Robert checked Quantro's pulse while Stephen hovered behind him.
"How soon can he travel?"
"I wouldn't recommend traveling before two or three days," Robert said putting his patient's hand back under the sheet.
"We don't have two or three days," Quantro rasped weakly from the table.
"Senior," Stephen said with a smile as Quantro looked around.
"How long have I been here?" the leader asked.
"About five hours," Robert replied checking the time.
"We must go," Quantro said in alarm. "Once the army realizes there's no communication in Dodge, they will come."
"I don't think you should travel this soon," Robert said firmly as Stephen moved to help the old leader sit up.
"I have no choice," he said meeting Robert's eyes. "Just as I have no choice but to take you with us!"
"Wait," Robert said angrily. "That wasn't part of the deal!"
"Hasn't anyone ever told you," Quantro said with a haughty laugh. "I'm terrible at making deals!"
"Here's the cold water you wanted, Doc," Sam said carrying in two pitchers.
"Thanks, Sam," Doc said pouring some fresh water into a basin. "How's Kitty?"
"She's alright," Sam replied evenly. "Just serving drinks but I'll send her up if you need her."
"I might," Doc said removing a thermometer from Abelia's mouth.
"How high is it?" Abelia asked quietly as Doc looked at the results before putting the thermometer away.
"You let me worry about that," he said ringing out a towel before placing it across her forehead.
"It's an infection, isn't it Doc?" Abelia asked as Doc nodded.
"Doc," Kitty said entering the room. "Sam said, you needed me?"
"Yes, Kitty," Doc said standing up. "I need you to sit here and try to keep her fever down. I have to convince these people to let me go over to the hospital and get what I need to treat the infection she's got."
"Alright," Kitty said with a nod. "But be careful."
"I will," Doc said leaving the room. "And I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Well," Matt asked eagerly as Newly put together the parts to make a fifth gun.
"That's as many as I'm going to be able to make out of these old parts, Marshal," Newly said putting it on Matt's desk.
"Five guns is better odds than no guns," Matt said handing a couple to Festus. "Keep them within arms reach but out of sight."
"Will do'er, Matthew," Festus said with a nod as he strategically placed a loaded gun above the door and a second behind a shelf above the stove.
"Good," Matt said with a nod as he walked toward the window of the jail.
"Now what," Matt said watching as Doc stepped out of the Long Branch with Ernest.
"Where they takin him," Festus asked watching the two men walking down the street.
"Looks like the hospital," Matt said meeting the hill man's eyes. "But why?"
"You can forget it," Robert said angrily. "I don't care if you leave here and kill yourself trying to get back to Mexico but I'm not going with you!"
Quantro laughed again at Robert's defiance. "You have no choice," he said as the sounds of someone coming up the stairs made Stephen draw his gun before walking into the hall way.
"It is just me," Ernest said coming into the room with Doc behind him. "Senior Quantro!"
"Ernesto," Quantro said clapping his friend on the back. "How is this town?"
"We are ready anytime you are," Ernest said quietly.
"Doc," Robert said looking at the older man. "Why are you here?"
"I need some powders," Doc said evenly. "Specifically, slippery elm and calendula."
"Calendula," Robert said thoughtfully. "That's for treating infections."
"That's right," Doc said meeting Robert's gaze. "Abelia's upstairs at the Long Branch with a high fever."
"Who is this you speaks of?" Quantro said looking at Doc as Robert stepped forward.
"My mother," he said indicating Doc. "This is the retired physician I told you about. He's come looking for medicine to treat her."
"Then give it to him," Quantro said before looking at Ernest. "We are leaving here soon my friend! You know what to do?"
"We will be ready," Ernest said turning around to follow Doc and Robert out the door.
"They want to take me with them!" Robert said looking at Doc as they walked downstairs.
"They can't," Doc said quietly. "Matt would never allow it! And neither would Festus!"
"I don't appear to have much choice," Robert stated as Ernest drew his gun.
"Enough talking! Get what you need old man and c'mon!"
Doc quickly gathered the powders that he came for before Robert stopped him. "Remember what I told you earlier," he said with a wan smile. "He needs me more than I need him and I don't intend to be used for long!"
Doc started to ask him what he meant but decided against it when Ernest shoved his gun into the older man's side.
"Let's go," he said leading Doc out the front doors of the hospital.
Matt and Festus were both relieved to see Doc return to the Long Branch a short time later.
"Now, all we have to worry about at the hospital is Robert," Matt said as Festus nodded.
Doc climbed the stairs at the Long Branch with Robert's words on his mind and as haunting as they were, he just couldn't figure out what it was the young man was trying to tell him.