The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 7: Black Smoke Around the Bend

        The train ride to Kansas was long... Violet wasn't used to sitting still for so long. She couldn't read because the fast-moving pace of the train made her feel sick to her stomach and she couldn't sleep because the train was far too rough and loud. So she contented herself with staring out the window. It had gotten quite dark but well... other than Doc there wasn't much to look at.

        Doc was reading a newspaper. He hadn't said anything to her since they got on the train. She played with the little ring on her left hand. It was a simple ring with a single diamond in the middle. But... Violet loved it nonetheless. She loved it because of what it made her.

        They had agreed that they should stay together. However, Doc didn't want his image tarnished. So... Violet left Georgia as Ms. Holloway and entered Kansas as Mrs. Holliday. Of course they weren't really married... They didn't have a ceremony or anything or the papers to prove it. But the thing was that people would believe anything they were told if they were told about it in the right fashion.

        All that had happened was that they put on their rings before getting on the train. They didn't exactly have to act any different but... Doc did. He wrapped his arm around her and was just... closer to her. It made Violet feel special, like she was living in a dream. She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't real and that this faux marriage was only so that Doc's patients wouldn't think he was bunking with some harlot. He couldn't have people thinking that, not that it mattered too much in the west. Still, it could cause him to lose patients.

        They had decided on a small settlement in western Kansas called Dodge. It wasn't as far west as they could get but it was a nice medium between a cow town and the cities in the east. It was nice enough, and not without law like some places down in further south like Texas.

        Suddenly, a group of men with bandannas over their faces stood up and brandished their pistols. Violet's hand immediately went to her holster.

        "Nobody move!" The one who seemed to be the leader called.

        "Look at that, darlin' we're bein' robbed." Doc commented casually. Violet looked over at him like he was crazy. How could he be so nonchalant about this? Of course, he was always surprising her.

        "Shut up!" Yelled the man. His eyes were black as coal which matched his hair. He was wearing an old best up hat and worn clothing. He stood out among the people on the train like a sore thumb. His eyes zeroed in on Violet and Doc. She could almost feel the disgusting gaze of the man boring into the back of her head.

        "Lookie here boys... We got ourselves a little lady with a gun." There was amusement in his voice. He obviously thought that Violet wouldn't do anything. Everyone else on the train was dead silent. Violet had heard of things like this but she never thought that it would happen to her.

        She stood up and pulled out her guns with incredible speed. The men laughed, seeming to take pleasure in her show of courage.

        "Drop 'em or I shoot." She narrowed her eyes and looked between the men. There were five of them total. She was outnumbered. She was very outnumbered. She went to shoot but both of her pistols were knocked out of her hand as she was grabbed from behind. She struggled and bit the man's arm. He yelped in pain and struck her.

        In a flash, Doc was on his feet with one of his pistols pointed at the man's head.

        "Sir, I do believe you're handling my wife." He smirked a bit. They didn't seem scared but really they should have been. Doc was even faster than Violet.

        "Looks like we got ourselves a hero. Look at this boys, the chivalrous southern man is tryin' to save his woman! You're outnumbered, boy. Best run while you can."

        "Say when." Was all Doc said in reply. Violet had never seen this spark in his eyes. It was a kind of fearless spark that she'd never noticed before. It was like this had somehow changed him. It was... Incredible.

        The man with the dark eyes let his hand slowly rest on his holster, trying to take Doc by surprise. But as fate would have it, before he could even get his gun all the way out, he was on the ground. Doc had shot him. His eyes flickered between all the men. They looked as thought the were at a loss. Violet took this moment to slam her heel into the foot of the man who had a hold on her, she grabbed his gun while he was busy yelping in pain and returned to Doc's side.

        "Well done, darlin," he smirked.

        "Thank you, love." She smiled lovingly at him. It would seem she was playing the part of the loving wife well. In truth she wasn't acting at all... The men were frozen. How could these two have gotten the upper hand over them...?

        "Alright everyone, guns on the ground. U.S. Deputy Marshall Wyatt Earp. You're all under arrest for train robbery." Said robbers visibly tensed. It would seem that the jig was up for them.