Frank Breadman walked down the stairs in the Dodge House Hotel. He never acknowledge anyone in the room and went about his business. Howie shook his head at the man as he arrogantly passed by the clerk's counter with his nose in the air. Uzzell went back to reading the newspaper once Breadman had left the hotel.
Breadman paused outside of the hotel and scanned the street. It was another busy morning in Dodge and Breadman decided to pay Kitty a visit. He smiled to himself as he crossed Front Street. He saw Matt walking up the opposite side of the street so he paused. He didn't want to talk to Matt nor did he want the marshal to talk to him, so he scratched his chin and looked up the street spotting the barbershop. He changed his plans and walked up the street.
Matt watched him for a moment and proceeded to walk to the Long Branch. Matt pushed through the swing doors to find Kitty behind the bar sipping on a coffee whole reading the newspaper; she looked up when the doors opened, "Hello stranger," she smiled.
Matt crossed the floor, "I meant to stop in yesterday but there was some unfinished business I need to attend to," he stated.
"Well, you didn't miss much around here," Kitty smiled. "Coffee?"
"Sure," Matt said leaning on the bar. "How was you evening with Breadman?" he asked.
"He's not as bad as everyone tinks he is. In fact he's quite charming," Kitty answered as she poured Matt a coffee.
"Really?" Matt half chuckled as he picked up the cup that Kitty slid in front of him.
Kitty placed he right elbow on the bar and rested her chin on her balled up hand, "We made small talk mostly," she said.
"Yeah, Doc said he was the life of the party," Matt snorted sarcastically.
"He's not that bad," Kitty scolded. "And how would Doc know. He left before Frank really opened up!" she asked.
"What did you talk about then?" Matt inquired.
Kitty shrugged, "Oh, about this and that," she smiled. "Then he suggested I think about redecorating the Long Branch! That was the highlight of the night," she laughed.
Matt's eyes narrowed, "What do you mean redecorate?"
Kitty was taken back by Matt's question and his all of a sudden serious interest. "Redecorate. Wallpaper and things," she said.
"Wallpaper?" Matt set his cup down.
"Yes, wallpaper. The kind you stick to a wall," she stated. "Of course I told him didn't want any part of the idea and he left it at that," she shrugged. "Why?"
Matt looked at Kitty, "Did he say what kind of wallpaper?"
Kitty shook her head no, "Just a burgundy colour," she said. "Matt, where is this conversation going?"
"I don't know yet," Matt stated. "Did Breadman mention whether he's found a house yet?"
Kitty shook her head no again.
"Then why would he have Jonas order him twenty-five rolls of expensive wallpaper?" Matt asked.
Kitty looked Matt deep into his eyes, "You don't think that..." he voice trailed off.
I don't know what to think," Matt snapped. "I don't like this guy," he stated.
"Just because he bought wallpaper?" Kitty said.
"Let's ask Jonas what colour," he said.
"Matt, why?" Kitty wanted to know what Matt was thinking but he pushed off from the bar and was at the door before she knew it. "Sam. Watch things for a moment," she ordered. Sam nodded and continued to dry the glasses he had just washed.
Kitty followed Matt across the alley and over to the general store. Matt stopped at the service counter and watched Jonas finish up with a customer. The store owner walked over to Matt and now Kitty, "What can I do for you?" he smiled.
"Doc told me that Breadman ordered some expensive wallpaper from you last night," Matt said.
"Oh, he did at that," Jonas smiled. "Paid cash for it too."
"What kind of wallpaper was it?" Matt asked.
Jonas thought the question was a little odd, but he noted the look on Matt's face, "From this catalogue," the store owner opened the book to the page, "Right there. Twenty-five rolls of it," he stated and pointed to the description.
Matt looked up at Jonas, "What colour?" he asked.
Jonas swung the catalogue around to read it and get the correct colour, "Rose red in velveteen," he stated and looked up at both Matt and Kitty. Kitty's mouth drop open as she looked at Matt. "That quality would do the Long Branch," she said in an uneasy tone. Matt nodded.
Jonas' eyes darted back and forth between Matt and Kitty, "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" he finally asked.
"No," Matt looked at the store owner. "Thanks, for showing us the catalogue," Matt said and walked to the door of the store. Kitty slowly followed, "Matt, what do you think he's up to?"
Matt grit his teeth, "I don't know, but from now on, try to avoid him," he stated firmly.
"I'll only deal with him if he buys a drink," Kitty stated.
"Good," Matt smiled.
"What are you going to do now?" Kitty asked.
"I'm going to pay Harry Bodkin a serious visit," Matt said as he looked up the street to the bank. "I'll talk to you later," he said as he left.
Jonas joined Kitty at the door of the store, "What's wrong, Miss Kitty?" he asked nervously.
Kitty looked over to Jonas, "Maybe nothing," she smiled. "But maybe something," she then stated coldly as her attention went back to Matt who was walking up Front Street.
Jonas didn't like what Kitty had said, "I hope nothing is wrong," he said in a hushed voice and walked back into his store.
"So do I," Kitty sighed as she walked over to the Long Branch.
Doc Adams had just stepped out his office door and saw Kitty walking back to the saloon; he decided to join her. "Kitty!" he hallowed from the top of the stairs.
Kitty paused and looked up at the doctor and smiled, "Good morning, Doc," she said as she watched her dear friend amble down the wooden staircase.
"Just wondered if you had any coffee on?" Doc asked as he reached the boardwalk and crossed the alley to be with Kitty.
"If it is still hot," she stated.
"Oh?" Doc said.
"Matt and I just came from Jonas'. That wallpaper that Frank Breadman ordered would be enough to decorate the Long Branch," she said as they two walked along the boardwalk to the swing doors.
Doc ticked his head, "I thought that seemed like a lot of wallpaper," he quipped and then looked Kitty in the eyes, "You aren't going to decorate, are you?" he asked.
Kitty shook her head no, "It was a topic of conversation after you left the other night. And as far as I'm concern that is all that it was," she said coldly. "Even the colour is what we talked about."
"The what on earth is Breadman going to do with twenty-five rolls of wallpaper?" Doc huffed.
"That seems to be the question of the day, Doc," Kitty said and pushed through the doors and stepped down into the room.
"It makes no sense whatsoever," Doc sputtered. "Surely there's a logical answer," he stated.