The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 10: Long Branch Saloon

        Violet sat there with her cigarette hanging out of her mouth for a second before she got up and relaced her bodice with some difficulty. She'd been having Doc help her with it since Mattie left. That was hardly appropriate but since when was Violet appropriate? She took another drag from her cigarette and looked in the vanity mirror, turning her head from side to side to check if she was presentable just as Doc had done a moment before. 

        Fiddling with her wedding ring for a moment, Violet thought to herself. They weren't really married, at least not before God. But then again... did Violet really believe in any of that? Maybe... maybe not. 

        "I need a drink..." She whispered to herself as she left the hotel. Violet glanced at the hotel owner in passing. He was hiding behind a book that Violet wasn't sure if he could read or not. He looked a bit more like a prospector than a proprietor of one of the finer hotels in the area. 

        The air outside was cooler, finer. The light wind brought a sense of ease to Violet she hadn't felt in Georgia. She sighed happily and crossed the street. Violet entered the Long Brance Saloon where she suspected Doc would be. He did enjoy gambling quite a lot... and drinking.

        She strode past her husband who was, as always, cheating at poker. Violet never asked how he was so good at it or how he never got called on it. She stood at the counter and ordered a whisky and glanced back at Doc. He'd been carrying a handkerchief and coughing more lately. She knew his mother had died of the consumption... but that was years ago and if he had contracted it from her wouldn't he have died long ago as well? Violet shook the thoughts from her head. He wouldn't have kept his illness from her... would he?

        "Darlin' darlin' come sit." She heard Doc call. Violet smiled a little and got two more drinks for her and Doc before sitting at the poker table next to Doc. Glancing at each of the men at the table she smiled graciously. A few of them had harlots in their laps which surprised Violet when it shouldn't have. She knew all about that thing in cow towns. She also knew she'd never be a part of it. 

        "Doc please, you don't look so well..." Violet quietly told him after several more hands. The sun was beginning to sink down in the sky. She knew he could keep going all night and then on into the next day if she didn't stop him. It wasn't good for his health. 

        "Alright, alright darlin' le's go retire for the evening." Doc slurred, raking in the pile of money he'd just won. Violet sighed and gathered up the money. They never went wanting with how Doc never lost at poker but Violet worried that one day someone would gut him for it. 

        He leaned in and kissed her a bit sloppily but Violet broke away and tugged him toward the door. He was drunk. He was drunk and he wasn't looking well at all. Doc looked paler then usual and was sweating quite a lot. He needed rest and then he'd be good to go, Violet was sure of it.