With Festus at the point, Jonas guided the wagon along the now snow covered road, trying to avoid dips and potholes. Newly sat with Doc in the back; keeping an eye on his friend. Doc's limp body moved with the wagon, kind of like a jellied salad on a plate, but that was fine, just as long as there were no jarring shakes. Periodically the doctor would make a sound if the wagon swayed a little harder. Newly kept the bottle of whiskey close at hand just in case Doc needed a shot to numb the pain.
After about forty minutes, they turned onto Front Street and headed down toward the doctor's office.
Festus spotted Matt's horse and the posse's horses out in front of the Long Branch, where there seemed to be some sort of commotion happening. The hill man looked back to Jonas, "You hold up here until I find out what's going on," he cautioned the store owner. Newly heard what the deputy said and poked up behind the seat. It was several degrees cooler on the other side of the canvas cover. "What's happening, Mister Jonas?" the young deputy asked.
"I don't know, Newly. Looks like something might have happened at the Long Branch. Festus told me to wait here," Jonas stated.
Festus pulled Ruth to a stop and quickly jumped down from the mule, tying the reins around the post as he made his way through the posse and into the saloon. Matt was with Kitty and Sam at the back of the room, and Festus could see blood on Sam's white shirt sleeve. The hill man walked to the table, "What happened, Matthew?"
Matt looked at the deputy, "A man forced himself in here, demanded a drink and had plans for Kitty," he said in a hushed voice. "Sam was able to get him out, but unfortunately was grazed by a bullet."
Sam grit his teeth as Kitty dabbed at the flash wound. The whole time the saloon owner shook her head.
"Do we know who it was?" Haggen asked.
"Only one came in," Sam stated as he watched Kitty wrap his arm. "The other one stood out front, I'm not sure why. With two of them they could have overtaken me," he stated. "You don't suppose they were the bank robbers, do you?"
By now, Chip had joined them. He was talking to Louie to get a description of the man that shoved him to the ground, "It sure sounds like it might be Sloane based on that man's depiction of the man that ruffed him up. Sloane would be brazen enough to pull something like this," the deputized man stated with contempt in his tone.
"Well, I guess that means they're in town somewhere. We need to get Doc in here right away," Matt stated. "I have a room ready for him upstairs," Kitty said as she finished with Sam's arm.
"That's great Kitty," Matt smiled and motioned to his deputy to get help moving the doctor to the room. With that, Festus was off to notify Jonas and Newly to bring the wagon to the saloon. The hill man stood on the veranda and waved with his arms. Jonas ticked his head, "Looks like Doc's staying at the Long Branch," he smiled slightly.
"Kitty can keep a better watch on him from there," Newly pointed out. No doubt I'll have to take over his practice until he's well enough to," O'Brien stated.
"We can't have a town without a doctor," Jonas pointed out as he maneuvered the horses down the street to the saloon. Once there he pulled on the reins, "Whoa," he said calmly to his team and then set the brake. Jonas clambered down from the wagon, slowly, realizing that between sleeping on the floor and sitting on a cold wagon seat he was awfully stiff; he made a face bit soldiered onwards. Newly emerged from the back of the wagon, closing the canvas flap behind him; he waited for Matt's instructions.
Matt and Chip left the saloon and greeted the men that brought the doctor in, "We'll put Doc up in a room that Kitty has for him," Matt thumbed over his shoulder.
"Sure thing, marshal," Newly nodded sharply and moved to the back of the wagon, "If I could get some of you men to help," he asked. Several of the men from the posse stepped forward and they were able to easily take Doc into the saloon and up to the room.
This was the first time Kitty had seen her dear friend in many days, and she was somewhat shocked at his appearance. He now almost had a full beard and his usual wavy hair was all over the place – not to mention how pale he looked. She followed the men up to the room.
Jonas arched his back and watched the men with the doctor. Sam noticed the store keep, "Looks like you could use a drink, Wilbur," he smiled.
"I sure could use one, Sam," Jonas watched as the door to the room closed, "I sure could," sadness gripped the store owner. "I hear you were shot, are you okay?" he then asked as Sam slid the drink across the bar. "It hurts, but I'll be all right. Louie's here to help me today," the bar keep tried to smile as his eyes also lifted to the door.
"Doc's in bad shape," Jonas stated as he lifted up the glass of whiskey and sipped on it; his eyes blinked as he tried to analyze everything that was happening.
"Doc's a strong man, he'll do just fine, in time," Sam stated as he wiped the bar down. Jonas nodded, "I hope you're right, Sam."
Across the street and in the alley, Sloane finished most of the bottle; Winslow took a few swigs just to try and get warm. The two men were watching what was happening at the Long Branch, "You know, Winslow, it appears to me that the quack actually lived. I didn't think he had it in him," Sloane laughed, pulling the bottle out of Winslow's hands.
"So what are you planning on doing now?" Winslow had to ask.
Sloane grunted, "I have to think on that for a bit," he said with calculation in his voice. His eyes squinted and he knew that if the doctor got a look at him that would be the end. The simplest thing to do was to make sure the doctor couldn't talk. Sloane formulated a plan as he sipped on the rest of the whiskey.