Matt and Kitty met at the bottom of the stairs; the marshal was just about to go up to Doc's office to check in on him. "How's Doc?" he quickly asked. "I was just on my way up," he loosely pointed to the top of the stairs.
"I'm not sure," Kitty stated. "He had a bad dream just a little while ago," she shook her head with sadness. "I hope his fever breaks, soon," she added. Matt nodded in understanding. "Festus is up with him for now," Kitty stated.
"You look like you could use a drink," Matt declared.
"You're very perceptive," Kitty smiled and walked with the marshal to the saloon.
"Who was Newly with," Matt asked as he held door open for Kitty into the Long Branch.
"Randall Clanton," Kitty responded. "He was looking for Doc to help his father."
Matt thought for a moment, "I think I saw them booking into the Dodge House this afternoon," he said as he saddled up to the bar next to the saloon owner.
By now, Zachariah was also at the bar, this time trying to get Jane Rose to talk to him some more, "Just sit with me for a few more minutes," he plead.
Kitty and Matt took notice, "He's one of the other ones," Matt pointed out. He then glanced around the room and spotted Clement by himself at the table. "I think their father it a retired military man, based on his coat," the marshal stated; his eyes coming back to Kitty's.
Kitty kept a watch on Jane Rose, as she finally gave in to sit with the man again, "I'm not sure I trust him," she said in a hushed voice to Matt. Matt glanced over his shoulder, "I'll keep an eye on him while their in town," he stated. The comment eased Kitty's paranoia slightly, but usually if she had a bad feeling about someone, it was for a good reason. The saloon owner asked Sam to pour two beers, and the motioned to Matt to join her at the table near the rear of the room, where they could see everyone.
Jane Rose finally gave in and agreed to sit with Zachariah and Clement for a few more minutes, "You sure are set in getting your way," she stated as Zach pulled a chair out for her.
"I guess that is a touch of my father in me," Zachariah smiled as he settled in closer to the saloon girl. "Tell me about yourself," he smiled.
"We're not suppose to talk to the customers about that," Jane Rose said as she tried to down play Zach's question.
"That's ridiculous," Zachariah replied. "I'm buying drinks here and I'd like to know a little bit about you," he pushed.
"Don't get push," Jane Rose warned. "I thought you wanted a friendly conversation," she said getting cross with Zach.
"Easy now," Zach said holding his hands up slightly to calm Jane Rose down. The conversation got Matt's attention. "I'll be back in a minute," he said to Kitty as he pushed away from the table and stood up.
Clement spotted the marshal, "There's a man with a badge, Zach," he said in a hushed voice over his half empty beer mug, trying to be discreet. Zachariah looked up just as Matt stepped to the table, "Is everything okay here," he looked at Jane Rose.
The saloon girl nodded, "Just getting into a little conversation, here, marshal," she smiled.
"If he bothers you, you let Kitty and me know," Matt said and looked at the two men. Clement couldn't take his eyes off the badge. The marshal drew a deep breath and turned to rejoin Kitty at her table. "Nothing out of the ordinary. He's just trying too hard," Matt half joked as he sat and resumed his drink.
Kitty rolled her eyes, "How many times have I seen that solo act?" the then chuckled and looked over to the table; things seemed to have calm down slightly between the two. "Jane Rose is a nice girl. And a smart one," the then looked at Matt. "She knows what she's doing," she said with a wink.
Matt smiled, "You always hire the best Kitty," he rose his glass in a toast.
Randall and Newly reached the room where the General was staying; Randall gently rapped on the door and heard his father stirring in side the room. And then the coughing started. Newly looked at the younger man next to him, "He sure doesn't sound very good," he noted.
"Enter," the General stated as he finally was sitting on the side of the bed rather than laying there like a landed fish.
Randall opened the door, "Hello Pa. I brought someone to look at you and the cough," he tried to smile knowing full well that it likely irked his father.
The General glared at Newly, "He's no doctor! He's too young," he jabbed his right index finger toward the young deputy.
Newly's eyes shifted between the men and chose not to say anything until Randall resolved the issue.
"Pa, the other doctor is real sick with a fever. In fact he's seeing things sick," Randall pointed to the direction of the doctor's office. "This man, Newly, has helped the Doc in the past and I want him to look you over," he challenged his father.
The General narrowed his eyes at his son and studied the look of deep concern on his son's face. He huffed, "Fine, but make it quick. I'm tired."
Newly nodded and went straight to work. First he pulled his coat off and rolled up his sleeves before he searched for the stethoscope in the black leather medical bag. Once he located the instrument he place it in his ears and placed the drum on the General's chest, "Breath slowly in an out," he asked.
The General did as the young man asked, and half way thought had a coughing spell that almost deafened Newly. O'Brien quickly pulled the stethoscope from his ears and placed it back in the bag.
"Well," the old man asked gruffly.
"It could be walking pneumonia or just a bad chest cold. It's hard to tell the two apart sometimes," Newly stated. "Either way you are a very sick man, and need to stay put for a while," O'Brien stated.
"How long is a while?" the General cut to the chase.
"Maybe a week. It all depends on how you respond to the treatment," Newly stated. "I'll start with a mustard plaster, but I first need to get some supplies," he said as he closed the medical bag and straightened his back.
"Don't be long. I only intend to stay here for a few days. Not a few weeks," the General stated.
Newly nodded and then looked at Randall, "He could probably use some soup," he noted.
"I didn't get out to eat," the General sighed and looked at his eldest son. "I laid down and fell asleep," he admitted.
"I'll get you some soup, Pa," Randall smiled. "We'll be back as quick as we can," he said nudging Newly to the door. The General motioned for the two men to leave the room and get what they needed.