Kitty watched Festus close the door behind himself and then collected herself in order to face those who were likely awaiting their return. She drew a deep breath and opened the door in to the saloon and once through she pulled it closed.

Gracefully she walked back to the table and took her seat. "Where's Festus?" Matt asked.

"Oh..." Kitty replied. "He helped with some crates and then said he had something else to do..." Her eyes were locked on to Matt's who thought it slightly strange but decided now was not the time to ask anymore questions.

"Something else to do? More than a free beer!" Doc scoffed while swiping his moustache, "that would be a change!" He chuckled at his own joke followed by Newly.

Kitty scolded them. "You two are incorrigible!"

Kitty was now trying to unravel Festus' mystery lady. "So, Annie. What do you really think of Dodge? Now that you have been here a few weeks." It sounded like safe small talk.

"Kitty. You have a wonderful town here. Everyone is so friendly..." She smiled at Doc who caught her look and winked. "I couldn't imagine living anywhere else right now!" She laughed gayly.

Kitty only smiled. Somehow what Festus had told her caused her to doubt Annie and now she was looking for anything that might prove Festus correct. "Any plans for tomorrow?"

"Doc said that he might take me on a picnic. That would be so lovely!" Annie chirped and again smiled at Doc who smiled back and looked like a school kid who had just fallen in love for the first time. Kitty could tell by just looking at Doc that he was in fact in love...hook, line and sinker - gone. Annie Smith had him.

Kitty was now sadly fighting her own thoughts. Was Festus' intuition on mark or was she now reading into things that she shouldn't be? Just the same the last person on earth she wanted to see hurt over this was Doc, let alone Festus.

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The night wore on and most of the partons of the Long Branch had left. Doc had long ago escorted Annie back to the Dodge House and Newly left not too long after with Matt to start their night rounds. It was almost closing time. Sam started to stack the chairs and Kitty worked on her bookkeeping at the end of the bar. "Sam, you can close up now that those three cowboys have gone."

"Sure thing, Miss Kitty." Sam walked to the doors and pulled them shut and locked them. "Miss Kitty?" Sam's velvety baritone voice questioned.

"What is it Sam?" Kitty looked up from her books.

Sam walk toward her and stopped beside her. "Is everything okay with Festus? I mean, he just doesn't seem like his ususal self."

Kitty smiled and patted Sam's hand. "I think Festus is a little jealous of Annie."

Sam's brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

Kitty looked deep into her barkeep's eyes. "Doc is spending more time with Annis than going fishing and things with Festus." Kitty wasn't going to tell Sam anymore about what Festus said as she still found nothing to substantiate what Festus felt toward Annie. "You finish up and go home." She smiled warmly and retuned her attention to the books.

"Thank's Miss Kitty. Oh..." Sam started to walk away and then stopped himself.

Kitty looked up from her books again "Oh?"

Sam turned to Kitty. "Miss Kitty. I have heard that Annie Smith just lost her husband not too long ago. Is it a good thing that she's getting to know Doc this quickly?"

Kitty's eyebrows rose. It was a rather awkward question coming from Sam, but Kitty knew Sam was always sensitive and caring about the people around him. "I don't know. I suppose everyone handles that sort of thing differently. Death I mean. She's a strong lady, I'll give her that." Kitty surmised.

That seemed to answer Sam's question as he nodded and went back to stacking the chairs and sweeping the floor before he said goodnight.