Galen Adams quickly assessed Matt's injury and felt that what Newly had done for him was enough for the time being and left him alone on the bed in the back room. His attention turned to Festus who was lying on the examination table in the main office. Doc quickly washed his hands wiped them dry before he pulled Festus' shirt open to look at the bullet wound in the deputy's side. He ticked his head realizing that the hill man was lucky as the bullet passed though his side without hitting any organs.

Doc wiped the entrance and exit wounds and placed a clean cloth over the hill man's abdomen before he cut a larger hole in the deputy's trousers to examine his leg wound. Unfortunately, this wound was the worse of the two in the doctor's opinion. Doc drew a deep breath, which caused Newly to look up from wrapping Sam Noonan's head, "What is it Doc?"

Doc glanced over to the young deputy, "This is one of the worst leg wounds I've seen in a long time," he said shaking his head. "I'll need to operate," he said then looking at the now unconscious hill man. If it wasn't for the tourniquet Festus may have bleed to death by now.

Newly finished with Sam who then stood, "I wish I could help," O'Brien stated.

"I know, but you have to find Kitty. Please get going, we can't afford anymore time. I hate to think what they want with her," he said with sorrow welling up in his voice.

Newly nodded and looked at the barkeep, "Are you sure you are all right to ride?"

"Nothing can stop me," Sam said in cold tone as he turned to the door - he too desperately wanted to find Kitty Russell. With that, both Newly and Sam left the doctor's office – neither of them saying another word until they reached the street where Wilbur Jonas waited with their horses and his wagon, "I'm going with you," he said in a way that Newly couldn't argue against.

"Fine. Let's get moving," Newly ordered as he mounted his horse. Sam climbed up onto his saddled horse and Jonas scampered up onto the buckboard. Newly jabbed his spurs into this horse's flanks and charged forward – Sam and Jonas followed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The riders pulled up in old Doge Town – the buildings abandoned and dust blew down the deserted streets and alleyways. The doors that remained hanging creaked in the wind and shutters slapped against the old broad board buildings that remained standing.

"This looks like a good place to stop," Jared said as he brought his horse to a halt in front of the old saloon. Kitty tried to wriggle free of Baker's hold, but the more she fought the tighter he held on, "Now "Red", we can do this two ways," he warned. "My way, or my way," he growled.

"Go to hell," Kitty yelled and continued to struggle.

"Now, now, now, "Red", how can we be friendly with that kind of talk?" Jared hissed.

Kitty glared at the man as he handed her off to John Calder before he dismounted. Jared squared himself to the saloon owner, "You are spirited, I give you that," he said grabbing Kitty by the wrist. "I don't like that in a woman," he said pulling her close.

"Then let me go, because I'm not going to change for you or nobody," Kitty sneered.

Jared wet his lips with his tongue, "I see," he said looking around the street before he decided that that the old saloon would be as good a place as anywhere. He gruffly jerked Kitty by the wrist toward the doorway – she almost lost her footing, but stumbled toward the door. Kitty's eyes were black with hate.

"Let go of me!" Kitty protested more as she used her free hand to try and pry Jared's large hand from her wrist – it was no use; he even ignored her fingernails that gouged into his flesh.

The other men tied their horses to a hitching post and waited. They could hear the scuffling and the woman's scream every now and then. Calder pulled a half smoked cigar from his pocket and struck the match across the post, lighting the cigar with several long draws. He lifted his head and blew out the smoke, "I can't wait for my turn. She's a mighty pretty," he smiled wickedly at the others before his eyes shifted to the now silent saloon.

Some ten minutes passed and Calder grew anxious, "Come on Jared. Some of us want some too," he yelled through the open door.

"Yeah, Baker! Hurry it up," Mathias barked.

Jared slowly walked to the door with his gun belt over his shoulder and a satisfied look on his face, "She's all yours," he said stepping aside, letting Calder through the door. Kitty lay half conscious, but heard the name of her first assailant, now she had to try and remain strong enough to endure the others, which she feared was soon about to happen when she saw another male figure standing in the doorway, removing his gun belt. Kitty swallowed deeply and looked away from where she lay on the dusty floor of the saloon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Doc finished with Festus' leg and carefully bound the limb – his greatest fear was that an infection would set in with such a wound and the hill man would lose his leg. "Well, ol' boy, that's all I can do for now," he patted his friend on the shoulder. The doctor's shoulders sagged as the thought about Kitty and yet he needed to remain strong for Matt, Festus and the rest of Dodge, as one of the city's elders.

The doctor drew a deep breath and washed his hands – his next stop was to clean and bound Matt's shoulder wound. As Doc washed his hands, his mind drifted back to the men from last night and he wondered why he didn't pick up in them like Kitty – he smiled and thought how remarkable she was. Then he chuckled to himself thinking that had he been a few years younger, he himself could have snatched her from Matt – he wondered then what Kitty would have thought, but was self confidant that she'd be happy.

Doc picked up a clean towel and dried his hands. He then gathered clean equipment and moved to the back room and to his surprise, Matt watched him as he entered, placing the basin on the small table. "Well?" Doc exclaimed.

"Well, what?" Matt huffed.

"What happened to you?" Doc mused as he ran his hand over his moustache.

"I was ambushed," Matt stated, "and I want to find out by whom," his voice crackled due to exhaustion.

Doc ticked his head and then sat next to the marshal as he carefully peeled away the blood soaked bandanas, "That, I'm afraid will have to wait," he said. "First I need to dig a bullet out of you, and for that, you are going to sleep," he said as he fished the ether mask from his medical bag.

"You know that makes me sick, Doc!" Matt protested.

"I do. But right now, I don't care," the doctor retorted.

Matt frowned, "You're hiding something. What is it?" he asked as his eyes narrowed.

"I'll be in a better position to tell you later," Doc quickly replied. "I don't want any arguments," he said as he placed the mask over Matt nose and mouth. Matt slowly pushed Doc's hand away, "Where is everyone?" he asked.

Doc swallowed and placed the mask back over Matt's face, "I'll explain later. Just go to sleep," he grunted.