The Devil's Right Hand, by Lady Stetson

The Devil's Right Hand

by Lady Stetson

Author's Notes:The song is Steve Earle's, Tom Andrews is somebody else's, this hasn't been betaed and is slightly less than a page.

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He tried to ignore the Colt revolver laying on the counter only inches from his fingertips. The Devils right hand Mama had called guns, especially after Papa had failed to come home after Vicksburg. Shed never realized how right shed been.

He could almost hear it calling to him. We know each other, Tom Andrews.

His hand crept closer, almost against his will, and closed around the stock. It felt right, familiar, in his hand as he picked it up; his thumb resting on the hammer, his finger sliding around the trigger-guard, poised and ready.

Oh, yes, I know you. The seductive voice told him, I own you.

The gun was heavy in his hand, solid. He felt the kick of energy and excitement that he still woke in the night missing. His muscles still remembered. They tensed; prepared for the strong recoil, whenever it might come.

This is who you are. Deep down where you think nobody can see. The voice was taunting him now. The upstanding citizen. Schoolteacher. Who would trust their children with the real you? But I see, I know. Ive always seen.

Hed loved it, craved it, the thrill of the power holding a gun in his hand gave him. It had been too easy. He could still see the mans face, the look of surprise as Tom pulled the trigger. He hadnt meant to. His hand had acted on its own free will, joined forces with the devil, and hed killed so easily.

Yes, Tom, thats who you are. You know it, and I know it. Killer. Tom put the gun back down, pressing it against the counter. No. Thats who he had been. He was different now. Murderer. the gun accused.

No. He jerked his hand away. Hed paid for his crime, learned his lesson.

You cant run away from me, Tom Andrews. You and I, were the same.

No.

Wherever you go, Ill be there. Ill be waiting for you.

Never again.

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"The Devil's Right Hand"
Steve Earle

About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war
I saw my first pistol in the general store
In the general store, when I was thirteen
I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

So l asked if I could have one someday when I grew up
Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up
She really blew up, and she didn't understand
Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand
My very first pistol was a cap and ball Colt
Shoots as fast as lightnin' but it loads a mite slow
It loads a mite slow, and soon I found out v It'll get you into trouble but it can't get you out

So about a year later I bought a Colt 45
Called a peacemaker but I never knew why
I never knew why, I didn't understand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand
The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand

Got into a card game in a company town
I caught a miner cheating, I shot the dog down
I shot the dog down, I watched the man fall
He never touched his holster, never had a chance to draw

The trial was in the morning and they drug me out of bed
Asked me how I pleaded, not guilty I said
Not guilty I said, you've got the wrong man
Nothing touched the trigger but the devil's right hand

The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand

The End

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