Jonas stood in front of his store with his hands his firmly on hips. He sighed at the site, but tried to pull his negative thoughts into positive one. Who knows, he thought, with a newer store, business might be better.
Out of the corner of his eye Wilbur Jonas spotted newly O'Brien who stepped out onto the boardwalk in front of the Long Branch Saloon. The last Jonas saw of the gunsmith and part-time deputy was when they rode out of town yesterday. Jonas smiled, "Newly! I didn't expect to see you and the others back into w so soon. You managed to catch Crawford, did you?!"
Newly shook his head no, "We got as far as the grove near the fork. Festus and I brought Doc in last night," Newly stated.
"Brought Doc in? I don't understand." Jonas said and then paused. "How is Doc?"
Newly shook his head again, "He's hurt really badly," Newly tried to control a yawn. "Crawford shot him," the deputy's brown eyes lifted to Jonas.
"Shot he?" Jonas repeated on in a question. Jonas looked to the doors of the saloon and took a step before stopping and turning back to. Newly, "Is it okay that I see him?"
Newly smiled, "He's still unconscious, but it's okay. Miss Kitty is with him."
Jonas smiled weakly, "Thanks Newly," he said and continued toward the Long Branch.
Sam and Newly had managed to get Doc up to one of the rooms. Jonas opened the door of the saloon and slid in looking around. His eyes spotted Sam at the back of the room, "Sam, where's Doc" his voice was caring.
Sam looked up from the table where he was trying to be the blood mopped up, "He's up in room two. Miss Kitty is with him now," the barkeep's voice was equally caring. He watched the store owner walk to the stairs and then climb them. Sam wondered why Jonas took such an interest in the doctor. With a shrug, Sam went back to work.
Jonas reached the top of the stairs and quietly made his way to room two. The store owner fled a little odd being up on the second floor of the Long Branch. With a slight gulp he looked around down at the floor hoping no one saw him. He felt like he was prowling around for some strange reason. With a drawn breath, Jonas walked t the door of room number two and rapped lightly. He heard noses from within and waited.
Kitty opened the door and looked up at Jonas, "Mr. Jonas?" she said with surprise in her tone.
"How's Doc? Newly told me all about it," Jonas asked as he tried to get a glimpse of the doctor from where he stood.
"Come in," Kitty smiled and stepped aside. She watched Jonas walk toward Doc and look down at him. Jonas then looked back to Kitty, "Is he going to be all right?"
Kitty joined Jonas at Doc's bedside, "Newly thinks so," she sighed. Her eyes then lifted to Jonas, "You seem more interested in Doc than usual," she said.
Jonas gulped and looked at the saloon owner, "Well, he does share my building, Miss Kitty..."
"Oh, Mr. Jonas!" Kitty said as her eyebrows knotted. She had in her mind that Jonas was more interested in his rent than Doc's health.
Jonas' mouth dropped open, "I don't know what you mean."
"You only came up here to see if Doc was going to be able to continue renting his office off f you," she scolded the store owner.
Jonas lower his head, "Is that what you really think?" he said before he look back up at Kitty.
Kitty stood speechless, "I'm sorry," she said.
Jonas pursed his lips and nodded. "So am I" he sighed as he turned to leave.
"Jonas?" Doc said weakly.
Wilbur Jonas turned on his heels, "Doc?"
"I'm not paying a cent of rent until my office is back to normal," Doc said then closed his eyes again. Jonas smiled, "You have always been a hard case, Doc. I'm going to hold you to it, too," he smiled and began to leave when Kitty stopped him. "Mr. Jonas, I'm so sorry for that out burst," she said.
Jonas patted Kitty on the hand, "I know. It's okay," he winked and the left the room. Kitty still felt badly and followed the store owner down the stairs. "If there is any thing you need, please ask," she said as Jonas began to step out the doors. The store owner stopped and turned back to face Kitty, "Please. I know you've been up all night with Doc and I know you must be very tired. And I know everyone thinks that all I think about is my business and money. Everyone changes sometime, don't they?" He smiled and turned away.
Sam stood at the bar and look at Miss Kitty, "What do you think Jonas meant by that?"
Kitty sighed, "I don't know, but we better keep an eye on him," she said as she walked to the door and looked out onto the street. The morning hustle and bustle had begun.
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With dusk breaking over the horizon, Crawford starred down at White and his knife which was cover in blood, "We have to either make a run for it or fight them," Ben Preston said as he quickly stood up and looked around.
"All this waiting is making me edgy Harry Dyer added.
"You're all a bunch of cowards," Roy Crawford stated.
"You might be the leader here Roy, but the boys have a point," Larry Talbot added.
"You too, huh?" Crawford huffed at Talbot.
"Just think for a minute," Talbot also stood. "We don't know how many of them there are, and yet they know where we are," Talbot pointed out. "Plus, how much further are you going to be able to ride with your leg all swollen up like it is?" he pointed at the outlaw's leg.
"Wouldn't be this way of that quack knew what he was doing," Crawford growled and pushed himself to his feet. He looked around at his men. "Okay. We're going to back track some and then circle whoever they are and cut them down. Does that work for you?" he pointedly asked Talbot.
Talbot was indifferent, "Oh, sure," he said flippantly. "You just give the word."
Again Crawford glared at the tall outlaw, "Yet to your horses and get ready to ride."
Talbot smirked, "Okay. You're the boss," he rolled his eyes. "Just you wait," he added under his breath.