Festus hobbled up the boardwalk using the crutch that Doc had given him. He was restless and anxious to see Matt and the posse arrive back in Dodge, with hopes that Jared Baker and his gang were with him – that was if there was anything left of the men once Matt got finished with them.

The night breeze felt good on the deputy's face as he still had a slight temperature caused by a mild infection in his leg. Festus hoped that he didn't run into Doc, having endured a lecture, earlier in the day, about moving around too much and not resting his leg yet in his defence, the hill man argued that there was a noticeable lack of lawmen in the town.

Festus paused outside of Jonas' general store and watched the store owner as he closed down his shop for the night. Jonas picked up his jacket and slung it over his left forearm as he cupped his right hand over the glass globe of the oil lamp at the door, blowing it out with a good puff. "Oh, hello, Festus," the store owner smiled. "Doc's let you get out, I see," he as he locked the front door of his store.

"Not exactly," Festus grumbled. "I'm just twitchy and not wanting to sit around," he stated.

Jonas nodded, "I can't blame you for that," he smiled, while he checked his pocket watch, "It seems I have enough time for a beer before I head home," he said as he pushed the gold watch back into his vest pocket, looking up the street toward the saloon.

"A cold beer would be good, about now," Festus said as his eyes followed Jonas' up the street as he licked his lips.

Jonas paused for a few seconds, "I'll buy you a beer," he said shaking his head, knowing all too well that Festus rarely had any money on him, let alone in the bank. The store owner started for the saloon.

"Wall that's right neighbourly," Festus smiled and followed Jonas along the boardwalk. They two had just stepped down into the alley when Doc spotted them, from part way up his staircase, "Hold it right there!" he barked at Festus – wagging his right index finger at the hill man.

Festus cringed, "I'm in for it again," he said looking over to Wilbur Jonas. They watched the doctor descend the wooden stairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Doc asked the deputy as he stopped on the boardwalk.

"Wall," Festus began. "It's like this, ya see," he continued until Doc cut him off.

"You're going for a beer, aren't you?" Doc further question as he joined the two men.

"As a matter of fact, we are," Jonas said.

Doc's eyes narrowed at the store owner and then to Festus, "You're not feeling well enough to take the medicine I prescribed but you're well enough to have a beer?" he huffed.

"Beer's cold, Doc. That gunk you gave me, gives me the heebie-jeebies!" he stated with a flap of his free hand.

Doc made a face. "Well, that 'gunk' is supposed to take care of that fever and that infection," he sternly pointed out.

Festus blew his breath through his lips, causing them to flutter, making a sound. "I bet you wouldn't take that stuff yer self," he protested.

"I'll be in the Long Branch," Jonas managed to squeeze his comment into the conversation before he backed way and left the two men arguing in the alley way.

The store owner pushed through the swing doors and looked around the saloon. Louie was doing his best to keep up with the orders. Jonas slowly stepped down into the door any moved to the long bar. His eyes cast around the room looking for someone to talk to, but he didn't see anyone that he felt comfortable spending any time with, so he decided to just stay at the bar.

Louie finally had a free moment and stood across from the store owner, "Mr Jonas! You don't come here often," Pheeters blurted out.

Jonas looked around wondering if anyone heard the comment before he looked back at Louie, "No, I don't," he said with a hint of annoyance in his tone. "I'd like a beer, please," he quickly added. Louie nodded and pulled a lever allowing the amber liquid to flow into the mug. "That will be ten cents," Louie stated as he placed the mug on the counter in front of the store owner. Jonas fished a coin out of his pocket and handed it to Pheeters.

Doc and Festus were the next to arrive and by the looks of it, their conversation continued from where Jonas left them. Naturally, everyone in the room looked at the two as if they were some sort of vaudeville act – they continued to squabble and as heated as the conversation may seem to outsiders, it was nothing more that the two men agreeing to disagree which was something they loved to do.

Doc settled in next to Jonas at the bar, with Festus next to him. Without a word, Louie quickly filled two beer mugs and placed them on the counter like he'd seen Sam do a hundred times or more. It worked as Festus and Doc picked up their drinks – peace was restored – that is until Barney Danches entered the saloon waving a telegraph, "Doc!" he knew to asked for the physician.

Doc looked up at the telegraph operator, "What is it. Barney?" he asked, setting his beer mug down and turning toward Danches.

"This just came in," he said handing the message to the doctor.

"Shouldn't I be the one receiving that?" Festus huffed grabbing at the message.

Danches scowled at the deputy, "You can't read," he said skirting the deputy's hand and thrusting the paper into Doc's hands.

Festus's eyebrows knit together in a frown, "I'll talk to Matthew about this," he stated.

"You go right ahead," Barney said with his head held high.

"This is not time for pettiness," Doc said as he read the telegraph. "That Jared Baker fellow is one awful man," he said looking up from the telegraph. "From that description that I gave Matt, three other towns know of him and his done the same things," he stated with sadness in his eyes. "Two women have died," he swallowed.

"What hasn't he been caught before now?" Festus asked.

"That's a good question, Festus, but it seems that this gang knows how top take and move. It's like they were never here…" Doc sighed.

"They were here alright," Kitty Russell said from the top of the stairs. She was clothed in her dressing gown. "Matt will catch them and bring them here," she said flatly.

All eyes in the saloon were fixed on the redhead saloon owner and mummers began to swirl. Doc brushed his right hand over his moustache and briskly walked over to the stairs and looked up at Kitty, "Who said you could get out of that bed?" he asked.

"I did Doc," Kitty answered as she slowly walked down the stairs. "I can't spend the rest of my life up there," she stated.

Doc couldn't argue with that fact, "Fair enough. But you won't be up for long," he warned.

"Doc. I need a stiff drink and there's no better place to have it than here," Kitty said flat out.

The doctor pursed his lips, "All right. But I'm going to join you," he said.

Kitty half smiled, "I'd like that," she said as she slowly sat at the table at the back of the room.

Festus and Jonas looked at each other, "Best we leave them be," Jonas said.

Festus nodded, "I agree," he sighed. "And its best I try and do a round before the night is over," he said as he wolfed back the rest of his beer before leaving the saloon, "Thanks fer the beer," he said to Jonas as he left. The store owner nodded in acknowledgement as he watch the hill man limp out of the establishment – as sudden sadness swept over Jonas – there was so much that was wrong in Dodge and there seemed to be no immediate way to fix it. Then he thought about Jared Baker and prayed that Matt caught up to the wicked man so he'd be punished properly. Jonas took a few more sips of his beer and decided he wanted to go home. He slid the remainder across the bar to Louie, "You finish this later," he smiled and left.

Louie looked down at the glass and slid it under the bar, "Thank you Mr. Jonas," he smiled.