"What in thunder!" Doc said looking at Abelia after the sound of the gunshot. "Stay here!"
Newly was already out the door as Doc descended the stairs.
"Stay back, Kitty," Doc said slowly opening the doors to the Long Branch.
"What's happened?" Kitty asked nervously as she wondered where Matt was.
Doc held open the doors as Newly and Burke helped the lawman into the Saloon.
"Matt!" Kitty said putting a chair behind him.
"I'm alright," Matt said grimacing. "Just grazed my shoulder!"
"Let me see," Doc said putting his glasses on.
"What happened?" Burke asked as Doc tended to the wound.
"Two men were going though the general store," Matt replied. "Before I could get in there one of them took off and the other was waiting for me.
"It's not bad," Doc said looking at Kitty. "Just needs to be cleaned up."
"You were lucky, Cowboy," Kitty said sighing with relief as Matt nodded.
"Burke," Matt said looking up. "Take a few of those boys and have a look around town."
"Sure thing, Marshal," Burke said nodding at Newly before he left.
"You think it was those rustlers?" Newly asked as Doc finished tying a bandage around his arm.
"I don't know," Matt said standing up. "But I'm not taking any chances, you armed?"
"Yes, sir," Newly said as Matt nodded.
"Good, stay that way," Matt said looking around at the sick people that littered the floor. "If anyone other than me comes to that door, shoot first and ask questions later!"
Newly nodded as Matt grabbed his hat and turned toward Kitty. "How you holding up?"
"Alright," Kitty said wrapping an arm around him. "I just wish this was over!"
"I know," Matt said whirling around as the doors to the Long Branch opened.
"Doc!" Robert yelled as he clutched a squalling bundle in his arms.
"What's wrong?" Doc said hurrying to the boy's side.
"The baby," Robert said uncovering the nine month old. "He's burning up!"
Doc took the baby, who continued to squeal, over to a table with a basin and a pitcher of water as Robert, Kitty and Matt followed.
Pouring the water into the basin, the physician used a cup to pour the water over the baby's head and body.
"We have to get his fever down," Doc said looking at Robert. "He's to young to give any medicine to."
"What about the other children?" Newly asked concerned.
"They seem to be alright," Robert said watching the physician. "The baby's the only one who's gotten sick."
"Robert," Abelia said coming down the stairs she looked at the boy before turning to Doc. "Not the baby!"
"I'm afraid so," Doc said wrapping the boy in a towel before passing him to Abelia. "Let's take him upstairs, we have to keep sponging him off."
Abelia held the baby tightly to her chest as she climbed the stairs in a daze.
"I'm going back home to the rest of the children," Robert said as Matt nodded.
"I'll walk you back," he said softly. "We had some trouble earlier. It would be a good idea if you kept a gun nearby."
"I got the one Pa gave me," Robert said looking at Newly. "How is he?"
"Doc says, he's still sick but your sister's getting better," Newly said with a slight grin as Matt and Robert left.
"Newly," Kitty said looking at the younger man. "You think the baby will be alright?"
"Sure he will," Newly replied picking up a fresh basin of water. "You know Doc won't rest as long as that baby needs him."
Entering Kitty's old room, Abelia put her youngest son on the cot before getting a basin of cool water.
"I came to get you because of Festus," she said looking up at Doc. "I think he's fever has gone up."
"I'll check on him if you'll keep cooling off the baby," Doc said swiping at his mustache nervously.
Doc felt the hill man's forehead which did seem warmer to him, before reaching into the pocket of his jacket and taking out a thermometer.
Even though Festus was unconscious, Doc put the tip of the device just inside and under the hill man's tongue to accurately determine just how high his fever was.
The end result worried him more than he let on as he slid the glass device back into its protective tube.
Going to the door, he opened it and stepped out onto the landing. "Newly," Doc said as the young deputy looked up. "Can you have Matt bring me up a block of ice from the ice house when he gets back."
"Sure, Doc," Newly said looking at Kitty's inquisitive expression as the physician disappeared back into the bedroom. "Guess he thought of something new to try."