After Ambrose got a shave and hair cut, he strolled down Front Street toward Jonas' general store. He paused at the swing doors of the Long Branch and poked his nose over the doors and looked around the room. There wasn't much happening, other than the doctor and Kitty chatting while sitting at a table at the back of the room. Ferguson pulled himself from the door and continued to the store.
Doc shook his head as he told Kitty about Festus' plan, "You can change the look of a man, but can you really change him?" the doctor asked rhetorically.
Kitty's right eyebrow lifted as she pondered the question. "Well, if anything, he'll at least smell better," she said in reference to Ambrose. Doc couldn't argue with that fact.
Ambrose stepped down into the general store and poked around at the clothing that was neatly folded on the table near the side wall. Wilbur Jonas looked up from the order form he was filling out for the customer he was dealing with, "I'll be with you in a few minutes," he said.
Ambrose shrugged. He didn't care how long Jonas was for he was admiring some of the blue denim trousers on the shelf. He picked up a pair and let the legs unfurl as he held them to his waist - perhaps he thought they were the correct size. The then moved over to where the shirts were hanging and a burgundy coloured one caught his eye. Ambrose held it up and looked at it, studying the front; he nodded and draped the garment over his arm as he moved over to the rack of hats.
Jonas had finished with the other customer's order and moved out from behind the service counter, "Can I help you?" he asked.
Ambrose turned and looked at the store owner, "I'd like to buy these," he thrust the jeans and shirt into Jonas' hands.
Jonas' eyes narrowed, "Do I know you?" he asked. The man's voice was vaguely familiar, but not his face.
"Maybe," Ambrose said.
Jonas placed the shirt and trousers onto the service counter and continued to watch the man as he studied the various types of hats that the store owner carried in his shop. "You seem familiar to me," Jonas finally spoke.
"I've been through Dodge on occasion," Ambrose said. "Your marshal shot me the last time I was here," he snorted.
Jonas' eyes narrowed in thought before his eyebrows shot upwards, "Ambrose Ferguson! I heard you were back in Dodge," Jonas' eyebrows slowly knitted together.
"Word travels fast here," Ferguson stated as he tossed a hat toward the store owner, "I'll take that too," he said as Jonas juggled the hat in his arms.
"And how are you going to pay for all of this?" Jonas asked with an edge of annoyance to his question. He placed his hand firmly on his hip as he continued to watch Ferguson paw through the merchandise, while still holding the hat in the other.
"Don't worry, Jonas. I have real money this time," Ferguson snapped back.
Jonas wasn't one hundred percent sure whether to believe the mountain man or not. He dropped the hat on the counter before he walked back behind the service counter and began to write down the items that Ambrose has selected, so far.
Next the mountain man walked across the floor to where Jonas kept the boots on the back wall, "I'd like to look at them," he pointed out a pair of black chisel toed boots.
Jonas place his pencil behind his right ear and walked to the boots, "These ones?" he asked. Ambrose nodded. With a slight sigh, Jonas pulled the boots off the shelf and handed them to Ferguson, who glared at the store owner, "I could take my business somewhere else," he stated firmly.
Jonas frowned at the comment, "You can have whatever you want, just as long as you pay for it this time," he stated.
"I told you I have money," Ambrose growled again.
"Those are a size ten," Jonas pointed out.
Ambrose held the sole of the new boot to the sole of this old one, "Looks about right," he said and handed them back to Jonas. "What do I owe?" the then asked.
Jonas added the boots to the pile on the service counter and finished tallying up the bill, "That will be twenty three dollars and fifty cents," Jonas said looking up at the mountain man. Ambrose pulled a pocket book out from under his shirt at the front and counted out thirty dollars, "Hang on to the rest. I might be back for more," the said as he thrust the money into Jonas' hand. Ambrose them scooped up the items and left the store.
Jonas didn't leave the spot he was standing – he looked down at the money in his hand and with a shrug he placed the amount that Ambrose Ferguson owed into the drawer and the remainder he slipped into an envelope adding Ferguson's name across the front.
Jeremy Boyd and Avery McBride stepped down into the store, "Good day," Boyd smiled as he walked closer to the service counter.
"Good morning," Jonas smiled. "What can I help you with?" he said looking around the store.
"You might be able too," Jeremy said as he leaned onto the service counter.
Jonas smiled weakly as something about the two men caused an uneasy feeling to sweep over the store owner. "Yes," he said.
"Who was that fellow that just left here," Jeremy asked in a clear low voice. Avery was now next to his friend and staring at the store owner.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Jonas asked as his eyes darted back and forth between the two men.
"He might be. We've been looking for him for a spell," Avery added.
Jonas slowly pushed the envelope with Ambrose's name on it under the receipt book, "I don't know who he was," Jonas said nervously. "We get a lot of transient people through these parts," he smiled.
"You seem a might jumpy," Avery stated as he moved to the side of the service counter. "Are you sure you don't know who he was?" he asked as he continued to move closer to Wilbur Jonas.
Jonas backed away shaking his head no, "I don't know what you are talking about," he stammered while hoping someone, anyone would enter the store. Avery kept coming until Jonas backed himself into a shelf. The cowboy stood inches away from the store owner and slowly pulled a knife from the sheath at his belt. He looked down at the sharp tool before he lifted it to show the store owner, "Does this help your memory?" he said waving in front of Jonas' face.
Jonas gulped and said nothing. He slammed his eyes shut, "I told you what I know," he whispered.
Matt happened to be passing the store and saw the sun reflecting off the knife blade. The marshal pulled his gun and quickly stepped through the store door, "Drop it!" he ordered.
Avery McBride slowly backed away from the store owner and dropped his knife onto the floor. Jeremy Boyd turned and faced the marshal, "Just a little misunderstanding," he smiled.
Jonas released the breath he was holding, "They wanted to know who my last customer was," the store owner said abruptly.
"Who was it?" Matt asked.
"I can't say," Jonas stated.
"Why do you want to know?" Matt continued to hold his gun on Boyd.
"We think he's an old friend of ours and we need to see him to settle up some affairs," Boyd said calmly.
"Get out of here," Matt ordered. "If I see you in here or anywhere near Jonas again, I'll lock you away," the marshal growled. "And you can pick up your knife at the jail house later," he added.
Both men slowly stepped past the marshal and out onto the street, "I sware that was Ambrose," McBride growled. Boyd nodded, "Me too," he said as his eyes scanned the street for Ferguson.
Matt watched the men for a second and then quickly walked over to Jonas, "Are you all right?"
Jonas nodded yes, "I think they mean Ambrose Ferguson," he whispered. "He was the one who just left here, but they may not recognize him without his beard," Jonas stated.
Matt turned and looked out onto the street, "I knew trouble was going to follow Ferguson," he seethed.