Robert knew Althea was right but still, it was a bitter pill to swallow. "I suppose it's no different then me treating his brother from the burns to his face, is it?"
"I don't think so," Althea replied raising an eyebrow. "I read the Marshals report about what happened. That was pretty fast thinking on your part to throw hot coffee in his face? Has that always been your weapon of choice, Doctor?"
"Not hardly," Robert said with a snort. "It was the only thing I had on hand at the moment and I was more worried about Kitty than inflicting permanent damage to Lafitte Bonner."
"I agree," Althea said with a slight nod as they arrived at the Dodge House and Robert opened the door. Althea stopped at the desk and spoke to the clerk before signing the register and then, he walked with her to her room and waited until she opened the door.
"Do you have plans for supper tonight?" Robert asked as Althea smiled from the doorway.
"Are you asking me out, Doctor?"
"I guess, I am," he said leaning against the doorway. "Is six to early?"
"No, six is just fine," she said checking the time. "It'll give me plenty of time to check in with my clients first."
"Good luck with that," Robert said snidely. "Jude's as angry as a hornet in summer time and Lafitte, well he's subdued because of it to the point of being depressed."
"Is that your medical opinion?" Althea asked mischievously.
"Yes, actually it is and I'd testify to that in court," Robert replied quickly. "But don't think it's an insanity defense, that's just their normal behavior!"
"I see," Althea said ruefully . "But thank you for letting me know."
Robert left the hotel and headed down to the hospital to check in with Doc while Althea changed out of her traveling clothes to go over to the jail and meet with Jude and Lafitte Bonner.
The young physician stopped in front of the Long Branch when he seen Matt and Festus saddling up. "Good luck," Robert said shaking Matt's hand before looking up at his father atop Ruth.
"We'll just be gone over night," Festus said as Robert nodded. "Take care of yer Ma, while I'm gone."
"I will," Robert replied. "Be careful."
"See you later, Kitty," Matt said giving his wife one last hug before mounting his horse.
"Goodbye, cowboy and good luck," Kitty said as the two men rode away.
Robert held out his arm to the eight months pregnant red head and smiled. "Where are you headed to?" he asked as they strolled down the boardwalk together.
"Well, I thought, I would try to cajole Doc into having some lunch with me," Kitty said breaking into a smile.
Althea stepped into the jail house a few minutes later and nodded at Newly before looking toward the cells. "I came to speak to my clients, Marshal."
"It's fine with me," Newly said looking up from his reports. "Lafitte's the only one allowed to have anyone in his cell. The keys on the wall."
"Thank you," Althea said taking the key from the peg. Bonner glared at her as she opened the door to his brother's cell.
"I'd be careful if I were you woman," Bonner said with a laugh. "My brother bites!"
Althea looked at Lafitte who was curled up against the wall atop his cot, a clean white bandage covering both eyes.
"Thanks for the warning," she said stepping inside. "I'm an attorney," she said putting a hand on Lafitte's shoulder. "I'm here to help you."
Lafitte moved his head toward her slowly before he raised a hand and pulled off the bandages covering his eyes. "Thanks," he said suddenly standing up before slamming her against the cell where Bonner reached though the bars from his side and pinned her with his arms. "But we don't need your help!"
"Good, Doc works to hard," Robert started to reply before a woman's screamed stopped him. Turning around, he watched in horror as Lafitte stumbled and staggered toward them from the direction of the jail before Jude suddenly followed carrying Newly's pistol and a rifle from the office. "Run!" Robert yelled pushing Kitty in front of him.
But there was nowhere for them to go and once Bonner and Lafitte took a couple of horses that were tied up in front of the Long Branch, Jude cut them off before they could reach the hospital. Jude reached down and with brute strength, he grabbed Kitty and pulled her up and onto his lap side saddled as Lafitte leveled a pistol at Robert.
"I may not be able to see as good as I used to but I can still see good enough to shoot you if I need to," he said angrily before pulling a tethered horse. "Climb up here and let's go!"
By now, several of Dodge's citizens including Sam and Burke had run out onto the boardwalk after hearing the screams for help coming from the jail.
Sam started toward them as Jude spurred his horse into a gallop and Lafitte squeezed off a shot to give them time to get away before spurring his own horse to follow which in turn forced Robert's horse to go along with them.
Riding away, Robert's only concern was for Kitty and her condition. A pregnant woman shouldn't be bounced around on a horse at anytime but Kitty was eight months and that worried him.
"Don't slow down!" Lafitte yelled waving a pistol in his direction. "I don't need you, Doctor! But, I'm pretty sure that woman might so you'd better behave yourself!"
Robert knew that Lafitte wasn't making a direct threat to himself as much as Kitty. If he caused a problem, they could get rid of him and Kitty as well as her unborn child would be in eminent danger.
Kitty felt absolutely faint as Jude wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly onto the horse as it approached the river. As the outlaw rode the animal into the river, she wondered where it was they were going as dusk started to fall. But, she didn't have long to wonder as a dark cabin appeared in the distance.
"Lafitte!" Bonner said, looking back at his brother. "Tie up the doctor and get rid of our tracks!"
Once they arrived at the cabin, Jude pulled her off the horse as he got down. Kitty's heart started to pound so hard within her chest that she was sure he would hear it as he pushed her toward the cabin.
"Get inside!" Jude yelled pushing her in front of him.
"No! Please," Kitty yelled as Bonner looked at her. "Let us go! You've already gotten away from Dodge!"
"Don't make no difference," he said angrily. "That Marshal will be coming for us but he won't touch us so long as I got what he wants most in this world!"