newly stepped in, "I'll finish up Doc. You get some rest," he said looking at the exhausted physician. Doc wasn't doing to argue. He set the forceps into the basin with the bullet and sat down in his chair. Newly knew what he was doing. Doc smiled and sighed - Matt was going to be all right.