Doc Holliday Must Die

Doc woke up early the next day. Early for him. He came downstairs at the crack of noon and went for breakfast at the chinks. After some steak and eggs he walked up and over to the Bullshead saloon. He walked in through the door and put his saddlebags on the bar.

“Is Thompson around” Doc asked the bartender who was polishing glasses. “I want to get the key for the office around back. He said he would rent it to me.” “He’s not in yet but he told me to give you the key.” He took the key from behind the bar and handed it over. “Just go around back by the stairway.” “Thanks partner” Doc said. He picked up his bag and walked outside.

The office was dusty and unkempt. There were two chairs and a table. It would have to do. He set up one chair next to the window. There was good light. How long it would last was the question. He would have to get some oil lamps. You needed to have good light if you were going to yank out molars. Or at least the right molar. You didn’t want to take out the wrong tooth. That could make a patient ornery.

Doc laid out the tools of his trade. A probe. A mirror at the end of a metal tool. Some cotton balls. A small set of dental cement. Silver for the fillings.  Tincture of mercury to mix with the silver. A small collection of bottles of laudanum. Most importantly a pair of sturdy pliers. He was ready for business. The question was who would be his patients. He might need to get a sign or something.

Speak and you shall receive. There was a knock at the door. It opened and the burly form of Deputy Williams strode into the room.

“Hey Mr. Holliday. Or should I say Doctor Holliday. I was wondering if I could talk to you.” “Certainly Deputy. But I wasn’t the only one who was there. Mr. Hickok was fully justified in what he did. He was more patient than I would have been and that’s a fact.” “No doubt about that. Bill can be sudden sometimes but that is not my concern. In fact I have to talk to you about something a little embarrassing.” “Sure Mike if I can all you Mike. What can I help you with?” “It’s my tooth. It hurts powerful Doc. I wonder if you could help me.” “Certainly Deputy. Have a seat and let me take a look.”

Deputy Williams sat in the arm chair in the streaming light from the window and grabbed hold of the arms.  He put his head back and opened his mouth. Doc took his probe and mirror and bent over to look at his mouth.

“Which side is hurting Mike?” “On the left” said Williams as he squeezed the arms of the chair. “I see one of them that is particularly bad. It’s broken clear through. I have to pull it. That is going to hurt a powerful piece Deputy.” “Just do it Doc. Soonest started sooner ended.” “Let’s take a break for a second” said Doc as he stepped away.

“Pain is nothing to be ashamed of Mike and this is the worst pain there is short of being gut shot. So I like to have you take a little laudanum to take the edge off. Otherwise you will bite down and I need all of my fingers.” “You don’t have to worry Doc I can take it” said the burly Deputy. “I won’t bite you I promise.”

“That’s all well and good but I will be digging around to get out all the shards and pieces. Nobody could stand that without a little help. I also want to tie your hands down. Otherwise you will just naturally grab your mouth and that will be dangerous for the both of us. Trust me I have done this many times before.“

“I guess I have to trust you Doc. Give it over and let’s get started.” Doc ladled out a healthy dosage of the opiate and let him drink. They gave it a half hour to work. Williams got sleepy and lethargic and Doc secured his hands to the arms of the chair. It was not all that sturdy. But it would have to do.

Doc bent over the supine form of the sagging Deputy in the chair. He opened his mouth and touched the offending molar. The mountain of a man twitched and moaned a little. Doc waited and moment and then put his forceps on the tooth and yanked with all of his wiry strength. He got most all of the tooth but Deputy Williams did not take it kindly. He jerked up with all his strength and a loud sound that was part groan and part scream. Sort of like a gut shot grizzly. He had broken one arm of the chair in half and tore the other right out of the base. He opened his eyes and shook his head to clear the cobwebs and the pain.

“Hells Bells Doc” he burbled. “What the Sam hill did you do.” “You’re lucky Mike. I think I got it all on the first shot. It looks that way anyways. Here.” He handed him some cotton. “Put this in your mouth and bite down. I want to see if I can staunch the bleeding. Otherwise I might have to give you a stitch and I don’t think either of us want to do that.”

Williams untied himself from the shattered chair and stuffed the cotton into his mouth. The pain was intense as it throbbed and pulsed. He spit out a gob of blood on to the floor. Dentistry was a bloody business of this there was no doubt.

With the cotton stuffed in his mouth the deputy's usual gift of gab was somewhat muffled. He nodded at Doc and indicated that he wanted to know what he owed for the service. Doc handed his some more cotton and a half bottle of laudanum.

“That will be five dollars. Sorry but I have to buy another chair.” Deputy Williams paid up without demur. He just wanted to get out of there. He stood up shakily and walked out the door.

Doc looked at the wreckage of his office. It matched the wreckage of his life. He bent to start cleaning up the mess. He would have to go to the smithy to have him jury rig him a chair. Sometimes he thought that being a gambler would be easier. In fact he knew it would be easier. He had promised Mattie he would try to live an honest life. He would give it one more try. But a few more days like this and he didn’t know what he would do.