Newly, Kitty and Matt managed to get Doc into the bed and were able to get him into a night shirt after Newly had a better chance to clean and rewrap the wound. Kitty pulled the blankets up under Doc's chin, leaving his arms down at his sides. She did her best with his unruly hair and then stood back. She looked up at Newly, "How long will we know if he will be all right?"
Newly shrugged, "There's a lot of variables," he said woefully. "Anything from swelling to infection," clearly he didn't have an absolute answer. "What he needs now is warmth, rest and, some food," he stated.
Kitty acknowledged what Newly said as he further fussed with doc's blankets, "I'll go downstairs and make him some soup," Kitty said as she left the room.
Matt and Newly exchanged looks, "If that was Sloane that attacked Sam and they are still here in Dodge, they'll try and finish Doc off if they find out he's still alive," Matt said in a hushed voice.
"I've been thinking about that too," Newly sighed. "I figure though that this is the best place for him. We can't place him in the jail; he'd freeze to death in there with out windows," the young deputy lamented.
"I know. We'll have to set up some security until those two are caught," Matt stated. "We'll have to work in pairs and spell each other off. I'll check with Chip to see if his men can stay in Dodge until they are behind bars," the marshal stated as he reached for the doorknob. "You stay with Doc for awhile. Kitty might need a hand to feed him," he noted.
"Sure marshal. I hope you get them soon," Newly's brown eyes held sorrow. Matt nodded and then left the room. By now the saloon was open for business and there were a half dozen men in the room below. The marshal's eyes scanned the room for anyone he didn't recognize, but all the men were regulars.
Slowly Matt descended the stairs and reached the main floor. He crossed the room to the bar, "Sam, if you see that guy in here again, don't hesitate to use that gun," he said in a hushed voice. Sam nodded, "You bet I won't," a sly smile curled the corners of the bar keep's mouth. Matt smirked; he didn't have to tell Sam how to handle these kinds of situations, but he felt that a word of offering would lessen the sting of the bullet crease across his arm.
Matt stood on the veranda in front of the Long Branch and scanned the street, hoping to get a glimpse of the two bank robbers; he surely was going to need more that Festus' help, with Newly being tied up in helping Doc. With a deep breath the marshal cross the street, all the while watching for the men. He entered the jail house to find Chip and the other men from the posse.
Matt pulled off his hat and hung it on the peg, "I think Doc's in a good place now," he said as he walked to the wood stove and placed a log on the fire.
Festus was the next to enter the jail house, "I just heard that there was a ruckus at the Double Duce the other night," he stated as he thumbed over his shoulder.
"What kind of ruckus?" Matt asked.
"Freddy Howard heard that a scruffy lookin' pole cat was trying to get close to that Rite Finch woman that works there," the deputy said as he poured himself a coffee.
Matt made a face, "Any fool knows not to mess with her," he half laughed.
"Wall, it didn't sound like this one was the sharpest knife in the sheath," Festus noted.
"It might have been Sloane," Chip offered. "Sounds like something stupid he'd pull after drinking too much," he scoffed. "I'm surprised they didn't kill him," he added.
"That would be too easy," Matt said as he went through the envelopes on his desk. There was nothing of immediate interest to him. "Can I ask for you and some of the men to stay until were catch Sloane and Winslow?" the marshal asked.
"I was going to offer. After all, we want them too," Chip ticked his head.
"Great. Now one thing were going to have to do, is watch who has access to Doc's room at the Long Branch. That room has a window at the back of the building. It wold take a skilled person to scale the back to reach it," he noted.
"Or a determined man," Chip said flatly. Matt nodded.
"I'd like a man in the room with Doc, if Newly's not there, and one or two at the back of the building. It would be brazen for Sloane to just walk in off the street. Sam knows who to look for now," Matt stated.
"We'll get something to eat and organize ourselves," Chip said as he and his men left the jail house. "I sure hope we get them soon," he added as he closed the door.
"Amen to that," Matt said under his breath.
Sam assisted Kitty with the tray of soup and crackers for the doctor; she opened the door and was happy to see that Doc was awake. Sam placed the tray down on the little table next to the bed. Doc's eyes narrowed at the barkeep, "What happened to you?" he asked of the wrap around Sam's upper arm.
"One of the bank robbers tried to shoot me," Sam stated.
"Looks like he did!" Doc exclaimed.
"Now, Doc, don't get yourself worked up. I took care of Sam's arm and he says he's fine," Kitty said as she pulled a chair over so that she could feed the prone doctor. Before she sat, she and Newly gently propped Doc into a slight sitting position.
"If you need anything else, just call," Sam smiled as he left the room. Newly followed the barkeep to the door, "I'll be back after I get a few things from Doc's office," the young deputy stated.
"Thanks, Newly," Kitty smiled and then turned her attention to the doctor. "Boy, it's a good thing you aren't near a mirror," she looked at Doc in the eyes.
"That bad, huh?" Doc grunted as he ran his hand across his stubbled chin.
"You could pass as one of Festus' kinfolk," Kitty joked but only garnered a glare from the doctor. "Was that called for?" he finally asked as Kitty tucked a napkin under his chin.
Kitty poured some soup into a mug and handed it to Doc, "It's hot," she warned. Doc took the cup and blew on the contents before he sipped at it, "Ah," he smiled. "It's better than what Jonas made," he winked at Kitty.
"Well, that's nice to know," Kitty half laughed. "Maybe we should open a restaurant; he can bake the pies and I'll make the soup," she lamented.
Doc glanced over to Kitty, "How could do that and run the Long Branch at the same time?" he asked.
Kitty blinked at the question, "I was only joking, Doc," she said with a wink. "Now you finished that soup up. There's more here and you need the nourishment," she added.
Within a few minutes, Newly had returned and Doc did indeed finish the soup. His eyes were drooping as he fought to stay awake. Kitty placed the cup and napkin onto the tray.
Doc rolled his head toward the young deputy, "Have they been caught yet?" he asked.
Newly shook his head no, "They're looking for them everywhere," he then looked over to Kitty. "We're going to place a few men at the back of the Long Branch, in case they get any ideas about trying to climb up to the window," his eyes went back to Doc. "I'll be here for a while."
Kitty didn't like the sound of what was happening, "I just wish they'd get caught and dealt with. This waiting to see what they are going to do next..." Kitty's voice trailed off. Both men knew what she meant. Kitty stood and took the tray and left the room. Newly closed the door and walked over to Doc, "I brought you the laudanum," he stated.
"Thanks, Newly. I'm fine for now," Doc said as he eyes closed.
Newly sat in the chair at the foot of the bed. He too hated waiting.