The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 20: An Ultimatum

        The couple arrived up in Dodge City once again, their horses nearly dead from the exhaustion of running several hundred miles North. Violet was drifting in and out of sleep, resting against Doc as they rode into town. 

        Doc hadn't forgotten what Violet had done for him. They may not have made it out of that town alive if it hadn't been for her. Luck runs out, and Doc was sure that theirs was bound to be lost sooner or later. 

        At that point, all the couple wanted to do was rest. They'd had a long and hard ride up from Fort Griffin and didn't fancy being on a horse for a very long time. They checked into a small boarding house owned by a Deacon Cox. Doc signed in and paid the man their fee before they trudged up the steps and into their small room. 

        "Doc... We need to talk..." Violet murmured once the door was shut and they were both settled in. 

        "What have you got on your mind, darlin'?" He asked, doffing his hat. 

        "It's... this life... what it's doing to you. I don't like it. You need rest, Doc... not gambling and drinking and and gunfights! Please... if not for your sake then for mine... rest for awhile." Violet pled with him. She was sitting on the bed looking up at him with desperation in her eyes as he slowly set his hat down and turned toward her. 

        "You slow down and rest or... I go. Those are your options. I won't watch you destroy yourself." Her eyes welled up with tears as she gave him his choice. 

        "Darlin'...." Doc breathed as he knelt down in front of her and took her hands in his. 

        "I'm determined to keep you happy... I'll... I'll hang out my sign again if it will make you happy." He seemed slightly uncertain. Living the life of an honest man doing honest work was not easy. The pay was far less and the lifestyle was much more dull. It certainly wasn't what the couple had gotten accustomed to but... maybe Violet was right. His condition was't getting any better and smoking and drinking like he did certainly wasn't helping it any. 

        Violet just about tackled him. She kissed him deeply, wrapping her arms around him. She was shaking slightly. Somewhere deep inside of herself she thought that maybe... after all they'd been through he'd just leave her in favor for the outlaw life he'd built for himself. 

        "Do you mean it... We'll stay here for awhile? And you'll stay out of the saloons? I don't mean forever... just for awhile. So you can rest... I don't want to lose you so quickly." She whispered, resting her head on his shoulder. She could hear faintly how labored his breathing was becoming. Violet didn't like to think about it but... she was married to a dying man. And once he the consumption took him... what was she going to do with her life? Would they have children? What would they be like? Could they even afford to have children with the life they led? No.. probably not... 

        "Doc... do you think one day we'll have children...?" She asked, playing with the buttons on his waistcoat as they sat there in each other's embrace. 

        "Perhaps... if that's what you want, darlin'." He said with a muffled cough. Violet didn't refrain from getting close to him like most people would. She didn't care if he was contagious. Where he went was where she wanted to be, no matter the circumstances or the dangers involved. Perhaps it was silly and naive but Violet was devoted to him until death.

        Doc's fingers ran through Violet's hair slowly. She closed her eyes, enjoying the pleasant feeling of her hair being played with. Sighing, she nuzzled more into her husband's loving embrace. 

        "I love you, Doc."  She yawned, falling into a light sleep.