Honestly? Doc has taken his time drawing this conclusion that someone is responsible for orchestrating all this. It would make sense, given how there seems to be some planning, some rules involved. But he can't fathom who would quite have this kind of power. His mind immediately entertains the thought of demons and witches and the like, but they are always explicit with what they want. Here they have been given no direction.

Right now he can't even be sure if he's been put under in a deep sleep and is just still in Shorty's while said demons and witches busy themselves picking over the town. So yes, it has been a while before he's come around to being willing to entertain this notion of a guiding hand, towards... whatever goal it is they have in mind.

Fear and dependency are two things that cut him deep, and two things he will need time to grapple with internally before giving them any voice.

"You are not unreasonable, but you do seem... agitated. Can I make you some tea?" he offers. Maybe it is not the profound response she is looking for, but men who wear cowboy hats do things differently. They operate on their own time. He thinks she would understand that too, as someone who has, like him, lived too long and experienced too much shit.