The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 21: Long Branch Saloon Part 2

Nobody wanted a dentist with tuberculosis. Doc kept going into coughing fits during delicate medical procedures and once the word spread... well... people stopped coming in. Doc and Violet were having to do without more than ever because money stopped coming in.

Doc had been looking a bit better, though. Violet was pleased with the results of him laying off the drinking. He had more color to him and seemed to be more vibrant like he was when they lived in Georgia.

Stepping out of the boarding house they lived in, Doc waltzed into the Long Branch Saloon once more. He greeted Wyatt with that characteristic debonair smile of his and the slight nod of his head.

"Wyatt." He shook his friend's hand firmly. Wyatt had noticed the change in Doc. He'd heard about Violet's ultimatum and well... he was impressed that she had the guts to say something like that. Most women were far too quiet and subservient for his liking; even his girlfriend, Mattie. Mattie was addicted to laudanum, Wyatt feared. She'd been going through those bottles faster than a thirsty horse goes through water.

"Doc." Wyatt nodded back in greeting.

It was late in the night, just when Doc preferred to deal cards. The air was cooler and it was harder to see a murder take place in the darkness of night. He sat down in an old wooden chair and reclined a bit, surveying the room. Doc lit up a cigarette and took a drag.

Just then, he heard the familiar whooping and hollering accompanied by the heavy pounding of horse hooves against the dirt. Some ruffians had rode into town and seemed intent on causing mayhem. Doc wasn't concerned. It was no problem of his if some cowboys came to cause trouble so long as they didn't bother him or his wife.

Wyatt had told Doc all kind of stories about his time as a lawman. One of the most recent was about an Ed Morrison whom Wyatt had evidently humiliated publicly in Wichita. That was by far the funniest of Wyatt's stories, and he had plenty to tell. The man had apparently been tarred and feathered which was incredibly humiliating. Doc could only imagine how such a treatment would burn the skin and demean the soul.

He heard gunshots and glass breaking. The cowboys were shooting out shop windows. Hopefully Violet was safe... Perhaps he'd better go back to the boarding house just to be certain. Doc never knew when they would have to make a hasty escape, so he liked to keep Violet close... just in case.

"Pray and jerk your gun! Your time has come, Earp!" He heard a rough and deep male's voice call from the from as he headed back up. Several men whom Doc could only assume were the scoundrels who were causing such a ruckus had the barrels of their guns pointed at Wyatt.

"No friend, you draw or throw your hands up." Doc declared, pointing his gun at the temple of the rough man.

"Any of you pulls a gun and your leader here loses what's left of his brains!" He continued. Dumbstruck, the cowboys lowered their arms, giving Wyatt the perfect opportunity to knock the so-called leader on the head with his colt, rendering him unconscious.

Wyatt gave Doc an appreciative look as the duo relieved the men of their arms and marched them off to the Dodge City jail. After locking the men away, Wyatt turned to Doc.

"I woulda bit the dust if it wasn't for you." Wyatt clapped Doc on the shoulder with a smile.

"I couldn't let the legendary Wyatt Earp die such an uneventful death." Doc drawled and even though he sounded cynical there was that slight up curve to his lips that spelled the beginning of a long-lasting friendship.