The Devil's Backbone

Chapter 22: The Other Earps

It was a warm day in Dodge City. Warm enough to make the women in their long, thick dresses uncomfortable. Doc and Wyatt had begun their peculiar friendship that consisted of Wyatt not doing much about Doc's frequent fights in the saloons. Doc looked like an even man but he did have a bit of a temper at times even though his voice nor his face betrayed that.

Violet was sitting by Doc as always reading a book and taking glances at the game of poker they were playing every now and then. She'd heard that the other Earp brothers were riding into town along with their respective wives. Violet never really cared for Wyatt's girlfriend. Her dependency on Laudanum was pitiful and Violet wouldn't suffer the presence of such a deplorable creature.

Two men walked into the saloon accompanied by Wyatt. One was very tall with salt and pepper hair and a thick mustache not unlike Wyatt's. He had a very serious look about him. The other was a bit shorter, but not by much. He had dark brown hair and a thinner mustache. Even so, there was no denying that all three were Earps. That much was evident in the slight adventurous look in their eyes.

"And this here is my good friend, Doc Holliday." She heard Wyatt say. Violet put her book down and smiled a bit at the men.

"Good evenin' gentlemen." Doc nodded at the men and held his hand out for one of Doc's rare handshakes. He'd warmed up to Wyatt so Violet guessed that he didn't think it right to be rude to his brothers.

"And this is Violet Holliday." Wyatt took Violet's hand in hers with one of his warm smiles.

"And a flower she is." She heard the dark-haired one mention to the silver-haired man. Violet laughed a little and took their hands, too. The shorter one took her hand and placed a chaste kiss on it to which Violet found very strange. Wasn't he married?

"I'll thank you not to handle my wife, friend." Doc said offhandedly while he looked through his cards. The shorter man straightened up, a look of embarrassment on his face.

"Doc this is Virgil." Wyatt said, motioning to the silver-haired man in an obvious attempt to clear the tension that was building up in the air.

"And this is Morgan." Wyatt motioned to the other brother. Doc glanced up at Morgan and then back down to his cards which earned an eye roll from Violet.

"Forgive my husband. I'm afraid he's a little cross at the moment... though I'm sure it has nothing to do with you gentlemen." She smiled warmly at the three brothers.

"Quae omnia ad se." Said Doc with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Oportet te ita esse iracundus ? Nesciebant..." Violet responded in a tone just as irritated. She flashed a reassuring smile at the brothers.

"Oh don't mind him." She waved Doc off, turning back to the brothers.

"I think it best we take our leave." Wyatt said, taking a puff from his cigar. Virgil nodded stiffly.

"I see. Well... don't be strangers." Violet smiled as they left.

"That Doc has a temper, don't he?" Morgan asked once they were well away from the saloon.

"Ah, he's just protective of his woman." Wyatt answered as they headed back to the hotel.

These are just translated from google translate so they're likely to be very inaccurate.

Quae omnia ad se - it has everything to do with them

Oportet te ita esse iracundus ? Nesciebant - must you be so irritable? They didn't know...