The Deadly Chest

by J. R. Roberts

  Waiting for him, no doubt.

  Duffy couldn’t see the back wall, but he had seen Clint leave the stable.

  “He’s gonna take ’em,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  “We takin’ the girl?”

  “Yeah,” Duffy said.

  “What about the chest?”

  “We’ll keep lookin’ for it,” Duffy said. “This is a chance to get the drop on Clint Adams.”

  “Okay,” the eager Franks said.

  “Just take it easy,” Duffy said. “I don’t wanna spook her. Understand?”

  “Sure, I understand,” Franks said. “Don’t spook her. I ain’t stupid.”

  Duffy certainly didn’t agree with that.

  Clint had two options.

  He could break the glass on the back window and get the drop on the two men, but he’d be in an awkward position, and the two people at the table would be at risk.

  If he went around to the front and got in the front door he could get the drop on them and wouldn’t have the back wall between them.

  He decided to work his way around to the front, try to get to the front door without being seen.

  Inside, Andy King said to Rory Evans, “Check out that back window. We don’t want anybody comin’ up behind us.”

  “Right.”

  Angus Foster watched the two men carefully, waiting for a chance to make a move. There was a gun in the room, and only he and his wife knew where it was. But Mary put her hand on Angus’s wrist and shook her head. She did not want a dead hero for a husband.

  Evans looked out the back window and said, “Nothin’ out here.”

  “Keep watch,” King said. “He may show up.”

  “What are the two of us gonna do against the Gunsmith, Andy?” Evans complained.

  “Don’t worry,” King said. “We got hostages, and Duffy will be along soon. We’ll let him deal with Adams.”

  “I don’t know—”

  “Just keep watch,” King said, “and don’t try to think, Rory.”

  Duffy and Franks moved up behind Loretta Burns, saw that she was holding a rifle.

  “See how she holds it?” Duffy said in a low voice.

  “She’s got no idea how to use it. Just stay here and keep watch.”

  Duffy dismounted, handed Franks the reins of his horse, then started to move in closer on foot.

  Clint moved around a side wall. From there, he was able to use a window to spot the two men inside. It looked like he could make it to the door without being seen. One of the men was now looking out the back window, although it was way too late.

  He slid around to the front and started to inch toward the door.

  THIRTY-SIX

  Duffy snuck up behind Loretta, who was completely unaware, and grabbed the barrel of the rifle. She had her finger on the trigger, so as he yanked it from her hand, it went off.

  Inside the house the two men heard the shot.

  “What the hell—” Evans said from the back window.

  “What was that?” King said loudly.

  He peered intently out the front window, joined there by his partner.

  Angus Foster decided to make his move, despite what his wife thought.

  Clint froze. He was about to kick the door in when the shot rang out. He now had to worry about Loretta. She was either in danger, or she had fired a warning shot with his rifle.

  He rushed the door, drew his gun, and kicked it in.

  When the door slammed open, both King and Evans turned toward it.

  Clint had no intention of firing, but an old-timer had a gun in his hand and he started pulling the trigger. He winged one of the men, but the rest of his shots—six in all—missed. Clint had no choice but to fire, putting both men on the floor.

  “We got ’em, goddamnit!” the old man shouted. “That was nice shootin’, sonny.”

  “You crazy old man!” Mary Foster said, standing up and facing her husband.

  “Keep quiet, woman!” Angus said. He looked at Clint.

  “You wanna tell us what’s goin’ on, mister? Them two busted in on us with their guns out, and wouldn’t tell us nothin’.”

  “Not right now, old-timer,” Clint said, reloading his gun. “There’s something else going on outside.”

  “Ya mean that shot we heard?”

  “Yes. You two better stay inside.”

  “Just lemme reload and I can go with—”

  “You hush, old man!” Mary said. “You ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

  “Your wife is right,” Clint said. “Just stay inside, folks.”

  Gun in hand, Clint stepped back outside.

  Duffy cried out as Loretta pulled the trigger. He pulled the rifle from her grasp, and then dropped it as the barrel burned his hand.

  “Damn it!” he said.

  “What—”

  He grabbed her and yanked her from the saddle.

  “Let me go!” she shouted.

  “Shut up!” he shouted back.

  He held her with one hand and waved to Franks with the other. When he reached them he dismounted, and Duffy pushed the girl over to him.

  “You hang onto her,” Duffy said.

  “My pleasure,” Franks said. He put one arm around the woman’s waist and pulled her tightly to his body. She could feel his excitement through his trousers.

  “I’m gonna go down and talk to Adams.”

  “You gonna take ’im?” Franks asked.

  “Not today,” Duffy said. “We’re still lookin’ for that chest.”

  “Why do you want my chest?” Loretta demanded.

  “I want this chest,” Franks said, grabbing her breasts with his other hand.

  “Cut that out!” Duffy said. “Just hold her. Don’t do anythin’ else.”

  “Yeah okay,” Frank said, taking his hand away.

  “Lady, you wanna tell us where that black chest of yours is?”

  “I don’t know!”

  “Okay, then just tell us what’s in it?”

  “My dresses,” she said, “and my underwear. Why is everybody so interested in my underwear.”

  “There’s more than clothes in there or you wouldn’t be out here lookin’ for it with the Gunsmith,” Duffy said.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You’re full of crap,” Duffy said. “Okay, Franks, just hold her here and don’t do anythin’, understand? I’m gonna talk to Adams.”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “You don’t have to hang on to her,” Duffy said. “If she tries to get away, shoot her in the leg.”

  “Okay,” Franks said, releasing her and smiling.

  Loretta stumbled forward as he let her go, then turned and said to him, “You wouldn’t dare!”

  Franks grinned and said, “Try me.”

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Duffy made his way down to the station. Clint came out the front door and stood there with his gun in his hand. As Duffy approached, Clint holstered his gun, because Duffy’s hands were empty.

  “Adams?” Duffy asked.

  “That’s right.”

  “And my men?”

  “Both dead.”

  Duffy shook his head. “Idiots. I told them to stay outside.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Duffy,” Duffy said. He never said his first name if he didn’t have to.

  “What’s on your mind, Duffy? Is the woman okay?” Clint asked.

  “She’s okay,” Duffy said. “She’s with a friend of mine.”

  “So what do you want?”

  “I think you know.”

  “Her money?”

  “That,” Duffy said, “and more.”

  “The chest.”

  “Now you got it.”

  “Sheriff Lane send you after us?”

  “That don’t matter,” Duffy said.

  “Well, look, if you want to trade the lady for the box, I don’t have it.”

  “But you came here lookin’ for it,” Duffy said. “Why don’t w
e go inside and ask your questions?”

  “Sure, why not?” Clint asked.

  He turned and went back inside, followed by Duffy.

  “Who’s this jasper?” Angus demanded.

  “Never mind that,” Clint said. “What are your names?”

  “I’m Angus Foster, this is my Mrs.”

  “Mary,” she said. “I have a name.”

  “Well, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, the last stage that came through here had a black chest on it. Or it did when it left.”

  “Came through here a few days ago,” Angus said.

  “Right. What we want to know is, did you notice a big black chest packed on the back of it?”

  “Not on top?” Mary Foster asked.

  “Naw,” Angus said, “that stage was packed full. The rack on top was overflowing, so they tied some stuff on the back.”

  “And one of those was a black chest,” Duffy said. “A big one.”

  “Why’s everybody interested in this black box?” Angus asked.

  “Because it wasn’t on the stage when it arrived in Westbrook,” Clint said.

  The old man closed one eye and peered owlishly at Clint.

  “You sayin’ I stole it?”

  “No,” Clint said, “I’m asking you if either of you saw it.”

  “I didn’t see anything,” Mary said. “I stay inside and cook for the passengers and the driver.”

  “What about you?” Clint asked Angus. “You check the rig and the horses, make sure everything’s okay, exchange horses if you have to?”

  “I did all that,” the old man said. “I didn’t see no chest.”

  “Okay,” Duffy said, “you’re sayin’ it wasn’t there?”

  “I’m sayin’ I didn’t notice if it was or wasn’t,” Angus said.

  “You don’t check the bags?” Clint asked. “Make sure they’re cinched in tight?”

  “Ain’t my job,” Angus said. “They want me to do that, they’re gonna have to pay me more.”

  Duffy looked around the room, glanced at the two men on the floor.

  “They work for you?” Angus asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Not no more,” he said, and cackled.

  “You silly old man,” Mary said, “you missed them with every shot.”

  “I did not!” Angus said. He looked at Clint. “Did I?”

  “You winged one of them,” Clint admitted.

  “See?’ Angus said to his wife. “I winged one of them.”

  “By accident,” Mary said.

  Clint and Duffy left the older couple to their argument and stepped outside.

  “Maybe we should look around,” Duffy suggested. “The old man may have stolen it, after all.”

  “How would he have gotten it off the stage?” Clint asked.

  “Maybe the driver helped him.”

  “Why would they take that one chest?” Clint asked.

  “I dunno,” Duffy said. “Maybe they steal one bag from every stage, hoping it’s got somethin’ valuable in it.”

  “Well,” Clint said, “I was in the stable, and it’s not there. And it’s not in the house. So where else would it be?”

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  “I want the woman,” Clint said.

  “Yeah, you do.”

  “I don’t have the chest to give you in exchange.”

  “No, you ain’t.”

  “So what do we do?” Clint asked.

  “You find the chest,” Duffy said. “When you do, we’ll trade.”

  “What are you going do with her in the meantime?” Clint asked.

  “Treat her well,” Duffy said. “With respect.”

  “Where?”

  “I don’t know,” Duffy said. “We’ll figure that out.”

  “Why don’t we all just stay together?” Clint suggested.

  “Partners?” Duffy asked.

  “Not really,” Clint said, “but if you want to think of it that way . . .”

  “You think you’ll be able to take me along the way?” Duffy asked. “If we’re gonna do that, I’ll need your gun.”

  Not a chance,” Clint said. “The minute I give up my gun, I’m dead.”

  “You don’t trust me?”

  “Don’t feel bad,” Clint said. “I don’t trust anyone enough to give up my gun.”

  “I guess I don’t blame you, with your reputation,” Duffy said. “Okay, so why don’t you keep lookin’ and we’ll keep the girl.”

  “I can’t go along with that,” Clint said. “Give me the girl.”

  “And then what do we do?”

  “Keep following us,” Clint said. “When we find the chest, you’ll know.”

  “And then what?”

  “Then you can make your move.”

  “I don’t like that,” Duffy said.

  “You want what’s in the chest,” Clint said.

  “We want what’s valuable in the chest.”

  “If there’s anything valuable in there,” Clint said.

  “There’s got to be,” Duffy said, “or you two wouldn’t be out here.”

  “Then why don’t you go out and look for it?” Clint asked. “Try to get to it before we do.”

  “Like a contest?”

  “Right.”

  “No.”

  “Then I’ve got another idea,” Clint said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Go for your gun,” Clint said, “now.”

  “I can pay you to let me go,” Loretta said to Franks.

  “Shut up.”

  They were both watching Clint and Duffy, who were standing out in front of the station.

  “What are you getting paid for this?” she asked. “I can double it. Triple it.”

  “I said—”

  He turned his head to look at her. She had taken the roll of money out of her bag and was holding it.

  “This is a thousand dollars,” she said. “It’s yours. And I can get you more when we get back to town.”

  “A thousand?”

  “That’s right.”

  Duffy had told him the woman had five hundred dollars on her, and was going to give him a hundred of it.

  And she had a thousand?

  “I like the idea,” Duffy said, “but not right now.”

  “Why, because you’re working for the sheriff?” Clint asked. “What’s he paying you? You can’t tell me you’re not thinking about keeping for yourself whatever’s in the chest.”

  “And you don’t know what’s in it?” Duffy asked.

  “She hasn’t told me,” Clint said. “Ever since what happened in town, I don’t think she trusts anybody.”

  “Not even the great Gunsmith?”

  Clint laughed. “She didn’t even know who I was,” he said. “I had to tell her.”

  “That bother you?”

  “No,” Clint said. “It interested me.”

  Duffy turned and looked behind him. Clint assumed he was looking up to where he’d left Loretta with his partner.

  “We’re not getting anywhere,” Clint said. “I’m not going to let you leave here with her. That’s not an option. I’d rather kill you.”

  “And then my friend will kill her.”

  “And then I’ll kill him. And then what happens?” Clint smiled. “I get the money and the chest.”

  THIRTY-NINE

  Duffy walked up to where Franks was with the girl.

  “What’re we doin?” Franks asked.

  “Let ’er go.”

  “What?”

  Duffy looked at Loretta.

  “You can go down there,” Duffy told her. “Take both horses with you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes,” Duffy said. “Go!”

  “What’s goin’ on?” Franks demanded.

  Duffy held his hand up to him to shut him up. Loretta grabbed the reins of both horses and started walking them toward the station.

  “What’s goin’ on?” Franks asked.

  “Adams and I came to an understand
ing.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Him and the girl will keep lookin’ for the box, and we’ll keep watchin’ them.”

  “What?”

  “It was the only way we don’t all end up dead,” Duffy said. “Especially you.”

  “Me? Why me?”

  “I don’t know,” Duffy said. “But he said he wanted to kill you.”

  “Wha—”

  Duffy smacked him on the shoulder and said, “I saved your life.”

  Loretta approached Clint, then dropped the reins and pressed her forehead to his chest.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “They didn’t . . . touch you?”

  “No.” She stepped back and looked at him. “How did you do that? Get them to let me go?”

  “I just explained the situation,” he said.

  “So they’re going to leave us alone?”

  “No,” Clint said. “We’re going back to the way things were.”

  “Status quo.”

  “Right.”

  “Why?”

  “Because nobody dies that way.” He picked up the horse’s reins. “Why don’t you go inside? Maybe we can get Mary to make us something to eat.”

  “Mary?”

  “Go on inside and introduce yourself,” Clint said. “I’ll be right there.”

  She went inside. He walked the two horses to the stable. With three horses inside, it was already too crowded, so he just tied them outside. He’d have to decide what to do with the two dead men’s horses.

  Oh yeah, and the dead men.

  Loretta had to step over the two bodies to get into the house.

  “I’m Loretta,” she said.

  “I’m Mary, honey,” the old woman said. “You and your man was somethin’ to eat?”

  “He’s not my man,” Loretta said, “but we could still use something to eat.”

  “Comin’ up.” Mary turned to Angus. “Old man, you and that other fella get these bodies out of here!”

  “Yes, ma’ am.”

  FORTY