Ambrose Ferguson stepped down off the porch of the boarding house. He cautiously scanned the street with this eyes looking for Jeremy Boyd and Avery McBride – he could believe that they had the nerve to track him down in Dodge, "If you want to play it that way boys, we'll dance, alright," the old mountain man growled to himself.

Ambrose looked down at his new clothes and smiled. He then drew his hand across his cleanly shaven face; it was now time to show off his new look. The first place he had in mind, of course was the Long Branch Saloon.

Ferguson walked across Front Street while keeping an eye out for the two men. Thankfully he didn't see them. Ambrose reached the front door of the saloon and re adjusted his hat. Full of confidence, Ambrose pushed through the doors and stepped into the establishment.

Kitty and Doc looked up from their table, "it can't be," Kitty said in a low tone.

Doc's eyes narrowed as he studied the man, "I think it is," he said with a quick swipe of his right hand across his moustache.

Ambrose was cocky enough to even walk to the bar and order a drink. Sam paused for a moment looking at the mountain man, "You know, Ambrose, I'm not to serve you a drink without Festus," the barkeep said.

By now, Doc had walked over and stood next to Ferguson, "I'm here, Sam. I can watch him," he said.

"Sure, Doc," the barkeep nodded and began to pour Ambrose a drink.

"That's mighty neighbourly, Doc," Ambrose said. "But why?" he asked suspiciously.

Sam placed the drink down in front of Ambrose.

Doc ticked his head, "No reason, really," he said as eyed the mountain man. There was just something very secretive about him and perhaps with the arrival of the two men that roughed Jonas up, some of that might come to light. "How are those pills working," the doctor asked changing the subject.

Ferguson shrugged as he drank the beer. He then placed the mug down onto the bar, "I suppose they are working," he said. My shoulder doesn't bother me as much," he said.

"I'm glad to hear that," Doc said with a slight smile. "I'd be a terrible doctor if the medicine I hand out doesn't work properly," he scoffed.

Ambrose was just about to say something about Doc's surgical skills but decided not to or he might not get another drink.

Doc looked the mountain man over, "You clean up pretty well," he stated.

"I was getting tired of the old leather trousers. Festus said I would fit in better if I cleaned myself up," Ferguson said as he took another sip of beer.

Doc ran his fingers over the top of his right ear, "For once, Festus was right," he smirked.

Ambrose liked the hill man so he didn't comment on the doctor's statement, instead he continued on with his beer.

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Matt located Festus at the jail house and filled him in on what happened to Jonas.

"I can't figure why anyone would want Ambrose, unless they are after his money," Festus stated.

Matt nodded, "I thought that too, but Ambrose wouldn't even acknowledge those men when I was talking to him. In fact he got defensive about it," matt said shaking his head. "I'm afraid if I can't get Ambrose to tell me what is going on between them, I won't be able to help him," Matt stated.

"Or the other way around," Festus said.

Matt agreed, "Yeah. I thought of that too," he said.

"Wall ifin' you like, I can jaw with ole Ambrose to see if can get him to tall me," the hill man said. "Us hill folks have away of getting one another to talk," he smiled.

"I don't doubt that," Matt smirked. "I you wouldn't mind, but be careful. I don't want Ambrose to get angry with you. You are the only connection we have and I don't want anyone to go through what we did, again," he added.

Festus understood the fragility of the situation, "I'll give er a try," he aid and walked to the door.

"Thanks, Festus," Matt said to the hill man as he left the jail house.

"Now I jist have to find him!" the deputy stated.

Matt thumbed over his shoulder, "Try the Long Branch. I saw him heading in that direction," the marshal stated.

Festus gave a quick nod and was off to find Ambrose Ferguson.

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Jeremy Boyd and Avery McBride sat in the back corner of the Bull's Head Saloon. They were nursing a bottle of whiskey, "I swear on my mother's grave that was Ambrose," McBride growled.

"He sure changed since the last time I saw the old coot," Boyd snorted as he poured himself another glass of alcohol.

"I bet he's trying to hide from us," McBride laughed.

"He can try, but we'll find him," Boyd aid with a bone cold tone in his voice. "He's not gonna get away with what he did," he stated firmly.

"We're going to have to be careful. That marshal seems to be on the ball," McBride added. "We're going to have to prove to him that Ambrose is in the wrong," he said.

"Yeah, I know. Somehow we're going to have to convince him that it was Ambrose that stole our claim and not the other way around. If that old coot starts spreading word that we tried to take it from him, we're doomed," Boyd looked up at his friend.

Avery rubbed his upper right leg, "I think shooting two fellows and leaving them to die, is a pretty good reason to believe us," he smiled.

Jeremy nodded, "It is. But he's going to say the same about us. I still can't believe he lived after we shot him three times," he snorted.

"I guess then we'd better shut him up after we get the gold," McBride said in a hushed voice as he leaned forward, looking Jeremy in the eyes.

"It will be a case of his word against ours," Avery said in a hushed voice.

"And ours against his," Jeremy added before he picked up his drink and quaffed it back.

The mood at the table turned as both men had to make their case against Ambrose Ferguson as tight as a drum. Boyd and McBride continued on with their discussion and the bottle of whiskey.

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Indeed, Festus did find Ambrose at the Long Branch and he'd never seen a more relieved look on Doc's face, "Festus!" the doctor smiled. "I have to go now," he said as he slid past the hill man and placed a dollar in his palm, "You and Ambrose can have a drink on me," he said patting Festus on the shoulder before he scurried off.

Kitty had watched the doctor labour with conversation for the last half hour and when she saw him make a run for it; she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Festus made a face at both Doc and Kitty.

"Never mind them, Festus. I'm glad Doc left. He was a bore to talk to," Ambrose stated.

Festus tried to smile, "Wall I guess you don't have much in common," he reasoned.

Ambrose's eyes shifted over to the hill man, "I know why you are here," he stated.

The comment caught Festus off guard, "You do?" he said as his eyebrows slowly rose up to his hatband.

"The marshal sent you, didn't he?" the mountain man asked as he finished off the beer.

"No really," Festus said. "But now that I'm here, can I buy you a drink?" he asked.

Ambrose leaned onto the bar and looked at the deputy, "You can, but you won't get me to talk," he said. "My past is my past," he said.

Festus nodded, "Sure, Ambrose," the hill man said as he motioned to Sam for two beers. "Let's go sit over there," Festus pointed to a table near the stairs.

"Sure. I'm tired of standing, anyway," the mountain man said. Sam Noonan followed the two men over to the table and placed the beers down. The sage barkeep knew Festus was looking for more than beer and quick chat with the mountain man.