Festus watched in eager anticipation as Doc examined the wound in Robert's chest before bringing the blanket to the younger man's neck.
"Doc," Festus said looking down at his son. "Ain't ya gonna do somethin!"
"Festus, I can't! Not here anyway," Doc replied putting a hand on the hill man's arm and leading him toward Matt. "If I mess with that wound here, it's going to get infected which would be far worse for Robert in his weakened condition. The best thing we can do right now, is to try and get him to the hospital in Dodge."
"Should we move him?" Matt asked joining the conversation. "You don't think it'll be to much for him."
"Well," Doc said looking back at the younger man that he'd come to respect like a son. "If we don't try, he'll die for sure," he said before turning to the hill man. "It's got to be your decision, Festus. You're his father."
"I want ta take him home, Doc," Festus said with a nod.
"Good," Doc said with a slight smile before looking at Matt. "You go get Kitty and the baby and we'll get Robert into the wagon."
"Alright," Matt said before he headed into the grove where he left Kitty. Standing next his wife a moment as she slept, he smiled when his daughter opened her eyes and looked up at him. Gently reaching down, he pick up the baby and cradled her a moment before waking his wife.
"Kitty," Matt said bending down to gently nudge his drowsy wife. "We have to go."
"Go," Kitty murmured. "We're going home?"
"Yes," Matt said helping her to her feet before slowly leading her to a wagon with a bed of fresh hay. "We're taking you and Robert home so Doc can operate."
"Operate?" Kitty said settling herself on to the back of the wagon. "On who?"
"Robert," Doc said stepping over to where Matt still held the baby. "Now, let me see that baby."
"But, I thought," Kitty said meeting Matt's eyes as he shook his head no.
"He's alive," Doc replied before passing the infant back to her. "But barely. It'll be a real miracle if he makes it but I got to at least try."
Festus drove the wagon with his son in the back while Doc rode with Robert and Matt rode in the back of the other wagon with Kitty. At first, they went as slow as they could but the slow pace was getting them no where and the heat of the day was starting to take its toll on Robert, Kitty and the baby.
Doc climbed out of the wagon, mopping his brow as he did with a clean handkerchief. "I don't know Matt," he said looking from the tall man to Festus. "I'm thinking it might be safer for everyone if we stop until it cools off and we're going to need some water."
Matt nodded in agreement before he looked at Festus. "What about the McGregor's old farm house. It's just a little ways off the road."
"But, Matthew," Festus said looking worried. "We don't know if in there's any water on that old farm or if that there well done dried up."
"I'm thinking there is water there," Matt replied. "The fields are green and so is the yard, it wouldn't be like that if there wasn't any water."
"That there is sure true enough," Festus said nodding. "Last time I was out this way, that's how it looked then."
"Well, what are we waiting for," Doc said hurriedly. "Let's get going!"
Pulling the wagon's up to the house, Matt was relieved to see the yard and fields were indeed still green which meant the well had not run dry.
"Burke," Matt said helping Kitty out of the wagon. "I want you to get some water and bring it to the house while Newly helps Festus get Robert inside."
"Sure thing," Burke said scrambling toward the well as Matt helped Kitty up the stairs with their baby and into the house.
It was relatively clean since the house had been closed up and all the furnishings had been covered. Dust and a few cobwebs was all that Matt saw as he help Kitty toward a sitting room. Quickly removing the cover from the sofa, he helped her down onto it before Kitty waved him away.
"I'll get a clean blanket from the wagon," he said before heading back outside.
"Easy," Doc said as Festus and Newly carried Robert into the house. "We don't need that wound to start bleeding again."
The physician entered the house first and looked around for the best place to put Robert. "Here," Doc said pulling the cover off the large wooden table in the kitchen. "Put him right here!"
Festus and Newly stepped back as Doc put his bag on the edge of the table. Opening the bag, he took out his stethoscope before moving in closer to the table.
"Doc," Festus said watching as the physician shook his head worriedly. "Is he gettin worse?"
"I'm afraid so," Doc said putting both hands helplessly on the table. "I'm going to be completely honest with you, Festus. I don't think he'll make it back to Dodge."
Festus looked down at Robert who's chest barely moved with each slow breath he took. "Well, don't just stand there, can't ya do somethin?"
"I could," Doc said looking up into Festus eyes. "But, I don't think it'd do any good. Doing surgery now would just hasten the inevitable."
Festus met Doc's eyes before he spoke. "You knew all along, didn't ya Doc?" he asked before he watched the older man's hand go to Robert's wrist.
"I'll do what I can," he said with a nod. "I just wanted you to know what we were up against."