Mattie Johnston stood patiently with her mother waiting to see Madam Zelda. Her mother thought it a folly, but the blond-haired child insisted. In her arms she held her white and black spotted rabbit, "Bouncer" that she had brought to town to be judged. Time was of the essence as Mattie knew that the animals were to be viewed by the judges within the hour. Although Bouncer was registered in the contest, Mattie wanted to know from the madam how he'd place.
Mrs. Johnston nudged her daughter forward, "It's your turn Mattie," she smiled.
Mattie slowly walked forward and looked at the woman behind the table. She hesitated and held Bouncer tighter to her chest.
"Come child," Zelda said as she extended her right hand as a friendly offering.
Slowly Mattie approached, cautiously glancing back to her mother, who kept urging her to move; she then sat at the table. Her eyes were glued to the crystal ball.
"You have brought your rabbit," Zelda smiled as the child and rabbit.
"His name is Bouncer," Mattie quickly spoke. "I want to know how he's going to do at the fair," she added as she stroked the bunny's ears.
"Oh, I see," Zelda nodded and glanced at the mother. Her eyes then went to the glass ball in front of her and she nodded.
"What do you see?" Mattie leaned forward to get a look, but could see nothing but the refraction of the table cloth and designs through the glass orb. She wore a puzzled look on her face as Madam Zelda ran her hands over the ball. Mattie was captivated and expecting to see words lift from the ball.
Zelda leaned forward as she further studied the glass globe and finally looked up into Mattie's bright blue eyes; they were wide with wonder. "Bouncer will be the centre of attraction. He will see great things," Zelda stated.
"Will he win first place?" Mattie asked anxiously, as she clutched her bunny.
"The ball does not tell that kind of fortune. It sees what will be in other ways," Madam Zelda explained.
Mattie sat back and frowned. "But I wanted to know if Bouncer will win," she huffed.
"Take your rabbit to the competition and wait to see what happens," Zelda said as Mrs. Johnston placed her coin down. Zelda pushed it back, "That one was on me," she smiled. Mrs. Johnston smiled, picked up the coin and thanked Zelda as she collected Mattie and Bouncer.
Ellen entered the general store. Wilbur could tell there was something wrong, just by the look in his wife's eyes. He finished with his customer and excused himself to talk to Ellen "What's wrong?" he asked as he guided Ellen to the corner of the store, while half watching people watch them.
"You were right. It is her," Ellen said in a hushed voice.
Jonas' jowl muscles tightened, "She better not step a foot in this store," he huffed.
"We could get the marshal to make her leave," Ellen suggested.
Wilbur shook his head no, "I don't want anyone to know about her," he sighed. "I'll have to confront her. Sometime."
Ellen nodded, "Of all the places, why did she come here?" she lamented.
"Don't let it worry you anymore," Wilbur said and gave Ellen a quick peck on the forehead. "I'm sure everything will work out fine," he tried to smile.
"I hope you're right," Ellen too tried to smile.
Mattie placed Bouncer back in his cage and turned the latch to lock wire mesh the door. "Mother? What did Madam Zelda mean by Bouncer will be the center of attention?" she asked as she watched Bouncer inside the cage.
Mrs. Johnston crouched down and looked at her daughter, "It sounds like everyone will be looking at him. That sounds like a winner to me," she smiled. Mattie's face lit up. Mrs. Johnston stood and took Mattie by the hand, "Let's go and see if they have any ice cream," she suggested. The little girl skipped away along side her mother.
Doc had just gotten back to the Long Branch when he spotting Ellen and Wilbur Jonas talking, now out front of the store. The doctor twisted his mouth in thought, and then decided to get that drink that Kitty offered earlier. Doc ticked his head and entered the saloon, to find Matt and Kitty sitting at their regular table.
"Hiya, Doc," Matt smiled as he sipped from the beer mug. "Looks like things are going well," he added.
Doc brushed his moustache with his hand, "Looks that way," he said as he lowered himself onto a chair next to Kitty.
"Then why do you look so perplexed?" Kitty had to ask.
Doc leaned forward, "There's something going on between that Madam Zelda and the Jonases," he stated like an old gossip.
"What do you mean, Doc?" Kitty leaned toward the doctor.
Again, Doc swiped his hand across his moustache, "I saw Ellen down there," he thumbed over his shoulder, "watching Zelda and she had the same look on her face as Jonas did. It's like they've seen a ghost," he said with a quick tick of his head.
"She must be someone they know," Matt offered.
"Well, I don't but she has them rattled. They're out in front of the store right now," Doc stated.
"Well, it's their business," Matt said over his beer. "If they need help, they know where to come," he smiled at the doctor. He knew Doc was only trying to help.
Doc made a face, but he knew Matt was right, "Say, where's that drink you offered me earlier?" he then asked Kitty. Kitty chuckled at the question and motioned to Sam at the bar to bring the doctor a drink. "I wouldn't worry too much about Jonas, Doc. Matt's right. If there's a problem, he'd tell us," she smiled and patted the doctor on the forearm.
Sam brought the drink over and sat it down in front of the doctor. Doc looked up, "I saw Jonas chewing your ears earlier," he quipped.
Sam smiled creasing his weathered face, "We were talking about making pies," he then laughed. "I think we'll be just fine."
Doc screwed a finger into his right ear and winked, "I'm mighty glad to hear that," he said before he took a drink of beer. Doc then set his mug down, "Sam. Let me know if Jonas says anything about that Madam Zelda," he urged.
"Madam Zelda? Why? Did Jonas go to see her?" Noonan asked.
"Nothing could be further than the truth," Doc huffed.
Sam made a face. "I don't understand."
Kitty looked up at the barkeep and then over to the doctor, "Doc thinks there's something wrong between her and the Jonases," she said flatly, garnering a look from the doctor.
"Well, I guess I could just listen and find out. We're suppose to make the pies on Sunday before we open here," Sam stated.
"Just don't say anything," Doc warned.
Sam's eyebrows rose, "Of course not. I hope nothing is wrong," he added.
Matt stood up, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see," he looked down at the doctor. Doc tried not to look, but he had that way of saying "I've warned you" before anything happens look on his face. Matt noted the look and bit his farewell.
The marshal stood on the veranda in front of the saloon and watched the people up and down the street. He chuckled to himself knowing how Doc could work himself into a lather over a mere misunderstanding. He decided to take a walk up the street and see the Madam at work.