A sizeable crowd gathered around the wagon that stopped outside the general store. "Some one find Doc!" newly yelled into the group of onlookers. Wilbur Jonas scurried up the stairs to Doc's office.

Festus Haggen heard newly from down the street and rushed out of the jail house to see what was going on. He stopped in his tracks momentarily as he assessed the situation – if Newly was calling for Doc, the marshal must still be alive. The deputy charged up the street and pushed his way through the crowd, peering over the side of the buckboard, "Matthew!" he gasped.

"It's bad, Festus," Newly stated.

"Get out of my way!" Doc growled as he nudged his way through the group of onlookers.

"Go on about yer business," Festus growled and shooed people away. "Doc doesn't need you gawking at him," he hissed as he watched the doctor climb into the back of the wagon and nestle next to Newly. Doc ticked his head. Slowly people began to move away, leaving just a few of Matt's friends waiting for word on his condition.

"Let's get him up to the office," Doc said as he stood up to climb down from the buckboard. Festus assisted his old friend as a group of men began to move Matt.

The men had barely moved Matt when several gun shots came from up the street as did the distressed call from someone who bellowed, "The bank is being robbed!"

Festus looked at Doc, "I think it's begun," he said moving quickly up the street just as two horse men came charging down with guns blazing. Festus pulled his gun from his holster but was too slow to shoot the rider that fired a shot, hitting the hill man on the lower right side, doubling him over. The second shot hit Festus in the left thigh, taking his leg out from under him as he collapsed to the street - everyone gasped in horror. The deputy fired twice, but wasn't sure if he hit any of the men.

More people poured out onto the street, including Kitty Russell. People ran for cover, and there were too many in the way for Newly to get a good shot off at the departing horsemen.

Doc ordered the men to get Matt up to his office before he darted out to the street to help Festus. Kitty saw the men with Matt and gasped, but she was also worried about the hill man. Deciding that Matt was being taken care of, the redhead saloon owner quickly ran out to assist the doctor.

"They got away," Festus groaned as he squirmed on the dusty street.

"They did," Doc replied and he knelt down next to the hill man. "Don't move," he urged the deputy as he tried to get up – adrenaline coursing through his veins. "But they gotta be stopped," Festus insisted.

"Yes, but not by you in this condition!" Doc stated gruffly. The doctor looked over his shoulder at Kitty, "We need to get him up to my office too," he said.

"I'll get some men to help," Kitty said turning back toward the saloon only to see two of the gun men rushing out the door, "Oh no!" she exclaimed and raced toward the saloon. Doc was now standing and watching as he saw one of the men stop Kitty in her tracks; grabbing her by the upper arm tightly he yelled to the crowd, "No one more or she gets it," he said holding his gun to Kitty's neck. Kitty struggled to pull free, but Jared's grip was too strong, in fact it was hurting her.

Doc stood helplessly watching as the gun man practically dragged Kitty over to his horse and forcing her to get up onto the saddle. Jared quickly followed, sitting behind Kitty, "I've wanted you since the first time I laid my eyes on you last night, woman," he sneered into whispered into Kitty's ear. Kitty cringed and shuttered at the sound of Jared's voice. "Forget the store!" Baker bellowed to the other men and before anyone knew it, they were gone from sight with the other riders right behind.

Newly saw what happened from the top landing at the doctor's office, and descended the stairs two at a time.

Doc shook himself out of the stunned state he was in, "Check the Long Branch," he pointed.

The young deputy ran to the doors, just in time to catch Sam Noonan, who was nursing a large bleeding gash on the right side of his head and looking dizzy. "Easy, Sam," O'Brien said in a caring voice as he took the barkeep by the arm.

"They robbed the Long Branch," Noonan stated as Newly eased him onto a chair in front of the saloon. "I have to tell Miss Kitty," he said looking up at the deputy.

"You can't do that," Newly said in a hushed voice.

Sam frowned, "Well, I have to," he said trying to stand up, but Newly held him down. "Miss Kitty was just taken by those men. Sam's stomach flipped, "Dear God," he murmured.

What had just transpired seemed to have stunned everyone that witnessed it. It took a few minutes for the crowd to pulled them selves together. Wilbur Jonas and Louie Pheeters assisted Doc with Festus – the deputy was quickly loosing consciousness, but they managed to get him off the street. Doc swept his right hand across his moustache, "Get him up stairs," he ordered before he quickly walked over to see how Sam was.

"We need to form a posse," Newly stated as he saw the doctor walking toward him. Doc only nodded in acknowledgement, his mind was on the care of the wounded and Kitty – he had to prioritize who would get treated first and upon examination he was grateful that Sam's injury wasn't life threatening and that he'd be able to join the posse.

"Gather some men together," Doc said looking at Newly with his eyes narrowed. "I'll manage here," he sighed patting Sam on the shoulder. "Sam, have Newly wrap that up," he pointed at the gash on Sam's scalp.

Newly nodded and watched the doctor walk away. He knew the old physician was torn up inside and had Matt and Festus not needed his immediate help, he himself would embark on the search for Kitty Russell. The young deputy motioned for Sam to follow him to Doc's office so that he could tend to the barkeep's head.

An eerie silence fell over Dodge as citizens watched Doc climb the stairs to his crowded office - everyone was numb. Wilbur Jonas wanted to say something to Newly and Sam as they passed by his store on their way to the stairs, but a lump formed in his throat - he could only open his mouth, but Newly knew by the look on the store owner's face what he thought.