Kitty Russell noticed the distant look on Doc's face, "Doc? Are you okay?" she asked from across the table. He was not involved in any conversation.

Doc took a second to respond as his eyes were still locked on the doorway of the restaurant. Slowly he shifted his eyes to the red-headed saloon owner, "I'm fine," he said with another quick look to the door. The man was no longer in sight.

"You look troubled, Doc," Matt said to his friend.

"No, it's all right," the doctor brushed off the comment as he adjusted the cutlery at his place-setting.

Matt and Kitty exchanged looks and they both shrugged. Obviously the doctor wasn't going to tell them what was bothering him, so they let it go for the time being.

The four of them engaged in small talk about where Sissy was from and how she and Kitty became friends – to the two women it was a tip down memory lane. Doc nodded and occasionally made a comment, but he was much more reserved than he was earlier in the day.

The food arrived and Doc was grateful that as long as he had food in his mouth he didn't have to chat. He knew that his friends were growing concerned with this small-talk and how he kept looking over to the door.

Finally Sissy spoke up, "That was the man on the stagecoach with me. Maybe he was just looking for somewhere to eat," she offered.

Kitty looked over to her friend, "Maybe, but now that I think of it, he was in the Long Branch and I noticed him looking over to our table several times," she stated.

Matt frowned, "Isn't that the man that bumped into you awhile ago?" he asked Doc.

Doc swallowed his food, "It was," he said quietly.

"Why on earth did he do that?" Kitty asked.

Doc shook his head, "He appeared to be watching Matt and me as we were coming to get you for supper," he said. "Then when I was close to him, he walked right into my shoulder, brushing past me, but enough that made me take notice," the physician said.

Matt thought for a moment, "Maybe he knows you from somewhere else," he suggested.

Doc shook his head no, "I haven't seen him before in my life," he said with a tinge of alarm in his tone.

"I can talk to him if you'd like," Matt offered.

Doc again shook his head no, "Maybe I'm just making too much of this. I'm sure if he wanted something from me, he would have said something by now," he tried to make light of the situation. "If he was in the Long Branch that long, he might have been drunk when he walked into me," the doctor reasoned.

"True," Matt smiled weakly at his old friend.

"Supper is getting cold," Sissy spoke up and began to eat again. The mood around the table was less worrisome, for most anyway as everyone else returned their attention to their meals; the conversation was now focused on the food and nothing else.

Jason Burton stood on the boardwalk across from Del Monico's. He leaned against a posted, smoking his cigar; blowing rings into the night air. From where he stood he could clearly see the doctor at the table near the back of the room and could almost sense what the conversation was like – he knew that Doc was a man with a deep conscience would take any slight against him or his friends very deeply. However, from Burton's point of view, the doctor had no recollection of the fateful day twenty-five years earlier – pre war, in fact. His eyes narrowed at the remembrance of the day – he clenched his teeth harder on the cigar. With a huff and a straightened back, Burton pushed off to find another place to eat and drink, while he continued working through his plan.

Matt, Kitty, Sissy and Doc left the restaurant and stood on the boardwalk. Doc, as usual, picked at his teeth with a wooden toothpick as his eyes scanned the street, "What now?" he asked as his eyes spotted the man from earlier. He didn't let on that he'd see him, for he didn't know if it was just coincidental – however, something deep down in the doctor's heart, he knew there was more to the "chance" meeting than what met the eye.

"Come over to the Long Branch for a nightcap," Kitty smiled.

"That sounds wonderful," Sissy smiled. "I don't think I'll be up late tonight," she smiled.

Doc ticked his head, "May I?" he said to Sissy offering her his arm. "Certainly," Sissy smiled as she hooked her arm under the doctor's and the two left. Matt and Kitty exchanged glances and with a shrugged, Kitty took Matt's arm and followed along.

The evening was filled with more chat about Sissy's stories of where she had been. It was fascinating as she told about her trips to London, Paris and even Persia. Places Matt, Kitty and Doc had only heard or read about. But being single and fairly wealthy allowed her the opportunities to do so. Even so, it was fascinating to hear about other parts of the world.

Doc yawned, "Oh, I'm sorry," he said as he cover his mouth. "This has nothing to do with your stories, Sissy," he smiled. "In fact I hope you have more stories for tomorrow," he smiled.

Sissy giggled, "Of course, Doc," she winked.

Matt and Kitty exchanged looks.

"Well I hate to be the first to turn in, but having got up at five o'clock this morning, I'm feeing a little tired," he fought to hide another yawn as he stood up from the table.

"It's been a long day for you, Doc. Sleep well," Kitty offered and smiled at her friend. Doc nodded and blinked in acknowledged what Kitty had said.

"I best get going too," Matt said as he stood and tipped his hat.

"Well good night to you both," Sissy smiled. Neither Matt nor Doc knew what to say after the look they just got.

"Good night," Doc smiled and turned to leave with the marshal right beside him. The two men stepped out onto the boardwalk, "It was getting a little warm in there," Doc said as he ran his finger around his shirt collar.

Matt looked back over his shoulder, "I think Kitty has her hands full while Sissy is in town," he noted.

Doc chuckled slightly, but Matt noticed that it seemed forced, "Are you all right, Doc?" the asked.

Doc nodded, "Certainly," he said with a swipe of his hand across his moustache.

"Look, if I see that fellow, I'm going to ask him straight out what his intentions are, and for a peace of mind, I suggest you do the same. I think he has you spooked and I don't like it," Matt stated.

Doc drew a breath, "Neither do I," he said looking over to Matt – his face was solemn.