Doc scratched his whiskered cheek, "You know Matt, I really think you should encourage Newly to quit the deputy job and take up doctoring," he said as he chewed the piece of bread.
Matt pursed his lips, "And who would I get to be another deputy?"
Doc looked over to the marshal, "I'm sure you could find someone. Look at Festus after all," he shrugged.
Matt half laughed, "I think I figured it out. You want Newly to take over your practice so you can lounge around at a fishing hole all day," Matt's eyes narrowed.
Doc glared at the marshal and looked way and then shot him another looked as he continued to to eat his meal, "It sure would be nice to retire someday," he huffed. "I've had enough of being hog-tied, kidnapped and shot, to last me for the remainder of my days! And I'm not even the law in this town!" his voice rose out of frustration.
"Now calm down, Doc before you explode," Matt held up his hand. "All I came over here for was to hear your side of the story," he stated.
"My side of the story?" Doc grunted. "I've never seen a more angry man," he frowned.
Matt nodded, "I have Rick Winslow locked up. Some of his story sounds pretty sincere," Matt said as he looked the doctor in the eyes.
Doc's eyebrows knit together, "Winslow is the fair haired one, ain't he?" he blinked as he looked up to Matt.
Matt nodded, "Yeah, and Sloane's dead," he added.
Doc drew his lips tight and thought back to the road and the cabin, "That young man struck me as being scared half to death," Doc ticked his head. "He surely was bullied by that Sloane fellow," he added. "Come to think of it, after that rat shot me, I vaguely remember Winslow wanting to help me, but Sloane said he'd kill him out right if he did," Doc looked at Matt.
"How sure are you about that Doc?" Matt asked.
Doc's eyes fluttered as he thought back, "Pretty sure," he then looked at the marshal. "I'd hate to see him hang for this," he sighed. "Even the other night, he dropped his gun without a moment of hesitation," Doc pointed to the door where the two men stood. "He didn't want to be shot," he added.
"You remember that?" Matt asked as he tried to picture it all in his own head as everything that night was a blur.
Doc nodded, "Of course I do! That bastard Sloane came in here to kill me, I know that," Doc growled.
Matt stood up, "Thanks Doc. I'll contact Judge Brooker and have him come here," he smiled. "Now you stay put for a few more days," he pointed to the bed. Doc frowned, "Some friend you are," he grunted, which caused Matt to chuckled. "I'll see you later, Doc," he said as he left began to leave the room.
"Matt?" Doc called.
"Yeah, Doc?" the marshal looked over his shoulder.
"Could you have Kitty bring me a drink or two?" the doctor asked innocently.
Matt smiled, "I'll see what I can do. It's not like I know the owner of this here saloon," he laughed slightly as he watched Doc's face change from hopeful to desperate.
"Some friend you are," Doc barked as Matt closed the door behind him. Matt furthered chuckled as he walked down the stairs and crossed the floor.
Kitty looked up, "How's Doc?" she asked.
"Grumpy," Matt snorted. "He's getting restless just laying there," he noted.
"I don't blame him," Kitty sighed. "Hopefully he can get up and around in a few days," she said as she played with her glass on the bar.
Matt nodded, "He asked me to ask you to see you you could slip him a few drinks," he winked.
"Oh, I'm sure that if no one was watching, I could manage something like that," Kitty smiled as if what they were talking about was somehow illegal. Matt laughed. "That might take the edge off him," he joked.
"Or make it worse!" Kitty laughed out loud followed by the marshal.
Id was early the next morning, and Newly was pleased that Phillip Winslow seemed to be getting stronger, "I think you're going to be just fine, Mister Winslow," the young deputy smiled at the older man.
"I thought for sure that all three of them robbers were rat finks," Festus snorted under his breath. Newly heard him and walked over to the whiskered hill man, "Seems like Rick was telling the truth," he said looking back to the elder Winslow.
"I guess we need to let Matthew know," Festus looked up at Newly.
O'Brien nodded, "You ride back to town and let the marshal know. I'll stay here a day or two until I can get Mister Winslow into Dodge. I'm sure the marshal will have Judge Brooker in town by then. Hopefully with what Mister Winslow has to say, and with what Doc and Ricky have already said, he can be spared the rope," Newly's eyes held hope for the young man.
Festus nodded, "I'll let Matthew know. See ya directly," Haggen said as he pulled on his coat. He was thankful that the warm weather was holding.
The hill man climbed up onto his mule and rode off.
"Rick's going to all right, isn't he?" Phillip asked.
Newly smiled, "I'm pretty sure of it, Mister Winslow. You get some rest for now," O'Brien said as he busied himself with fire wood for the stove so that he could cook one of the chickens.
It was late in the day when Festus pulled his mule to a stop in front of the jailhouse. He slowly stepped down and looked around. All seemed well in Dodge, for which he was most grateful for as it had been a bad few months – even though Doc tried to alleviate the stress and build moral with the fair. In hindsight, as Haggen walked to the door, the fall fair did seem to work. He smiled to himself as he opened the door.
Matt was at his desk, sorting thought his mail and looked up at the hill man as the deputy walked over to the wood stove and poured a coffee for himself.
Matt leaned back in his chair, "So what did you and Newly find out?"
Festus sipped on the hot coffee and sat at the little table in the middle of the room, "Matthew, Rick was tellin' the truth. We found his Pa all beaten black and blue," he stated.
By now, Rick was clinging to the bars, "Is my Pa okay?" he asked.
Festus looked over his shoulder, "Newly is staying with him fer a few more days, but he said that yer Pa will be right as rain in a while. He took quite the beating," the deputy shook his head and continued with his coffee.
Matt stood and walked over to where Festus sat, "I guess it'll be up to Judge Brooker to figure this one out," he said as he glanced over to the holding cells. Rick looked like he was ready to throw up.