The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 15: Gunslinger

        Jacksboro was by far the most lawless of towns Violet had been to. It was close to Fort Richardson which was strange for the lack of law. Doc and Violet seemed to be in the clear concerning the lynching posse that had chased them up from Dallas. Word hadn't traveled there, or if it did nobody cared. Jacksboro was so full of outlaws and the like that a pair of murderers didn't stand out at all in the crowd. 

        Doc had become quicker to draw his gun than before. He began to live his life with a sort of abandon that Violet didn't think he'd ever resort to. He'd become an excellent shot, surpassing Violet who was proud of him albeit slightly jealous of his skill. 

        He'd found another job dealing Faro. They still had enough money to support themselves but... Violet worried about Doc's health. This life gambling and drinking all night wasn't good for him. He was a stubborn man and would not easily be swayed by any word. Violet couldn't count the number of times she'd nearly carried the drunken man home before he ended up shooting someone... which had happened on three separate occasions already. But since Jacksboro was so lacking in law, nothing was done about it much to Violet's relief.

        They'd been in Jacksboro since January and well... Winter had turned to Spring and Spring to Summer. This was the longest they'd stayed in any one location. It seemed to be working out well. Doc hadn't killed anyone too important and they hadn't been chased out of town by a mob... yet. 

        The couple strolled down the main street in the hot sun. A few soldiers from the nearby fort were wandering about. A few of them seemed drunken and a few others must have been high on opium. What an army... Violet frowned to herself. Shouldn't soldiers have more self respect than that? Shouldn't they have more respect for their country than that?

        Several people stared them down and Violet stared back. They had a bit of a reputation in that town. Mostly it was due to Doc's habit of getting into gunfights. Doc eyed all the soldiers back. There was one in particular that he didn't like... at all. 

        Doc was always the observer. He saw a lot of things but didn't always say much. His eyes flickered over the form of the soldier dressed in his uniform who stood outside the saloon. Doc didn't much appreciate the way the man's eyes lingered on Violet. 

        "Darlin' why don't you get your things together?"

        "Doc... what in God's name are you talkin' about?" She asked, looking at him strangely but didn't have the time to continue her questioning as Doc kissed her and pushed her in the direction of the hotel they were staying in. She glanced back at him and sighed before heading back to the hotel room and packing away her things as well as Doc's. She knew all too well that when he got that look in his eyes that he was going to do something very much illegal that would get them run out of town. 

        Violet flinched slightly as she heard a few shots ring out. Normally they wouldn't have bothered her but... she had the sinking feeling in her stomach that they were either from Doc's gun or aimed at him. 

        Some few minutes later, Doc rushed into the room and snatched up his things hastily. 

        "Doc, what did you do?!" She questioned, worriedly as he pulled her along to the horses. He didn't answer her but... she figured it out as they rode out of town past the body of the soldier that had been hitting on her on and off the past few months they'd been in town. 

        They rode in silence away once again. Violet sighed and just rode along with him. They had to run again. They were always running. 

        "Where will we go...?" She asked him once the sun had set and they'd gone to rest for the night. 

       "If they catch you they'll hang you..." Violet continued on. Doc had killed a soldier and God knows that the government didn't do well with their men being murdered. 

        "I know," came his quiet reply from beside her. So... it looked like they were to be on the run once again.