Randall entered his father's room and walked over to the bed, "The doctor said he dropped by," he smiled.
"That man should have his license revoked," the General snapped.
Randall stood speechless for a moment, "What happened?" he finally asked.
"He didn't do much of anything," the old man grumbled. "I still feel awful. All he said was for me to keep taking those horrible pills," he gruffly pointed to the bottle on the table.
"I was just talking to him and he said that you're getting better," Randall said as he crossed his arms over his chest. He found his father's take slightly amusing.
"All he asked me about was you boys," the General looked up at his son. "You haven't been doing anything wrong, have you? Is Clement in some sort of trouble?"
Randall laughed, "No, Pa. We're all behaving ourselves," he said letting his arms relax and fall to his side. "As soon as you're well enough, we'll take you to the Long Branch," he said patting his father on the shoulder. "Until then, get some rest," he smiled as he left the room, closing the door. Randall stood in the hall and wondered why the doctor would ask about the family, and he could only conclude that the doctor was just making conversation. The young man decided it was time for him to look around town.
Doc slipped into a deep sleep, but not one that was comforting.
He found himself walking though a darkened back alley with tall grey wooden fences on either side; they were rough-cut across the top and leaning in to each other.
He wasn't alone but he couldn't make out the faces of the other people. They all seemed to be travelling in the same direction; to an opening at the far end. The people were talking, but Doc couldn't understand a word they spoke.
As he approached the open area, there were many more people standing around looking at something. The doctor pushed his way through the crowd only to walk into a person's feet that were hanging above him. Slowly he looked up and saw Zachariah Clanton staring down at him, with a noose around his neck. He wasn't dead and he began to laugh at the doctor in a maniacal manner. Doc tried to push the feet away and back away from them but someone was stopping him from behind. Slowly he turned; his eyes were wide with fear as Jane Rose, "You didn't get him, Doc," the whispered. "You didn't get him…"
The doctor's heart was racing as he tried to escape the death woman's clutch, "I'll try harder," he said in self-defense and he fought to free himself by pulling away, but she held his arms tight.
With a start, Doc's eyes flashed open. He was breathing rapidly and sweat poured down his face. Slowly he sat up and looked around the room. He was thankful that Jane Rose was nowhere in sight. As he looked down he realized that a sheet had gotten wrapped around his arm. Slowly he unfurled it and lay back down and ran his hand down his face as make sense of the dream. He tried to control his breathing and closed his eyes again.
After a few more minutes, he drifted off to sleep again.
Matt sat at this desk and studied the plaster cast.
"What do we do now, Matthew?" Festus asked from the little table at the centre of the room.
"I need to hear what Doc has to say, and then I think we can arrest Zach for the death of Jane Rose," Matt stated.
"Why aren't you talkin' with ol Doc now?" the hill man questioned.
"Doc exhausted and is currently sleeping at the Long Branch," Matt said. "I don't want to push Doc too hard, or he could get sick again," he warned.
Festus ticked his head, "That old scutter," he muttered. "I told him the other day that I could cure him."
Matt's eyebrows lifted, "Well, I'm sure that Doc knows what's best for him," the marshal offered.
"Us Haggens have a good sense of curin' folks," Festus replied as he poked his finger on the table top. "Why there was this one time," the hill man started.
Matt quickly stood up and walked to the door, lifting his oil skin coat off the hook as well as his hat, "I'll got over and see if Doc's up yet," the marshal said as he tried to avoid anymore Haggen healing story.
"Wall I ain't done with my story," Festus said with disappointment as he watched Matt prepared to leave the building. "Some other time," the marshal quickly said as he pulled on his coat and left the jail house. As he placed his hat on his head he sighed in relief.
The rain was still falling as Matt walked across the street. He looked up to see Wilbur Jonas moving some of his produce back into the store. The marshal walked along the boardwalk when the store owner stopped him, "Newly said there was a murder. Who was it?" Jonas asked.
"I can't say right now, Jonas," Matt flatly answered. "Just hope that we get the murderer," he began to walk away.
"What does that mean, Matt?" Jonas asked.
Matt turned, "It's complicated," he replied. "Once we have all the pieces in place, we hope to arrest someone," he then stated.
"Is it anyone we know?" Jonas looked concerned.
"Don't worry yourself, Jonas," Matt said then departed.
Jonas stood under the veranda with a puzzled look on his face as he watched the marshal walked toward the Long Branch. He shook his head and went back into his store. Surely had the person that was murdered been a friend he'd of known by now.
Matt pushed through the swing doors of the saloon and stepped down into the room. None of the Clanton brothers were at the saloon, he noticed. Matt paused at the bar, "Have you checked on Doc?" he asked Kitty.
The saloon owner shook her head no, "He's been sleeping for a couple of hours, maybe I should get him up or he won't sleep tonight," she smiled.
"I'll go with you," Matt suggested. Kitty nodded and the two of them headed up to room four.
Kitty gently rapped on the door, "Doc?" she called.
Doc was now sitting on the side of the bed with his right forearm across his right thigh and left hand on his left leg; he stared at the floor looking disheveled with his opened shirt and missing tie and muddled hair. "Come in, Kitty," he replied.
Kitty opened the door and Doc looked up, "Are you alright?" the saloon owner asked.
Doc nodded and blinked, "I just had some bad dreams, that's all," he sighed.
Kitty sat down next to the doctor, "What to talk about it?" she asked as she studied the doctor's face.
Doc drew his hand across his moustache, "No, not really," he then looked over to Matt who remained in the doorway. Matt moved further into the room. "And I did talk to the General. We could have trouble on our hands," the doctor stated as he straightened himself up.
"How so"? Matt asked.
"The General thinks his boys are next to saints and swore that come hell or high water he'd stand next to them," Doc stated as he got to his feet. "And I think he has the will and the means," he added.
Matt pursed his lips, "How sick is this General?"
"He's getting better, but he's got bite," Doc warned.
"Well, so do I," the marshal stated as he turned to the door.
"Where are you going, Matt?" Kitty asked as she stood and joined the doctor.
"To arrest Zachariah Clanton for the murder of Jane Rose McKay," the marshal growled as he left the room. Both Kitty and Doc watched Matt leave and then looked at each other. Kitty wrapped her arm around Doc's. Doc silently patted the saloon owner's hand, "I think I need a drink," he blinked his eyes several times rapidly. Kitty nodded in agreement.