Newly had no trouble removing the bullet from Festus' shoulder, although the hill man felt otherwise, "Wall, at least it was better than what Doc would have made me go through," he grumbled as Newly covered the wound with a clean wad of cotton gauze.

Nathan Burke fidgeted from where he was sitting, "Anytime, Newly," the shipping clerk grumbled.

"I'll get to you in a minute, Burke," Newly said. "Festus' wound was more serious then yours and that's they way I'll treat you," Newly was tired of being the doctor. He looked over to the two outlaws that sat chained to the bed. They glared back at the young deputy. Newly could almost hear what they were thinking. Newly made a face and continued on the Festus' shoulder. "I suggest you keep your arm in a sling for a week or so," Newly said as he stepped away from Festus to clean the instruments.

Festus stood and grumbled a little more about the pain and now having to deal with a sling, "A week?" Newly just looked at the deputy and said nothing. Festus made a face and decided to leave the room, "Thanks for your help, Newly," he said. His voice and body language indicated how tired he was.

"You're welcome," Newly smile. "Get some sleep, Festus," Newly said.

Festus nodded and left the room. Once he was on the landing in the Long Branch, he thought he'd take a moment to see how Doc was doing. The hill man walked to the second room and knocked lightly on the door.

Kitty opened the door, "Oh, hello Festus," she smiled warmly at the deputy. "How's your shoulder?"

Festus glanced down at his shoulder and back to Kitty, "I'll be all right in a few days," he smiled. "How's ol' Doc?"

Kitty stepped away from the door, "He's still sleeping," Kitty looked back into the room at the sleeping physician. "Newly said that's normal," she looked back to Festus who nodded in understanding.

Down the hall the door opened and Nathan Burke limped out, "Just a scratch, he says. Doesn't feel like any scratch I've had before," he grumbled as he limped by Festus and Kitty. They exchanged looks and tried not to smile or break into laughter. They watched and heard Burke grumble all the way down the stairs, across the floor and out the front doors of the Long Branch. Festus just shook his head with a smile on his weathered whiskered face.

Once Newly had treated Crawford and Preston for their wounds, the young deputy moved them over to the jail house to await their trial. Newly locked the iron-barred door and walked back out to the main office of the jail. Matt sat behind his desk and watched the young man for a moment before he spoke, "It's been quite the few days for you," Matt stated the obvious.

Newly nodded, "And I'm not through yet," his brown eyes locked onto the marshal's eyes.

"Oh?" Matt said.

"I need to look at your arm," Newly pointed to the marshal's wrapped forearm.

Matt looked down at it and made a face, "I suppose you're right," the marshal said as he watched Newly set out some instruments at the little wooden table in the centre of the room. Matt stood, and walked to the table and sat down.

"You aren't even going to argue?" Newly smiled. Matt shook his head no – he was too tired.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Several days had passed and things seemed to be getting back to normal in Dodge. Matt walked back from the telegraph office with the messages that Judge Brooker would be in Dodge in a week's time. Matt stopped, and watched the construction, or reconstruction as it would be of the front of the general store. Matt chuckled at Jonas as he was trying to instruct several people at one time and for a man who worked solo for many years, it was hard. Matt almost felt sorry for the mercantile owner.

The marshal continued on his way back to the jail to inform his prisoners of their trial date.

Jonas was almost beside himself, "Oh, for Pete sake, you know that goes up to Doc's office," he pointed to one man who held window trim in his hands.

"You didn't tell me how badly the store was damaged in your letter Mister Jonas," a familiar voice stated.

Jonas stopped in his tracks and then smiled as he turned to look at Joe Morgan. "Joe!" Jonas smiled broadly, "Just look at you!" he said as he extended his right hand to the preacher. Morgan looked down at his black suit, "It's Reverend Morgan, now," he looked up into Jonas' light blue eyes.

Jonas continued to smile, "I'm so glad you were able to come. Doc will be very happy to see you. He was very touched by what you did with his watch, and once he was hurt, I couldn't think of another thing that could make him feel better, than seeing you," Jonas' face slowly became serious. "Doc was hurt really badly," he said.

Reverend Morgan nodded, "I understood that in your letter and that's why I wanted to come to Dodge so quickly," Morgan's voice held deep concern for the doctor. Morgan looked up at the doctor's office and then back to Jonas, "Where is Doc?"

Jonas pointed to the saloon, "Miss Kitty has been kind enough to keep him in room number two and watch over him," the store owner smiled.

"Miss Kitty and Doc are extremely dear friends. I can understand why she'd want him under her care at this point," Joe smiled. "I'll be back later," Morgan placed his hand o Jonas' shoulder before he turned toward the Long Branch.

As the preacher stepped through the doors and down into the darkened room, he could feel all eyes on him, except those of Kitty Russell, Matt Dillon and Sam Noonan. They were all in a huddle at the end of the long wooden bar discussing the forthcoming trial.

Joe stood a few feet back and cleared his throat to get some attention.

Kitty was the first to look up, followed by Matt and Sam, "Joe!" Kitty smiled and moved away from the bar and she gave Joe a light kiss in the cheek. Kitty then stood back, "I suppose that might have been inappropriate," she teased.

Joe laughed, "No, Miss Kitty. In fact it was welcomed," he smiled.

"What brings you back to Dodge, Joe?" Matt asked.

Joe pulled a letter from his pocket, "This," he said as he handed Matt the letter Jonas posted to him. Matt took the letter and read it. The marshal's eyebrows crept upwards as he handed the letter to Kitty. Kitty read the note and a mist filler her eyes. She didn't know what to say other than, "Let me show you up to Doc's room," she smiled and took Joe's arm and guided him through the crowd and up the stairs.