Matt made his way over to the Long Branch just in time to meet up with the doctor again. "So did you talk to Jonas?"
"Why?" Doc asked.
Matt paused out front of the saloon, "That Madam Zelda strikes me as a very interesting person," the marshal stated.
Doc thrust his hands into his pockets, "In what way?"
"Well, she claims she read the poster and it told her she had to come here," Matt stated as he crossed his arms and rocked on his heels.
Doc plucked his right hand from his pocket and swiped his hand across his moustache and chin, "She did, huh?" his eyes narrowed.
Matt nodded, "And that's not all," he continued, "she said that whatever people take away from what she says isn't any of her business."
"She sounds like a fraud," Doc grumbled.
"Aren't they all?" Matt questioned.
"Well, I'm not liking this right now," Doc said as he looked around. Everyone else seemed to be having a good time. "I think I need a drink," he grumped.
Matt just looked at the doctor, but knew what he meant, "I'll buy," he said as he held open the swing doors into the saloon. Doc walked through the door and headed to Kitty's table at the back of the saloon. The establishment was hoping with business and Sam was doing a good job keeping things flowing at the bar.
Kitty looked up from her table and frowned as she looked at the doctor, "What's wrong with you?"
Doc said nothing as he took a seat next to the saloon owner.
Kitty glanced over to Matt to see if he could offer any answer to the doctor's disposition. Matt too sat down and leaned on the table.
"Would either of you like to tell me what's going on?" Kitty questioned as she looked from one man to the other and back again. Matt shrugged and looked at Doc.
Doc sat puzzled for a few minutes until Kitty asked again, "Doc. What's wrong?"
Doc squared himself to the saloon owner, "I'm not sure, but I have a hunch that Jonas knows that Madam Zelda. You should have seen the look on his face when he got a good look at her just now," he stated as his eyes narrowed.
"Let's not jump to conclusions, Doc," Matt warned.
Doc shook his head, "I'm not, but I will talk to him about it," the doctor stated. "I'll be seeing him after he closes the store," he added.
"What on earth for?" Kitty asked.
"His hand is really bothering him," Doc lamented, "I suppose I should have wrapped it earlier. He's upset that he might not be able to enter the pie contest," the doctor ticked his head in slight amusement.
"Oh, that's too bad," Kitty sighed. "I was looking forward to seeing what he could do."
Just then Sam Noonan stopped at the table and placed drinks in front of each of the three that were sitting there. "Did I just hear you say that Jonas won't be able to make his pie?" the barkeep asked.
"Maybe not," Doc said. "His hand is really bothering him," he added.
Sam frowned, "I feel terrible," he said as he tucked the tray under his arm. "I wish there was something I could do," he spoke softly and sorrowfully.
No one at the table had any answers on how Sam could help. That was until it dawned on the doctor and he clicked his fingers, "How about you help him?" he asked Sam.
Sam was taken back by the suggestion, "I don't know anything about making pies!" he stated.
"Maybe Jonas could teach you," Doc suggested.
"Oh, I don't know, Doc," Sam struggled with the idea.
"Doc, you could ask Jonas when you see him," Kitty offered. "It would be nice if he could still enter the contest," she smiled.
"It sounds like he had his heart set on it," Matt chuckled.
"There's lot of male bakers," Kitty quipped. "Maybe this is a new side of Jonas that we didn't know about," she said.
"I'll ask him, but only if you're willing to help him Sam," the doctor looked at the barkeep.
"I do feel like I owe him something for hurting him," Sam spoke softly. "I'll give it a try," he smiled. Doc ticked his head, "Good," he too smiled.
Madam Zelda had set out her table and placed a rich burgundy cloth over it. The cloth had gold decorations embroidered throughout. On each side of the table was a chair; in the middle a clear glass globe on a silver stand. Her sign read "Know your future – 5 cents".
Zelda placed incense on the fire causing exotic smells to drift through the air. Soon she had a small line-up of people anxious to know what the future held for them.
Ed O'Connor was one of the people in line. He was hoping Madam Zelda would tell him how his bull would place, as well as his head of cabbage. He waited patiently as Zelda worked her way through the line. O'Connor tried to hear what the Madam was telling the others, but she spoke softly and close to the person she was with. Nevertheless people were leaving with smiles on their faces.
Finally, Ed was next. "Please have a seat," Zelda purred and waved her have over the empty chair. Ed slowly lowered himself down and looked at the woman. She was actually quite beautiful.
Ed placed his nickel on the table and waited. Madam Zelda looked at the farmer and then took his right hand, "You are a hard worker," she stated as she studies his palm. "You have good lines," she added.
Ed leaned forward looking at his hand and wondered what on earth the woman was talking about. Eventually, Zelda released his hand and turned to the glass ball. She cupped the globe in her hands and peered down into it. Every now and again she would wave her hand over the glass and nodded. Ed leaned even closer trying to see into the glass ball, but all he could see was the reflection of the cloth and stand.
Madam Zelda looked up into the farmer's eyes. "There will be rewards and disappointments in the coming days. The disappointment will be brought on by and event that will be out of your hands," she stated.
"What kind of event?" O'Connor asked. "Not another tornado?"
"No, nothing like that," Zelda smiled. "It will be much, much smaller."
"Tell me what it is so that I can watch out for it," Ed urged.
"The crystal ball does not give such details. Just go with what you know now," Zelda said as she picked up the nickel.
Ed stood up from the table and huffed, "I thought you read the future," he grumbled.
Madam Zelda nodded, "I do. Heed my words," she smiled.