Festus heard the sound of galloping horses and raced out of the jail. He began to run toward Doc's when he saw Matt tied to Buck. Newly also raced from his gun shop toward the doctor's office. Tom didn't bother untying the rope he cut it. Festus helped Newly get Matt down and waved 3 cowhands over.
"You three help us get him up to Doc's."
The 3 cowboys helped Festus and Newly lift Matt, Tom ran up the stairs to open the door. Doc dropped the book he was reading as they carried Matt in to lie him on the examination table.
"Matt my God! Festus get Kitty, Newly standby to assist. Everybody else out!"
Tom hesitated he didn't want to lose a moment with Matt. Doc looked steadily at him and nodded.
"Sit by my desk," Doc said, understanding all too well that the boy didn't want to miss a moment with his father.
"Is Pa going to be alright?" Tom asked.
"I'll do everything I can Tom. I love Matt like a son. Why don't you write to Sheriff Irving?"
"Thanks Doc I will."
Doc gave Tom some paper and his pen and ink. Kitty came in with Festus. She looked worriedly at Matt and Doc. Newly helped Doc remove Matt's shirt, and then Doc ran practiced hands over Matt's shoulder finding no exit wound he sighed.
"Newly and I will tend to Matt. Kitty, would you look after Tom?"
Kitty looked towards where Tom sat finishing his letter to Sheriff Irving telling him all of his news. Matt had regained consciousness and had turned worried eyes towards Tom.
"Tom you come with me. Doc will let us know if anything happens," Kitty said holding out her hand.
"I want to stay with Pa."
Matt sent a look Kitty's way which she understood only too well.
"Come on Tom you must be hungry and Matt will worry less if you're with me or Ma Smalley."
Tom looked at Matt who nodded or tried to as Doc told him to lie still. Kitty took Tom to Delmonico's for a chicken supper noting that he was picking at his food.
"Matt wouldn't want you to go hungry. Try to eat something."
"Yes ma'am. I guess I'm just worried. I'm scared."
"He's been hurt a lot worse and survived. Now I can take you to Ma Smalley's or you can come and sit with me in the Long Branch. I can keep you supplied with coffee and it would be a help if you give Sam a hand storing the barrels."
"I'd like that," Tom said.
Kitty smiled and took Tom to the Long Branch. She knew Matt would be reassured that Tom was safe.
Matt gritted his teeth against the pain as Doc widened the hole in his shoulder Newly hovered close by as Doc operated probing for the bullet. He wasn't unduly worried he'd pulled Matt through much worse than this. Doc had now reached the most painful part of operation.
"Matt I'm going to have Newly administer the ether now. Hold onto Matt while I probe for the bullet. Don't give me that look Matt I don't want you moving one iota while I'm getting that bullet out its right up against the bone if I make one slip you could lose that arm."
Matt sighed and let his mind drift back to the shooting reviewing it in his mind seeing Tom grab his gun and using it and his own gun to shoot the men, as he fell asleep. Once Matt was completely under Newly held onto him in case he should wake while Doc was operating. Doc's movements were deft and sure gained through years of experience.
"You know Newly he's damn lucky that bullet didn't break the bone, as it is he'll take a week to heal completely."
Doc put in a couple of stitches and bound the wound up. He'd just finished bandaging the wound as Matt woke up smiling as he looked at Doc's vinegary features.
"Now just what are you smiling at?" Doc asked.
"I was thinking of how Tom took charge getting my gun and his and shooting. He's fast much faster than me."
Matt's voice just dripped pride in a son's achievement. Newly gave Doc a look that said he was glad to see his friend so happy about being a father.
"Newly would you go tell Kitty and Tom that Matt will be up and about tomorrow morning?"
Newly smiled as he left to go to the Long Branch. As soon as he entered the saloon he spotted Tom helping Sam stock the shelves behind the bar while Kitty was studying her ledgers.
"Tom Doc said Matt will be up and about tomorrow."
Tom gave a whoop and quickly left to go to Doc's office Newly smiled Tom was young and still a little impulsive.
"I bet I know where he's going," Kitty said.
"It's funny really how quickly Matt and Tom have formed such a close bond," Newly said.
"Not really," Kitty said, "Matt's always wanted a family. It's just that he believes that because of the badge he doesn't have a right to one."
"You know Matt said that Tom is faster than him. He grabbed Matt's gun and pulled his own before shooting all four of them."
Tom was a little over excited when he came into Doc's office. Matt grinned remembering back to when he had been that young. Doc shook his head wiping his top lip.
"It's late Matt needs his rest," Doc said. "Why don't you come back tomorrow morning?"
"You know I could rest in my rooms," Matt said.
"No I want to make sure you rest," Doc said.
Matt grunted then winked at Tom.
"You go to Ma Smalley's I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay Pa,"
Matt smiled. Tom left Doc's office and walked slowly to Ma Smalley's. Ma didn't say anything she shepherded Tom into the dining room before setting a plate of stew in front of him.
Tom got up early the next morning. He hated being inactive and had decided to ask Matt if he would train him as a deputy.
"Tom would you like some breakfast?" Ma asked.
"No thank you Ma. I'm going to see if I can have breakfast with Pa."
Tom headed for Doc's office. He took the stairs two at a time. Knocking at the door. Doc opened the door he smiled seeing Tom. Matt came out of the backroom buckling his gun belt on. Doc made sure that Matt's arm was supported in a sling.
"Matt you take it easy for the next couple of days."
"I'll stick around the office or the Long Branch."
Doc gave him a wry smile wiping his top lip. That was the nearest he'd get to Matt actually resting.
"Tom have you had breakfast yet?" Matt asked.
"No Pa I wanted to have it with you."
"Okay we'll go to Delmonico's. You going to come too Doc?"
"No I've got to go out to the Walker spread. Lucy's close to having that young'un."
"We'll see you later Doc."
Matt and Tom left Doc's Office heading for Delmonico's.
"Morning Joe could we get ham, egg and biscuits and coffee."
"Sure Marshal I'll bring it right over."
Matt sensed that Tom wanted to talk. Tom waited until Joe put the food down and had moved off.
"Pa will you teach me how to be a lawman?"
Matt while happy that Tom wanted to follow in his footsteps felt that Tom should have a chance to have a real family.
"You sure you want to be a lawman the badge tends to get in the way of having a family."
"You're a lawman."
"Yeah. Okay you can help out round the jail cleaning and such. Are you any good at making coffee?"
Tom smiled and nodded.
"Good because Festus's coffee could peel the paint off of a billiard ball."
Tom laughed at that. Matt looked up as Kitty came in she smiled seeing them.
"Morning Kitty," Matt said.
Kitty could see the happiness Tom had brought Matt as she sat on the other side of her cowboy.
"Pa said I can help out in the jail."
"Tom wants to learn to be deputy. Personally I think he should have a family. Anyway his coffee can't be worse than the stuff Festus makes."
Tom now 18 asked yet again if he could have a badge.
"Tom you'll have to wait until you're 21 that's the rules," Matt said for the umpteenth time. "Why don't you marry and settle down I wouldn't mind seeing some grandkids running around here."
"Aw Pa I ain't ready for that yet," Tom said.
Kitty smiled as Tom rose saying he'd go to the office to get the coffee ready.
"Why don't you give him the badge?"
"He's too young."
"How old were you when Adam Kimbro gave you the badge."
"Yeah I was 18 but Adam said I was ready. I just want Tom to be happy in what he does."
"Matt being a lawman is what he wants to do. He won't be happy doing anything else. Don't you think he's ready?"
"Yes you're right he's ready. Thanks Kitty."
Kitty squeezed Matt's hand as he rose and left for his office. He rooted in his draw bringing a badge out he handed the badge to Tom who could barely contain his excitement.
"Tom hold up your right hand. Do you solemnly swear to fulfill the duties of deputy marshal to the best of your abilities, so help you, God?"
Tom repeated the words of the oath. Matt smiled he was going to enjoy having his son work alongside him. Festus and Newly smiled too their bosses pride in Tom's achievements was palpable.