Who’s gone?” returned Charlie as he took hold of his cup.
The Parson had concern written on his face, “Dover. I went to pray with him this morning and he wasn’t in his room.”
Doc Jones rubbed his chin. “Not good, not good at all. Why if he rips open that suture, well, let’s say I probably won’t be able to help him.”
“I have two guesses,” I interjected into the conversation. “One, he is wanted for more than he told us, and…”
“I don’t believe that,” snapped the Parson. “I’ve talked with him. He’s not killed anyone.”
Looking at the preacher, I continued, “Either that or he’s out looking for Lige Donor.”
“Or down to the jail to break Clem loose!” exclaimed Charlie who was up in a flash out of his seat and out the door heading for the jail. I followed right behind.
I was but a step behind Charlie when he burst through the office door of the jail. He stopped abruptly, causing me to run into him. “What’s…” I started to say, when I looked toward the cell opening and saw Lucas standing there with a shotgun in his hands. On the floor was Fred Dover, unconscious.
We all relaxed, especially after Lucas lowered the shotgun. Charlie bent down to check on Dover, then looked up at Lucas, “What happened?”
“This man,” he said, pointing at Dover, “came through the door sorta wobbly. I grabbed the shotgun from the desk where I keep it, and held it on him.”
Lucas looked at me, then back down to Charlie and Dover. Before he could start again, Doc Jones and the Parson entered the office with Doc going immediately to Dover.
“Help me turn him over.”
Charlie helped Doc turn the unconscious man onto his back. Doc immediately checked his wound making sure that the stitches were still holding. “Only one broke loose,” he informed us. “I’ll need to stitch him up again. He passed out most likely from loss of blood and just plain being weak.”
“That’s what I was saying, He came through the door. I had the shotgun pointed at him when I saw he wasn’t wearing a gun. He gave out sort of a groan then fell to the floor. I heard his head hit pretty hard.”
“Dale,” blurted Doc, “grab a couple of men passing by and get Dover back to my office. On top of the surgery he might now have a concussion to deal with.”
Preacher Chapman bounded out of the office and quickly reentered with two men who were walking by on the street. They grumbled some, but they got right to the task of carrying Dover out. When they reached the street two other men joined them. Doc hollered at them to take the man to his office, then he led the way.
I nodded at Lucas and Charlie went over to him, slapping him on the shoulder. “You did good, son,” he exhorted.
A smile appeared on the face of Lucas, but only lasted for a moment and was replaced by a puzzled expression. He knew he had a prisoner, but had not heard the whole story. For the next twenty minutes Charlie and I filled him in on what had happened. I let Charlie finish while I went back to see Clem Donor.
Upon opening the outer door to the cells, I saw Donor standing, holding on to the bars of his cell. “What’s going on? What happened?”
“Pipe down, and I’ll tell you,” I ordered. He quieted, but kept looking toward the now open door. “It seems that your outlaw companion came to get you out, and fell flat on the floor. They’ve taken him back to Doc’s office.”
Clem looked at me incredulously, “He wouldn’t try to break me out. Why he didn’t even have a gun. Is he alright?”
“Donor, do you know where Lige may be hiding?” I asked, coming right to the point.
He went back to sit on the cot. He thought for a minute, then started shaking his head. “We don’t know the region,” then he stopped, “but…”