"Maybe you should think about taking Kitty away from here," Doc said toying with his mug of beer as Matt looked up in surprise.

Seated at a table inside the Long Branch, he looked up just in time to see Kitty smiling at something Sam said. "I'm not about to take my family and run, Doc! Kitty's so happy here!"

"That's not what I meant," Doc replied sitting up. "It wouldn't have to be permanent, just until she's had the baby and we know where Bonner is."

"No," Matt replied firmly. "This is our home and I'll defend my family if I have to!"

"Even if it means your life," Doc spat angrily. "How happy do you think Kitty would be then, living here with two children, without you!"

"It won't come to that," Matt replied harshly. "Stop it now, here she comes."

"I thought for sure you'd both be ready for another beer by now," she said looking from Matt to Doc. "What's wrong with you two?" Kitty asked after noticing the tension between the two men.

"Nothing honey," Matt said looking at the physician. "Doc was just telling me about a case he's been concerned about."

"Well, if I can help, you'll let me know, won't you?" she said as Doc nodded.

"Thank you for the beer, Kitty," Doc said standing up. "But, I got to be getting back to the hospital now."

"Alright," Kitty said as Doc gave her a quick peek on the cheek.

"I'll see you later, Matt," Doc said before leaving the Long Branch.

When the physician stepped though the doors of the saloon, his mind couldn't help but wander back to that day when Jude Bonner brought Kitty home. The spot where she had collapsed with Bonner's bullet in her side had long since been scrubbed clean of any traces of what happened that day. But he knew the exact spot and time that everything changed for her and he hated to think that history could possibly repeat itself.

"Matt," Kitty said taking Doc's seat. "Did you send off a telegram to Topeka about getting a date to take the Judge's exam?"

"I sure did," Matt said to happy to have something else to focus on other than Bonner. "I'm just waiting for a reply."

Doc entered the hospital before turning to his left and walking though the door of the clinic. Robert was busy refilling their supplies and going though the medicine cabinet. As he did so, he made a mental note of what they were running short on.

"You look worried," Robert said when he stopped to observe the older man beside him. "What's wrong?"

"I guess, I am worried," Doc said putting his hands into his pockets. "I don't think Matt realizes just how close we came to loosing Kitty that day."

"I read your notes about that," Robert replied thoughtfully knowing Doc was referring to the incident with Bonner. "But as I recall, you left a lot of things unsaid."

"Well, of course I did," Doc said quietly. "If you had seen what that animal did to her, well, I couldn't even put it on paper it was that bad! So yes, I'm worried. If she finds out, he's loose, it could cause irreparable damage and with the baby coming, I don't even want to think what might happen."

"Matt's going to keep it from her, isn't he?" Robert asked as Doc nodded.

"Yes, he is for now," Doc said angrily. "But I told him, it might be better for them all if he were to take her away from here at least until after the baby is born."

"Maybe," Robert said glancing up at the clock. "I wonder what could be keeping Vera, she said, she'd be back after lunch to help me with these supplies."

"Maybe it slipped her mind," Doc replied watching the younger physician unpack and put away a few supplies. "Here now," Doc said pointing to another shelf. "That carbonic acid should go here!"

Robert grinned as he handed the supplies to Doc. "Well, show me then."

"Young folks," he said scoffing before putting the items where he wanted them to go. "Always wantin somebody to do their job!"

Robert laughed before he turned around as the door of the clinic opened and Johnny Cross walked in with an arm wrapped around his sisters small frame. The physician could tell by the way she moved that Vera was obviously in great pain.

"What happened?" he asked very concerned as he looked from Vera's pale face to Johnny's worried expression.

"I don't know," he said letting Vera go as Robert lead her to a chair. "She stopped by the shop to ask me about having dinner with her and Newly and the next thing I know, she's bent over in pain."

"Vera," Doc said going to one knee in front of the woman. "Where're you hurting?" he asked while taking her wrist to check her pulse.

Vera tightly squeezed her eyes shut before she responded. "My stomach."

"Can you show me," Doc asked gently as Vera rubbed her hand along the lower part of her abdomen.

Doc looked up and met Roberts eyes as the younger physician went to Johnny. "We'll take care of her," he said taking Johnny's arm. "I think you should go get Newly and let him know his wife's here."

"Yeah," Johnny replied worriedly. "I'll do that. We'll be back!"

Johnny sat in a chair against the wall a few hours later and watched Newly pace the entry hall of the hospital in nervous agitation. He was well aware of his brother in law's first marriage to Patricia and how it ended. "You know," he said standing up. "Vera's a strong woman, heck she probably just ain't something that upset her stomachs is all."

"Yeah," Newly replied grinning absently. "You're probably right."

Doc sighed as Robert put a blanket over Vera. Running a hand across his mustache as he stepped away from the exam table, Robert slowly approached him. "What do you think, Doc?"

"I think," Doc said looking beyond his apprentice to the still form of the woman on the table. "That we need to talk to Newly."