The Chest Of Money Master - Cort

Title: The Chest of Money Author: Taffey Rating: PG Character: Cort “The Quick and the Dead” Disclaimer: The following story has been written with no intention of claiming ownership or solicitation, nor does the author claim the movie character(s) as his/her own. The movie character(s) have been borrowed solely out of a love of the particular movie and is not intended for any other purpose but amusement and entertainment. ~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~ Cort rolled over, groaning. He commenced cursing several men to ascending forms of damnation. It didn’t matter that most of them were already dead. He didn’t know where he was. The last chain of events Cort remembered was taking a bath, eating a meal, and being led to a bed. The door opened; Mattie Silk poked her head in. “Hello Sunshine!” She looked tired, but clean and neat as always. “You’ve been dead to the world a long time. Doc said to let you be. Just make sure you got flopped over from time to time. But you flopped on your own.” “Yeah, I’m a good flopper,” he said dryly. 1

“You want something to eat?” Cort nodded. “Where am I?” “You don’t remember? Well, your girlfriend managed to blow up most of Herod’s house. The back is still half up—although you can’t tell from the street.” “Are you saying this is Herod’s bed?” Mattie nodded and laughed at the look on his face. “Don’t worry, honey, I changed the sheets.” “Thank you for that.” “What are you going to do?” Mattie asked. “Next, I mean.” Cort shrugged. “You aren’t going to wear that---“ “No. The last thing these people want to see is one of Herod’s ex-compadres trying to run things. That badge isn’t seeing the light of day.” “Are you staying in Redemption? Seems most everyone is leaving.” “I’m heading out.” “Where to?” Cort looked over his shoulder at her. “Why are you so interested?” “I can’t stay here. I have some money saved.” She began braiding the fringe of her green shawl. “I want to go to San Francisco. I just don’t want to travel alone.” He could hear the hesitation in her voice. “I’ve never been to San Francisco.” “You—don’t mind?” she asked relieved. “I have nowhere else to go.” She smiled softly. Lost souls are what they were. are you going to do when you get there?”

“What

“I don’t know.” The thought of whoring again made her stomach hurt; but what else could she do? Leaving Redemption had been her only reason to get out of bed each day. Who knew it wouldn’t change her life all that much. “I don’t have much money.” “I can fix that.”

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Mattie frowned. “Has the Lord suddenly provided you with money?” Cort caught her jest and smiled. “In a manner of speaking, he has. Who do you trust in this town?” Mattie’s red eyebrows arched several inches over her green eyes. “Trust? Doc, I guess. Horace is a good man.” “Bring them here at six tonight. Wake me then.” Cort lay down facing the door and was snoring before Mattie’s brain could form a question. At 6 o’clock sharp, Mattie, Doc, and Horace entered Cort’s room. “Cort?” she whispered. he was. “It’s us.”

He jumped to a sitting position, momentarily forgetting where

“Right. Sorry,” he mumbled, trying to pull his mind from the fog. He stood up and put on a shirt Mattie had left on the bed. He turned to face Doc. “What are your plans?” “Uh, not many, I’m afraid.” His pale blue eyes were sad. “What about you?” Horace smiled. “I’m enjoying a good run at the bar right now. But most people are fixing to leave. Guess I’ll have to go, too. I don’t know how far I’ll get, or really where I’m going.” He shrugged hopelessly. Cort nodded. “What I’m about to tell you stays in this room.” He looked from one person to the other. “It can not be discussed with anyone. Even your daughter, Horace.” Cort, still a bit shaky, began buttoning the white shirt. “If you all had more money would it make your decisions easier?” Doc Watson and Horace looked at each other--then at Mattie, who only shrugged. “W-well,” Horace stammered cautiously. “I-I guess it would.” Doc stepped forward. “What’s on your mind, Cort?” “Has anyone thought about what happened to the contest money?” “Your girlfriend blew it up,” Mattie said sarcastically. Cort frowned. “Girlfriend?” Horace’s shoulders slumped.

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“I saw the top of that chest lying on the saloon floor. It was filled with more holes than those fancy lace curtains in Herod’s windows.” Cort sat on the bed and put on a new pair of socks. “Horace, you were present when Herod counted that money.” “Yes, I was. One thousand 100 dollar bills, four hundred 50 dollar bills, and one hundred fifty 20 dollar bills.” Mattie smiled. “You always were good with numbers, Horace.” “Any of you see a $100 bill in the street?” Cort asked. Doc looked at Horace, who turned to Mattie. They all shook their heads. “Mattie, your girls get any $50 bills?” “Heck, NO!” Cort searched the floor for his shoes. Mattie pointed to the foot of the bed where a new pair of boots stood. “Horace, any twenties pass by you?” The bartender’s mouth hung wide open. “Didn’t think so.” Cort stood up and faced them. “Don’t you think if that money was scattered all over town someone would have seen something bigger than a dollar bill?” Doc rubbed his chin. “Cort’s got a point.” “Maybe it all got blown to bits,” Mattie said. Horace found his voice. survived.”

“Not all those bills.

A piece of something would have

Doc walked to the window. “And we would have known about it. Can you imagine the ruckus if someone found part of a $100 bill?” Horace stepped closer to Cort. “But Herod’s men stayed in my saloon guarding that chest every night after I closed up.” “How well did you know Herod?” “Too well,” Doc answered bitterly. “Do you think he’d keep $123,000 in a saloon while he slept across the street?”

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“N-o-o.” Horace’s face was a mixture of curiosity and concern. Mattie’s green eyes widened. “Are you saying----“ “That he’d have kept that chest as close to him as possible.” “It just can’t be!” Within seconds, Mattie was on her knees looking under Herod’s bed. “Oh my!” she squealed, tugging on a box. Doc and Horace shook their heads slowly, neither able to move. Mattie needed no help. Soon the three of them were staring at a chest exactly the same as the one in Horace’s saloon. Mattie gripped the padlock. “Anyone have a gun?” One corner of Cort’s mouth smiled quickly. “We don’t want anyone hearing us. Do you have a hair pin?” Her hands fumbled in the mass of red hair piled on her head. She retrieved one and handed it to Cort. About three seconds later, they heard the padlock snap open. Horace and Doc crowded around Cort and Mattie and held their breath as her shaking hands opened the chest. Cort got up and leaned a chair against the door while the rest stared dumbfounded at the open box of money. “It breaks out to $30,750 per person.” All three faced him with eyes the size of fifty cent pieces. Mattie was the first to stand. “Are you saying that each of us in this room is getting—is getting—“ Cort nodded. Mattie put her hands over her head; she was sure that at any second it was going to explode. Horace sank to the floor. Doc walked back to the window and stared at nothing. When he faced the rest, there were tears streaming down his face. “I can go to Wyoming,” he said smiling. Mattie didn’t recall ever seeing Doc Watson look anything but defeated. “My son and his family live there. I have five grandchildren I have never seen. He kept asking me to come. But how could I? I tried to save money. It was no use. Herod’s men always took everything.” Mattie walked over to him and put her arms around his shoulders.

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“Now you can go.” She felt his happiness and swallowed hard. Horace, kneeling on the floor, stared at the money and began rocking back and forth. “Do-do you know what th-this means?” Mattie shook her head. “Mary don’t have to whore.” She wiped her damp face and smiled. “She can go to school.” “To the best school, Horace.” “She can be something ‘cept the child of a barkeep.” “Don’t you knock that barkeep,” Mattie scolded. “You’ve tried your best. She’s still clean. Not many fathers as good and concerned as you’ve been.” “Oh my! I can’t believe it! My Mary can have a nice man and a good life. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.” “Remember what I said,” Cort warned. “You can’t tell anyone about this.” Doc’s face darkened. “Say, how are we going to get out of town with all that money? We can’t just stuff it in our pockets.” “I can help with that,” Mattie brightened. “We all have overcoats, don’t we? With this rain, we’ll need to be wearing them.” “That’ll get us two more pockets, but---“ “No, Doc, we aren’t using the pockets. The lining.” Horace smiled. “Sew it in the lining! Good idea!” “It will be heavy,” Mattie admitted. “We’ll have to just practice walking with the coats before we head out. It’s the only way.” “Are we going by horse?” Doc asked.

Cort nodded.

“It’s the least suspicious way. Once we’re a few towns from here, we can get on a train or stagecoach and go our separate ways.” Mattie, still holding Doc’s arm, turned to Horace. “Where are you heading to now that you’re a rich man?” “Well, I’m still not sure. I don’t guess money can fix a man’s indecision.” “You got any family back East? Wasn’t your wife from Boston?”

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“Yes, she was. I reckon it wouldn’t hurt to telegraph them. Boston would be the perfect place for Mary. I can’t imagine someone in that family wouldn’t want to see her. And we could afford our own place and not be a burden. Mattie, you do have a head full of good ideas.” Doc looked out the window again. “I guess we’d best get back to our lives here before someone comes looking for us. Should we meet again?” Cort sat on the bed. “Yes. When it gets dark, sneak over here with your coats. Mattie will work on them as quickly as she can. I’m staying out of sight; let them think I’ve left town.” Horace and Doc nodded excitedly and headed for the door. Mattie followed them. “I’ll be back in an hour or so with food. You’ll be all right till then?” “Yes. Thanks for your help. I’m sorry about Fee.” slippers.

Mattie looked down at her green

“Kid was good to me and I liked him a lot. But I don’t guess we loved each other. I’ll miss him though. Which reminds me--he told me if anything happened to him and his gun shop was in danger, which guns to hustle out of there.” Cort jumped to his feet, his heart beating wildly. “Did you get the Schofields?” “I think. There was a Peacemaker and two Colts in a case and two smaller guns in a nice leather holster.” “That’s them. Can I buy them off you?” “Don’t be ridiculous! You can have them. I don’t know anything about guns. I just know they were worth something.” “Exactly. So I’ll pay for them. And the Peacemaker.” “Cort, I don’t need the money. Had I known you were lying here on top of a fortune, I wouldn’t have bothered trying to save them.” “I’ll accept the clothes and boots and thank you for them. But not the guns.” Mattie shrugged. protecting me.”

“All right.

I kind of look at it as added security since you’ll be

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“I’m going to sleep while I can. Wake me when you return..” When she got back on the street she saw a group of men fighting over a hat. Suddenly one of them pulled out a gun and began shooting the others. She ran as fast as she could to her room over the saloon. It wouldn’t be long before everyone in town went crazy. She found her black slicker and began to sew furiously. Around 8 p.m. Doc made his way to Herod’s to check on Cort. He had his oilskin coat with him. When he got there, Mattie was working on Horace’s coat. He saw a smaller one on the bed and assumed it was Mary’s. Cort was sitting at the other end of the bed eating dinner. “How you feeling Cort?” “Anxious. Too many people getting liquored up and bored. someone finds their way here.”

It won’t be long before

“I got pockets sewn in my coat and Cort’s. Horace’s is almost done.” She showed Doc the neat rows of compartments just large enough to hold bills. They circled the lower edge of the garment. I should get to Mary’s tonight. Tomorrow morning I’ll work on yours.” Cort wiped his mouth with a napkin. “We’ll have the rest of the day to walk around here and get used to the weight and feel of the money. I suggest we leave Redemption tomorrow after dark.” “Sounds real good to me.” Doc inhaled deeply. “Can’t believe after all these years that I’ll be leaving this God forsaken hole.” In the saloon, Horace was packing their few belongings in a valise and trying to explain things to Mary without letting on about the money. “Papa, how can we go to Boston without money?” “Mary, dear, I have some put away.” “It’s not enough or Mr. Herod would have taken it.” “He didn’t know about it.” Horace sighed. “Listen to me, child. No more arguing. We are going on a trip. We are wearing our overcoats and you are not to question any of it. Do you understand?” “Papa, are you okay?” Horace gripped his daughter’s shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.

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“Mary, I am very okay. When we are on our way to Boston, I’ll tell you everything. But for now, you must trust me. Do whatever it is Cort and Mattie tell you to do.” “If that’s what you want.” Mary smiled. She had never seen her father so happy. The next evening Cort, Mattie, Doc Watson, Horace and Mary rode out of town, their overcoats strapped to their horses. Most of the men still in Redemption were drunk and paid no attention to the five riders. They rode through the next two towns stopping only to water their horses and replenish their supplies. By the time they reached Irving’s Pike, they were ready for a good meal, warm bath, and long night’s sleep. None of them wanted to look at a horse for awhile. They checked into the same hotel—Doc, Horace, and Mary in one room, Cort and Mattie in the one next door. Cort knew they’d all be on edge as long as they were traveling with so much money. The next morning, after breakfast, Mattie took Mary shopping. The men went back to Cort’s room to discuss how they would proceed. He had been to the telegraph office getting information. “Doc, there’s a stage leaving at noon for Dawson. The clerk says you can catch a train to Denver from Dawson. Once in Denver, there are several train and stage offices. It shouldn’t be a problem finding one to take you into Wyoming.” “I can’t believe it,” Doc whispered. “I never let myself think it. away from Redemption.”

Yet here I am days

Horace smiled and nodded. “And we’ll never have to go back again.” Cort had only spent a week there; he couldn’t imagine being under Herod’s thumb all those years. “Horace, there’s a stage that leaves here at eight tomorrow morning. I wrote down the next two towns you need to catch stagecoaches in. Eventually, you’ll reach Missouri. I know there’s a train station there. You shouldn’t have any trouble reaching Boston.” “Thank you, Cort. I can’t tell you what this means to me. You didn’t have to share that money.” “And just how do you suppose I’d ride out of Redemption with all those bills?” Horace laughed. “Anyone that got that close to Herod isn’t stupid. You’d have found a

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way.” Mary and Mattie Silk returned to the hotel. When Horace saw his daughter wearing a frilly blue dress and hat, his eyes filled with tears. He embraced Mary tightly. “What is it Papa?” “You look so much like your mother did when I first met her. So alive. So happy.” +++++++ When Doc Watson left on the noon stage, everyone felt the loss—even Cort. In a very short space of time the five had become friends. Saying good-bye to Horace and Mary the next morning was even harder. Mattie and Cort stood in the street watching the stagecoach roll out of town. “Now what?” Mattie asked, discreetly wiping her eyes. “According to the stage office, a coach leaves for California in about two days. Or we can ride out tomorrow and meet it in one of the stop-over towns.” “Let’s ride tomorrow. Sitting still for two more days in this town will send crawlies up my spine.” Cort half smiled as he looked skyward. “Fixing to rain tomorrow.” “And look at us all prepared with our slickers.” Part 2 In the morning, Cort and Mattie left Irving’s Pike. After a damp, rainy ride that lasted a few hours, they stopped in Johnsontown and decided to stay overnight. They enjoyed dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, then had a drink in Mattie’s room. “Think we can relax some now?” she asked. “You were the one with the crawlies.” Mattie laughed. “Well, my spine feels like resting now.” “I doubt anyone will be coming after us. Herod, his men, and Horace were the only ones who actually saw the contest money. The people in town have no concept of what $123,000 would look like. If anyone does figure it out, they’d probably search what’s left

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of Herod’s house and assume all the money was destroyed.” “When your girlfriend blew up the town,” Mattie added. Cort looked mildly annoyed, but ignored her wide grin. “Cort, you ever have a girlfriend?” “It depends on what your idea of a ‘girlfriend’ is.” “Shoot! Someone you court, take to dances, and want to marry some day.” “No.” It was obvious he was done with the subject, so Mattie moved on. “You’ve been to a lot of saloons. Where was the best?” “Tombstone. But that was a long time ago.” “I’m gonna build me the best dang saloon the West has ever seen,” she declared triumphantly. “You’ve got the money to do it.” “Yes, I do.” “You’ll need a story.” “Story?” “How did you come upon such wealth?” “I’m a whore!” Cort looked at her sideways. “How old are you?” he asked. “Twenty-two.” Cort frowned. “Oh, all right, twenty-eight.” “You’re twenty-eight and you’ve done enough whoring to earn you $30,000?” “Just joshing, Cort. I’ve already thought it out. My rich husband died suddenly--.” “Poisoned, huh?” It was Mattie’s turn to frown. “Hush! He passed away and I inherited. Simple as that.”

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“And your rich husband was from?” “Paris.” “So you speak French?” Mattie signed impatiently. “London.” “Where’s your accent?” Cort asked suspiciously. “Jumping junipers! Spain. How’s that?” “It’ll do. You can speak Spanish.” “How do you know?” “Last night you informed your pillow that it had gorgeous brown eyes—in Spanish.” “Oh, shoot! You aren’t supposed to listen to a girl’s dreams.” “Well, if the girl would dream silently I wouldn’t have to listen to them.” Mattie slapped his arm playfully. “You are a card.” She yawned. “I guess I’m going to hit the sack early. I got us adjoining rooms this time. You can listen to yourself snore instead of me talking to my pillow.” ++++++++++ The next morning Mattie was restless; so they rode on. Eventually they reached California and booked passage on a train heading for San Francisco. Cort could see the excitement on Mattie’s face. There was anticipation in his heart. He guessed it had something to do with the Schofields sitting on his hips and the $30,000 resting in his coat lining. The train ride was relaxing. Cort had always liked trains—aside from the robbing aspect. He and Mattie sat across from each other, a table between them. Cort noticed that Mattie’s appearance had changed over the weeks. Her eyes were brighter; the circles had vanished. Even her red hair looked silkier and shinier. Cort thought about the saloon girls back when he rode with Herod. He had always liked long hair. Mattie

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looked over at Cort and smiled. “I’ve been thinking a lot these past few days,” she began. “I’ve enjoyed the quiet.” “Oh, hush! I’ve been talking to a few businessmen on this train--men who have been to San Francisco. They’ve been telling me about the grand saloons and gambling halls. Ain’t a one of them run by a lady.” “Until you come to town.” “That’s right, cowboy! I’m gonna create the ultimate gambling house. It’s gonna have glamour, elegance and girls.” Cort frowned. For some reason, he had hoped Mattie would steer away from that business. As if reading his mind, she continued with enthusiasm. “No whoring! I’m never going that way again.” Now he was puzzled. “Then what are the women for?” “Glamor. They will wear the finest dresses and sparkling fake jewels. They will be pretty and get paid well.” “To do what?” “Show a man a good time. Accompany him to the poker games--.” “Rob him blind.” “Encourage him to gamble,” she corrected. Sweetly, of course.” “Of course. All that sweetness can make a man hungry.” “Cort, you and I do think alike. There will be a formal restaurant there as well.” “For the further fleecing of unsuspecting gentlemen.” Mattie snorted. “There’ll be no fleecing. Lots of men travel alone. They’d pay to have a beautiful girl keep them company.” “And spend their money on.” “Nobody’s twisting their arms.” “Sounds like a perfectly delightful plan. Remind me never to visit.” “That’s too bad. I was going to offer you a job.”

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“Doing what?” “I will need some kind of protection running a place like that.” “I see.” “Not a lot of protection; I expect only well-to-do men will be there.” “You do?” “Why would a no-good trouble-making drunk walk through my door?” “Gambling, liquor, GIRLS.” “Hmmmm. I guess once a varmint got in he wouldn’t care how outclassed he was.” She began braiding the fringe of her shawl. “I could always make everyone remove their guns. That would be bad for business. Most rich men carry a hidden gun and wouldn’t want to hand it over.” “You only want rich clientele?” Mattie nodded. “Then make sure only men with full purses can come in.” Mattie frowned. “Well, I wasn’t planning on serving cheap meals.” “I’m talking about before they get to the food.” “The drinks aren’t free either.” “Before the bar.” “How much more ‘before’ can you get?” Then her face lit up. “At the door! If I charge a dollar--.“ Cort’s thumb went up. “If I charge two dollars---.“ It went up again. “Three dollars?” Cort shrugged. “I can’t rob them before they get inside.” “Wasn’t robbing them your plan?” “Three dollars seems fair.” “You don’t know rich men very well.” “Pardon my lapse! My whoring days were in Redemption, not Boston.” “The typical ‘rich’ man in San Francisco has money from either gold or property. They weren’t born to it so they don’t know how to be classy about it. They like everyone to notice them and their money. Charging $5 at the door is just enough to make the wealthy

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curious. If they like what you serve up, they’ll come back and gladly pay the door price.” “How do you know so much about rich folk?” “It wasn’t so long ago I was robbing them. Besides, I’ve been talking to some of the fools on this train, too. Trust me, if you winked at them, they’d drop silver dollars all the way to your door.” Mattie laughed heartily. Cort liked the sound of it. He reckoned she hadn’t laughed much in a long time. “How can you be sure your girls will keep things professional?” “They’ll get kicked out on their greedy fannies if I catch them showing the gentlemen more than a good time.” Cort raised his eyebrows skeptically. “Honey, you don’t understand women like I do. Ain’t hardly any woman not born to it that can wear extravagant gowns and flashy, fake jewelry.” “So the threat of losing all that will keep them honorable. Good plan.” “I know the odd one will stray. That’s okay; I can replace them.” She had a good head on her shoulders, Cort thought as he settled down for an afternoon nap. Within minutes he was sound asleep, the train whistle a faint noise in the distance. TBC

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