Jonas heard someone at the door and he tried to yell through the gag that was tied around his mouth. He did his best to creep along the floor, but the ropes bit into his wrists causing great discomfort. The room was now filling with smoke.
Matt threw his shoulder into the door, "Jonas are you in there?" The door wasn't budging.
Jonas recognized Matt's voice. He had to let the marshal that he was in the room. Jonas looked around and saw a barrel with brooms in it. With all his might the store owner kicked the barrel with his bound feet. The brooms crashed to the floor.
Matt and Festus heard the noise, "Jonas?" Matt asked again. This time he leaned to the door to listen. He heard a slight muffled sound. Matt looked around trying to figure out how to opened the door. The only thing he could think of was to shoot the lock. Matt pulled his gun from the holster, "Jonas, get away from the door. I have to shoot the lock," Matt ordered.
Jonas' eyes opened at what Matt said. The store owner struggled to roll out of the way just a blast shattered the door near the lock. Matt then kicked the door open to a wall of smoke.
Jonas was now coughing. He looked up at Matt who knelt down and removed the gag, "Are you all right?"
Jonas coughed violently while shaking his head no. "Festus give me a hand. We'll get Jonas out to the street and fresh air," Matt said as he cut the ropes that bound Jonas. Both lawmen pulled Jonas to his feet and guided him out to Front Street.
Kitty Russell watched Matt and Festus walking Jonas out to the street. They sat him down on the boardwalk opposite the store. Jonas continued to cough. He also rubbed his irritated eyes. Kitty walked over and sat down next to Jonas. She rubbed her hand across his back as he continued to cough.
"Festus. Go and ask Sam to bring a pitcher of ice water, a glass, and a cloth," Kitty said to the deputy. Matt stood and watched, "That was close," he stated.
Jonas looked up at the marshal, "It sure was," his voice was coarse "Thank you, marshal," he said before another fit of coughing over took him.
Sam was quick with the water. He filled the glass hand handed it to Kitty. "Here, drink this. It will soothe your cough," Kitty handed the glass to Jonas who was thankful for it. Kitty then dipped the cloth into the water. She waited for Jonas to finish with his glass, "I've seen Doc do this," she smiled at the store owner. "Tilt your head back and look up," she said then squeezed the cloth allowing the water to run into Jonas' eyes. He blinked, but he could feel the relief. "Thank you Miss Kitty," Jonas said in a hushed voice.
Kitty looked at Matt and Festus, "Where is Doc, anyway?"
"He ain't in his office," Festus stated.
Then Jonas remembered as he lifted his hand to his head, "It must have to do with the man that hit me and tied me up," Jonas stated.
"I was just about to ask you about that. When did this happen?" Matt asked.
"First thing this morning," Jonas said as he looked up to Matt. "I was putting out the produce when this man came into the store and ordered me into the storeroom. I wasn't going to go so he cracked me over the head with his gun. Then he dragged me into the back room and hog tied me," Jonas stated. "He said something about not wanting witnesses. I didn't know what he was talking about. I didn't see anyone else on the street.
Matt cursed under his breath, "It has to be Crawford's men."
"Wall he weren't in the office either," Festus said.
Kitty handed the cool damp cloth to Jonas. He blotted it on his eyes which still stung from the smoke.
Matt turned and watched as the fire brigade finished with the fire. The front of the building had a massive hole in it, where the doors to the store used to be. The upper floor windows were still in tacked. It would take some hard work, but the building could be saved.
Matt turned and looked at Jonas who was now staring at the store. Jonas rested his elbows on his knees and his hands hung loosely between his knees. The store owner's shoulders sagged. He drew a deep breath and then sighed. "I think it can be saved, Jonas," Matt tried to be reassuring considering Jonas' luck of late. "Thanks, marshal," he said through his broken voice. The store meant everything to the man and there across the street his livelihood was shattered. Jonas blinked away tears as the fill his eyes.
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Doc held onto the reins tightly as he reluctantly rode along with Roy Crawford and his men. He glared at Larry Talbot, "Matt Dillon with hunt ever and every one of you down," he growled.
"Shut up, will you?" Crawford ordered.
Doc pursed his lips. In the back of his mind, he was trying to figure out away to escape, or at least get word back to Matt about what was happening. He frowned in thought.
"I don't like what I'm seeing," Talbot warned the doctor.
"And what are you seeing?" Doc asked flatly.
"You're thinking, and I don't like when you are thinking," Talbot warned.
"Humph," Doc huffed, "You wouldn't know thinking if it hit you in the face," he scoffed.
Without notice Talbot leaned over and hit Doc across the chin knocking him off hic horse. The group of men stopped as Doc slowly got to his feet, "Like that, Doc?" Talbot sneered at the physician. Doc said nothing as he slowly climbed back up into the saddle. The other men laughed and the began to move again.
Doc's jaw throbbed but he wasn't going to give Talbot the satisfaction of watching him rub it to make it feel better. Instead the doctor moved his horse passed Talbot's, behind Preston's animal. Talbot laughed.