Newly took James to Percy Crump's where he identified the deceased as his brother before bringing him to the jail. There, he told Matt how his brother and him came upon a woman in the street that offered his brother a good time.
"And then she took my brother's arm and walked down the street," James said shaking his head.
Newly handed the James a cup of coffee as Matt wrote down everything the man told him.
"And you never seen them again after that?" Matt asked as James shook his head no.
"Can you describe the woman?" Newly asked as the man smiled.
"That was the strangest part," James said with a smirk. "The girl was pretty but she looked more like a farmers daughter than a girl from a saloon."
Matt's eyebrows raised in surprise as the man continued. "She had blonde hair and blue eyes and was way to thin up top for my liking."
"Alright," Matt said with a sigh. The description could only be about half the woman in Dodge. "We'll keep you updated on the investigation."
"Thanks, Marshal," James said nodding toward Newly. "And, if I see the girl again, I'll let you know!"
"Yeah," Matt replied with a nod. "You do that!"
Festus watched as Doc checked Abelia's blood pressure again that night but the look on the physician's face offered little encouragement as he left the room.
The hill man thought back to Doc's earlier conversation as he watched Abelia sleeping.
He knew that she wanted this baby more than anything in the world because it would be the last.
But, Festus thought sadly. Was it worth the life of the woman he loved?
Matt and Newly spent the afternoon and several hours into the night looking for any woman that might fit the description of who they were looking for.
But went home empty handed. Matt only hoped as he crawled into bed with Kitty in the early morning hours that they didn't miss something.
The next morning, the Marshal caught up to Doc and Robert as the train with the supplies and medicine for the hospital arrived.
"Have you ever seen such a sight," Doc said excitedly as five rail cars were emptied one by one onto the platform.
"And this isn't even all of it," Robert said looking over the manifest. "We've got enough beds and surgical tables to at least open the ward we planned on but the rest will arrive once the hospital is completed."
Doc nodded as someone called his name from behind, a very familiar voice.
"Albert Ward," he said as the portly man made his way toward. "What in the world are you doing here!"
"Doctor Ward is our greatest benefactor, Doc," Robert said bemused. "With out him, none of this would have been possible."
"That's right old man," Ward said shaking Doc's hand. "It's so good to see you again."
"Well, thank you for everything you've done," Doc said with a broad smile. "But I would have never expected you to come all the way here to Dodge."
Ward laughed as he looked at Robert. "After I got the telegraph from this young man about you opening the hospital earlier than expected, I decided a little vacation was in order," Ward said with a wiry grin. "And I brought the plaque for the hospital."
"Plaque?" Doc said looking at Robert slightly confused.
"Doctor Ward asked, if he could be the one to name the hospital and since he's the one whose raised the money, I figured it was a fair request," Robert replied evenly.
"Don't worry, Galen," Ward said clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I guarantee it will make your day!"
Matt watched as Robert and Newly supervised the removal of the supplies into wagons for the short ride to the other end of town before Doc waved him over.
"Matt," Doc said indicating Doctor Ward. "You remember Albert Ward from Boston University?"
"I do," Matt said shaking the man's hand. "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise," Ward said looking at Robert. "I heard you and Miss Russell were married now."
Matt nodded as the Doctor smiled. "Congratulations," he said.
"Where's Festus?" Matt asked as Doc shook his head.
"I told him to stay with Abelia," Doc said looking the Marshal in the eyes. "If you don't need him, he needs to be with her."
"Sounds serious," Ward stated as Doc nodded but didn't say anything more.
Festus smiled when Sally stepped into the room.
"How is she?" Sally asked as Festus stood up. "She's been asleep fer most of the day."
"Can I sit with her," Sally asked as Festus nodded. "If you have something to do, I can stay."
"Much obliged," Festus replied gently brushing Abelia's lips with his. "You send fer Doc and me if in anything happens."
"I will," Sally said with a smile. "Count on it."
"Newly," Doc said as the younger man looked up from the create he had opened. "These are supposed to be in the next room!"
"Alright, Doc," Newly replied looking around. "I'll get someone to move it right away!"
"Thank you," Doc said looking at the next create.
"I can help ya, Doc," Festus said as the physician looked up in surprise.
"You didn't leave Abelia alone, did you?"
"Oh no," Festus said waving one hand. "Sally's with her, she'll come get us if she need you."
"Alright," Doc said tugging at his ear. "Take this create into the next room and open it to be unpacked."
"Will do-er, Doc," Festus said moving the create.
By the end of the day, Doc and Robert along with Ward, Matt, Kitty and Festus walked the simple eight room hospital.
"The first floor is mainly a clinic which are for cases that are not serious enough to require surgery or a stay over night," Robert said pointing out the first two rooms. "Then we have a kitchen for onsite meal preparation and a room for supplies and medicine storage."
"Up stairs, is where both wards will be located, the surgery and our office," Doc stated.
"And the best part," Kitty said with a smile. "Indoor water closets!"
"You're right about that, Kitty," Robert said proudly. "We were able to utilize the hotel's existing plumbing so each ward has its own water closet."
"Quite a feat you've been able to accomplish, Galen," Ward said looking around. "Most big cities won't ever see a hospital built and yet your little town has one and you owe it all to this man's skill and perseverance."
Robert cleared his throat and walked away with a blush as Ward turned to Festus. "He's a fine young man, Mr. Haggen," Ward said with a nod. "You should be proud."
"Very," Festus replied proudly as Ward turned back to Doc.
"I'll be here for the next week or so, Galen," he said checking the time. "I do hope we'll have some time to celebrate the opening?"
"Well," Doc said with a nod. "I believe we will but I still have patients to tend to."
"Of course," Ward said with a slight smile. "Anything, I can help with, you just let me know."
"I'll do that, Albert," Doc said with a nod.
Abelia opened her eyes and looked around slowly. "Sally," she said when she noticed the woman sitting next to her bed working on needle point. "Where's Festus?"
"He had a few things to do," Sally replied sitting forward. "As soon as he returns, I'll go home to fix the children supper."
"Thank you," Abelia mumbled. "Don't mean to be such a bother."
"It's not," Sally said patting Abelia's hand as the woman closed her eyes and returned to sleep.
Doc and Robert saw Doctor Ward to the Dodge house before returning to Doc's office.
"As they walked, Doc couldn't help but tease the younger man. "No wonder you were able to do all this," he said with a devilish grin. "Why, you got Albert thinking your the greatest thing since Darwin!"
"I have no idea what your talking about, Doc," Robert replied slightly amused.
Doc laughed as he leaned over toward the younger man. "You got some Haggen in you after all, don't you son?"
"Maybe a little," Robert said as he grinned mischievously. "But, it wasn't my intention, I assure you," Robert said quickly. "I've never mislead him if that's what your thinking!"
"Of course not," Doc said with a nod. "And, Albert is a very generous man. You could go a long way with his help."
"That's if, I make it that long," Robert said quietly as he noticed Sally walking up the boardwalk toward them. "Hey Sal, you headed home?"
"Yes," Sally replied with a nod toward Doc. "Would you like to walk me?"
"Sure," Robert said with a boyish grin. "Been awhile since I took a moonlit stroll with a pretty girl."
Sally blushed which only darkened her complexion in the dim light before putting her needle point and clutch in her other hand and then offering her arm to Robert.
"See you in the morning, Doc," Robert said with a smile.
Doc nodded as he watch the two young people walk toward the end of town before heading to his office to check on Abelia.