Robert flung himself against the wall as Lafitte pulled the trigger. As Kitty screamed, the bullet careened into the doorway across from him and the outlaw tried again to pull Kitty out the back door.

Robert frantically looked around for anything he could use as a weapon and his eyes settled on the boiling pot of searing hot coffee. Ignoring his own safety, he grabbed the pot before running to the door where Kitty still struggled to free herself from Lafitte's grasp.

"Get down," Robert yelled grabbing Kitty's arm as he flung the hot liquid into Lafitte's face before the man could use his gun again.

As Lafitte screamed in horrific pain, Robert tugged on Kitty's arm and the outlaw finally let her go as he staggered away. As she fell against him, he pulled her inside the door and kicked it shut with his foot before bolting it.

"Are you alright?" he asked looking the pregnant woman over. "Did he hurt you?"

"No...I don't...think so," Kitty said sobbing before trying disentangle herself from Robert.

"Was that Bonner?" Robert asked gently as Kitty shook her head no.

"It was his brother," she said looking back at the door frantically. "Jude will know I'm here and he'll come looking for me!"

Abelia dozed lightly next to Festus as Doc added some notes to his journal before putting it aside when the hill man started to stir beside him.

"Doc," Abelia said sitting forward.

"He's waking up," Doc said putting his left hand on Festus forehead before using his right to exam the hill man's throat. "Take it easy. It'll take some time for the swelling to go down."

Festus opened his eyes which darted from Doc's caring expression to Abelia's worried look. "Matthew," he croaked as Doc nodded.

"He's fine and so's Kitty," Doc said reaching for a syringe on a silver tray. "Now, I want you to get some more rest. It's the only way that swelling in your neck'll go down, so I'm going to give you something to make you sleep," the physician said holding the syringe up to the light to check the dose before injecting it into the vein in Festus arm.

Putting two fingers on Festus wrist, he counted the beats as the hill man closed his eyes. Satisfied that his friend was fast asleep again, Doc stood up to check on Vera when he heard a gunshot downstairs.

"Stay here!" he yelled looking at Abelia's horrified look.

"Robert and Kitty!" she said as Doc raced to get the gun Robert carried in his bag before heading downstairs.

Matt jerked his horse around when he heard the gunshot behind him. "I think it came from the hospital!" he yelled looking at Newly and Sam before riding in that direction.

"Robert, Kitty!" Doc yelled entering into the kitchen a minute later, a pistol in his hand. "What happened?" he said as Robert helped Kitty to her feet.

"Jude's brother," Kitty said stifling a sob with the palm of her hand. "He would have had me if it hadn't been for Robert!"

"Did he hurt you?" Doc asked taking her arm as Kitty shook her head no.
"Robert?" he questioned after the younger physician wrapped his right hand in a clean handkerchief.

"It's nothing, Doc. Just a burn," Robert said adamantly before the front door of the hospital opened up and Matt strode in directly followed by Newly.

"What happened?" he asked as Kitty flew into his arms. "I heard a shot!"

"It was Bonner's brother, Matt!" Kitty screamed almost hysterically.

"Out back," Robert replied with a nod of his head as the ex-Marshal looked at Newly.

"Take Sam and Burke with you," Matt said leading Kitty to the stairs. "C'mon honey," he said giving Kitty a gentle squeeze. "Go upstairs with Doc and Robert."

"Matt, please," Kitty cried. "Don't go! Stay with me!"

"I can't," he said quietly before meeting her eyes. "I can't let anyone else get hurt!"

"I know," Kitty replied nodding her head. "But, I need you to!"

Matt smiled as he ran a finger down the side of her face wiping away the tears. "I'll be back," he said gently. "I promise, I'll be back. Doc," he said looking at the older man. "Take care of her!"

"We got him!" Newly yelled racing back inside. "He knocked out Don to try and get to Kitty, he's alright. But Bonner's brother is in pretty bad shape! He's blind!"

"Oh," Matt said looking at Robert in surprise. "What did you do?"

"I just threw a pot of hot coffee in his face," Robert said remorsefully. "It was the only thing I could think of."

"Well," Doc said tugging on his earlobe as he looked at the younger man. "You did what you had to do!"

"I know," Robert replied quietly. "But, it don't make it any easier to accept!"

"Where's he at?" Matt asked, suddenly turning to Newly.

"Sam and Burke are taking him over to the jail!"

"No," Matt said thoughtfully. "Bring him to me instead! I got an idea of how we can get Bonner to give himself up with no one else getting hurt!"