Thad discovers Bass in Pawnee Creek and tells Doc and Festus about it. They
decided to take a few days to go fishing for Bass and head out. Thad warned
them to avoid the buffalo hunters; but they did, of course, run into them.
When the clan leader, Argonaut, discovers that Festus is a Haggen things
start to deteriorate. It seems that one of his kin married up with one of
Festus' second cousins who ran off and left her while she was expecting. The
child, Piney, is now nine years old and gravely ill. When Argonaut discovers
that Doc is a "real book learnin' doctor" he insists that they come to his
camp and look at Piney, at gun-point. Doc then meets Addie, the very
attractive daughter of Argonaut, who is the clan's pseudo-doctor.
Unfortunately, her herbal concoctions are no match for an appendicitis. Doc

has to operate, saves Piney's life, and earns the respect of Addie. Ready to
leave and finish their fishing trip, Argonaut disagrees and insists that Doc
stay on as their permanent physician. When Doc and Festus are overdue
returning to Dodge Thad decides to go find them. He too becomes a prisoner
of the clan. Eventually, Argonaut thinks it would be a good idea if Addie
married-up with Doc. Soon Doc finds himself reluctantly involved in a
wedding ceremony. A shotgun wedding ceremony!