It was nearing midnight and things were winding down at the Long Branch; last call was made before the saloon closed for the night. Only a few men ordered another drink, while others slowly left the establishment.
Matt sat quietly in the big chair and wondered if the two bank robbers had been found yet. He was hopeful that Festus or Newly would soon knock on the door with the welcomed news.
The marshal stood and walked to the little wood stove and opened the door to stir the ambers and place another log into the chamber. The noise of the door opening caused Doc to stir; he moaned as he tried to get more comfortable.
Matt closed the stove and walked over to the side of the bed, "Doc? Are you all right?" he asked in a hushed voice.
The doctor groaned again and then his eyes opened, "Help me up," Doc motioned. "I need to use the commode," he stated.
Matt made a face, but obliged the doctor by assisting him to his feet, "Are you sure about this, Doc?" he asked the older man.
Doc gasped and held his side as Matt guided him to the commode chair behind the curtained room divider. He watched the doctor maneuver himself to the chair. "I'll leave you in privacy and wait in the hall. Call me when you need me," he said as he walked to the door. He had to smile.
Matt stood on the balcony and watched the few men below. Slowly the saloon was emptying for the night.
Doc finished his business and slowly made his way back to the bed, clutching his sore side; his right leg feeling a little numb. Everything was fine, until he stopped to get back onto the bed, when a pain struck him as he turned to sit, which sent him to his knees, "Matt," he called out.
Matt turned on his heels when he heard the doctor; "Doc?" he called as he quickly reentered the room and saw the doctor next to the bed. "Easy now," Matt said as he carefully assisted the doctor back to his feet; Doc was grunting and groaning the whole time as the marshal straighten him out and got him to rest, again. "Do you need some laudanum?" Matt asked.
Doc held his side and thought for a moment, as the pain subsided, he then shook his head no, "Maybe later, if I can't get back to sleep," he said in a quiet voice. He hoped that his adventure didn't do any further damage. Matt pulled the blankets up to where the doctor could grab them and put them where he wanted and then closed the door. He sighed and returned to the chair and sat down.
Down below, Kitty and Sam were finishing up at the bar, "I'll just clean up and lock up before I go," the barkeep stated as he wiped the top of the bar.
"That's fine, Sam. Good night and see you in the morning," Kitty smiled and walked to the stairs up to her room. She quietly ascended the staircase to the balcony.
"Good night, Miss Kitty," Sam smiled. His baritone voice was always soothing. Noonan finished with a quick mop of the floor before he pulled his apron off, folded it and placed it on the bar. He then gathered his hat and coat, putting both on before heading out into the night. The barkeep closed the big external doors and locked them. He gave them a gentle tug to make sure they were secure before he walked home. Noonan turned and walked along the veranda, stepped down, where he had the misfortune of walking into Frankie Sloane and Rick Winslow.
"You again," Sam growled and was about to yell for Festus, but was cold cocked with Sloane's gun. Sam dropped to his knees and rolled onto his side; not moving. Sloane pulled the ring of keys from Sam's coat and quickly moved along the walkway to the front door of the saloon. With a quick look around, Sloane unlocked the door and stepped inside pulling Winslow through the door before closing it tight.
Quietly, Sloane moved across the room with Winslow in tow. Carefully they climbed the stairs and moved along the balcony until they reached the door that Winslow indicated. Sloane reached out and grabbed the door knob and turned it, slowly opening the door into the room. They pulled their guns and entered the room.
Matt stirred, lifting his head seeing the two figures in the doorway thinking at first that they were Festus and Newly, but their silhouettes weren't right. Matt was quick to his feet.
Sloane was startled by the marshal that he didn't see due to the shadow of the door, his gun now aimed at the lawman.
"Drop it," Matt ordered. Doc's eyes were now wide, "It's him! He's the one that shot me," he growled.
Winslow immediately let go of his gun; it hit the floor with a thud as quickly put his hands up. Sloane on the other hand took another defiant step into the room, now he had to kill both the marshal and the doctor. "Go to hell, marshal. Yo or any posse are taking me in," he snarled as he raised his gun just a bit, gripping the handle tight. It was enough for Matt to pull the trigger, shooting Sloane in the abdomen. Sloane doubled over and fired a shot at Matt, striking him in the upper right chest, sending him backwards to the floor. The marshal was able to fire another shot at Sloane before he could shoot the doctor. The bullet caused the bank robber to reel back out the door and over the railing.
Kitty was at the end of the balcony at the door of her room and saw the man fall to the floor below. There was silence in the room where Doc and Matt were. Quickly she moved down the balcony and stood at the doorway.
By now, Festus, Chip and Newly were in the saloon and looking up at the open door. Festus took the stairs two at a time as he raced to the room. The hill man pushed passed Winslow and eased Kitty aside as he entered the room with Newly and Chip tightly behind. Doc was kneeling down next to Matt who was wriggling on the floor; typical of the doctor. "Doc you shouldn't be out of bed," Newly quickly scolded the doctor as he too knelt next to Matt.
"It was Sloane," Matt grunted as he pushed himself up to a sitting position.
"Stop moving," Doc barked at the marshal. "You're lucky it isn't that bad," the doctor groaned holding his side.
"Festus, put that man in the jail," Matt pointed to Winslow who remained standing in the corner.
You betcha, Matthew," the deputy stated as he grabbed Winslow by the arm, and pushed him out the door only to see Sam come staggering into the saloon. "Newly, it looks like Sam needs your help!" he looked back over his shoulder.
"Oh, Sam!" Kitty stated and quickly went down the stairs to help Noonan. "Festus, tell Newly to stay with Matt and Doc, I'll take care of Sam," she said as she guided the barkeep to a chair.
Festus did relay the message before he took Winslow to the jail. The young man didn't say a word as he walked passed his dead partner. The only thing he felt was relief. Chip followed the deputy, hoping that the bank robber would talk.
Newly managed to convince Doc to get back into the bed and he was able quickly assess the doctor before he left him alone, this time Doc asked for laudanum due to the aggravated pain in his side. The doctor quickly drifted into unconsciousness.
The young deputy then got Matt to his feet and assisted him down the stairs. "I'll be up in Doc's office with the marshal," the deputy stated. Once I'm through with him, I'll have a look at Sam," he said as his brown eyes lifted from Kitty's bloodied hands as she held a towel on the barkeep's scalp wound. Kitty's face was that of worry as she look at Matt as he held his shoulder with a grimaced look on his face, "At least we got them," he huffed.
Kitty looked over to the dead man, "Finally," she growled knowing the wake of terror they created in their path.