Doc stood aside and allowed Annie to step through the door into Delmonico's. He quickly followed and sidestepped her before she reached the table in the back corner. Always the gentleman, Doc pulled the chair out and waited for Annie to be seated before he took his chair on the opposite side of the table.
"This is very quaint Doc. What else does Dodge have to offer?" She said looking around the room.
Doc shrugged. "I guess just about anything one would need. And what you can't get, can be brought in by train. Dodge is a very busy town." He noted with pride. "There are a lot of good people here too. In fact, if you are up to it, I'd like you to meet a few of my friends at the Long Branch after we eat."
Annie smiled and nodded. "I should get to know some folks if I'm planning on staying around. That would be very nice, Doc."
Their small talk was interrupted by Jim, who patiently waited to hand them menus. With his usual flat toned voice he addressed the night's menu. "Tonight's special...like every night, is roast beef..." Jim turned ready to leave when Doc barked at him. "Can we at least get a coffee!" Jim nodded and headed off to retrieve the coffee pot and return. As Jim poured the coffee into the cups on the table, Annie spoke up. "Doc recommends the roast beef dinner. That's what I'll have."
"Make that two dinners, Jim. And thank you for the coffee." Doc nodded in approval.
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An hour passed like lightening and Doc and Annie finished their meal. "Doc. You sure were right about that roast beer dinner. That is simply the beef I have had in a long, long time. I'm stuffed!"
Doc smiled. "I know just the thing for an over stuffed tummy. A nice relaxing drink over at the Long Branch." He stood and waved some money at Jim who was quick to retrieve it. "I think that should cover the meal." Doc watched Jim count it who then nodded and went off to deal with an over boiling pot at the back.
Doc stood behind Annie's chair and pulled it out for her. "Hope you're feeling better than you were this afternoon."
"I certainly am. Thank you for caring and thank you for dinner." Annie flashed her eyelashes at Doc. Again that sly smile spread across her lips when he turned his back.
Doc and Annie left Delmonico's and headed toward the Long Branch. The summer night was calm and cool. A relief from the warm day. Even the streets were quiet for a change. They slowly made their way over to the Long Branch.
The saloon's warm glow and jovial sound drifted out into the stillness of the night. "After you." Doc opened the swing doors into the room where many of the town regulars stopped for a drink or two before they called it a night. Doc spotted Festus, Newly and Kitty all at their usual table and ushered Annie toward it.
Festus spotted their approach from the corner of his eye and stood, nudging Newly to do the same as Annie approached the table with Doc at her side. Doc's facial expression was relaxed and he seemed to almost glow. "Hello everyone. I would like you to welcome Mrs Annie Smith to Dodge."
Kitty reached for her hand and welcomed her as she took the chair that Doc pulled out for her. "This is Miss Kitty Russell. She is the owner of the Long Branch." Annie nodded in approval as she looked around.
Next Newly shook her hand gently. "This is Newly O'Brien. He's the gunsmith and part time deputy here..." Annie smiled and nodded.
"And this is Festus Haggen." Doc mused slightly over Festus' job. "He is the deputy marshal." Festus reached out for her hand and their eyes met. He sensed something he didn't like. And she saw the look in his eyes. Festus made no comment and pulled his hand back. "Mrs Smith." was all he could say. She continued to look at the deputy when her thoughts were interrupted by Doc's voice. "What would you like to drink, Annie?"
Annie pulled her eyes off of Festus who was now trying to figure out what the feeling was that rushed over him the moment he touched Annie Smith's hand. He didn't like it at all. Somewhere deep down he felt a sense of doom. He didn't understand. He just felt ill about it.
Annie asked for a glass of red wine.
After a few moments, Festus stood up. "I just forgot that I need to do something back at the livery." He tipped his hat and with all he could muster wished Annie a nice time in Dodge and left the saloon. Even his complexion had gone white.
Doc looked at Kitty and they both shrugged. Annie's eyes narrowed and followed the lawman out of the room. No one noticed the look on her face.