The afternoon drifted away and before Doc knew it, the time was ten minutes to six pm. After finishing his thank you letter to David and Susan, for their birthday gift, he removed his glasses and slid then onto the metal case he carried in his vest pocket. He carefully folded the letter and put it in an envelope and rechecked the address. A slight smile spread across his face as his eyes looked up to the clock. Again a reminder that he had to leave.
He headed to the door and retrieved his coat and hat, and then stepped out of this office and headed down the stairs where he met Festus, who was on his way to the Long Branch.
"Howdy Doc. Comin' fer a beer at the Long Branch?"
Doc shook his head no. "I'm going to have supper. And no. You can't come along. I'm joining someone..." His eyes looked deep into Festus'. He knew the deputy would join him in a heartbeat. He also knew by saying that he couldn't join him would cause Festus to question who he was dinning with.
"Oh..." Festus said without missing a beat and slight disappointment in his voice. "Wall...ifin after you eat, I'll be at the Long Branch. Matthew gave me the night off. Things being so quite and all..." Festus' eyes searched the his old friend for any hint of what he was up to, or who he was joining for supper.
Doc swiped his right hand across his moustache and nodded. "Perhaps we'll end up at the Long Branch after our meal."
Festus' eyebrows popped up. "Okay...that would be real nice and all..." He still didn't know who Doc was meeting for supper but if "they" came over for a drink afterward, then he'd find out.
Doc nodded as if it might be something to do and then headed across the street to the Dodge House. Festus turned and continued his journey to the Long Branch, humming all the way as he normally did as he walked the streets of Dodge.
Festus entered the Long Branch with his usual flare and stepped up to the bar. "Evening Festus." Sam said as he was pouring a drink for another customer who stood further down the bar. "What can I get you?"
Festus pointed at the beer he just handed off, "One of them would be dandy!" he said wetting his lips with anticipation. After all it was a warm day and bound to be a warm evening as well.
Sam nodded while pouring the amber liquid into the glass he just finished drying. Once he was finished he set it on the bar for Festus to enjoy.
"Sam?" Festus looked up from the beer to the barkeep's eyes.
"What is it Festus?" Sam asked with mild concern.
"Have you noticed anything different about ole Doc lately? I mean, him acting sorta strange?" Festus peered deep in to Sam's dark brown eyes for an answer.
"Funny you should ask that. Miss Kitty and I were wondering the same thing earlier today..." Sam retorted.
Kitty heard her name and moved over toward Sam. "Did I just hear my name?"
Festus nodded. "I jist asked Sam, here, whether or not he found ole Doc to be actin' strange today." Festus was quite animated with his hands. "And he said ya did. What do you suppose that ole scamp is up to?" Festus' right eye squinted.
Kitty mused. "Well, it seems he just got a belated birthday gift from his friends, that he is quite taken with."
Festus remembered that Doc had a parcel given to him. "Did he say what it was?"
Kitty poured a beer for her and one for Sam. She held a slight smile on her lips. "A clock."
Festus shook his head in wonder as he sipped on his beer. "Must be some clock to be so puffed up like he is." Festus took another drink from his glass. "And another thing, " Festus continued, "He said he was going to have supper with someone and then left for the Dodge House!"
Once again Kitty and Sam exchanged strange looks. Kitty looked back to Festus. "Any idea who?"
"No Miss Kitty not at all." Festus looked somewhat discouraged. "But I jist remembered that a lady came in on today's stage and she told ole Doc she wasn't feeling too good, so he told me that he was going to see her." He jabbed his right index finger on to the bar to make his point.
Kitty sighed. "Well, Doc is a doctor after all. Did he tell you anything else about her?"
Festus thought a second. "I think Doc said her name was Mrs Annie Smith..."
Kitty smiled. "I think its best we just mind our own business. If Doc wants to share something with us, he will in good time."