Shotgun by Courtney Joyner

to smash across Beaudine’s head, but instead took a deep breath they all could hear, and turned the gun around in his palm, aiming it again at the major.
    Howard’s hand and voice were shaking, his chest heaving, “I made a promise I wouldn’t swear or kill no more, but you’re pushin’ me with this; this part of a million dollars, that ain’t real!”
    Beaudine said, “Howard, I know what it is to be out of control, but I’m about myself right now, and you need to be the same. This money is real. You know that.”
    â€œWhat makes it more real now than that night with the doc and his family?”
    Beaudine looked straight down the barrel of Howard’s gun to his flicking eyes. “All of these people who want a piece, like Madame Kate on the floor. Doesn’t that tell you? I wrote that letter for Dev Bishop, believing every word. Men facing death tend to be truthful.”
    â€œJohn Bishop wasn’t.”
    Beaudine corrected Lem with a scolding. “Bishop refused to cooperate. There’s a difference. After that night, I never stopped looking. You scattered, but I stayed with it, and every time I turn around, there’s someone new who wants a share, because they knew that gold was someplace. And the doctor’s the key to the moneybox.”
    Lem said, “He didn’t give it up before, and now he’s got nothing to lose, so why would he tell?”
    â€œBecause there’s only one thing he cares about now—us. He’ll bargain.”
    Lem smiled. “The gold for the chance to wipe us out.” He put his hand on Howard’s arm, lowering his gun. “This Creed will deliver?”
    â€œHe will, but won’t be alone.”
    â€œThis half a million is gonna have a lot of blood on it.”
    Beaudine pocketed one last jade trinket. “What half a million doesn’t?”
    Chaney finally said, “Maybe everyone here, if Bishop uses that double-barrel rig. I’ve seen it, you haven’t.”
    Beaudine looked down on Chaney. “You’re new to me, and not impressive at all.”
    Lem cut him off, “He’ll be more use than Chester was. At least he’s seen Bishop, the way he is now.”
    Chaney said, “So did Chester Pardee.”
    Beaudine straightened his collar. “Then it’s up to you to be properly prepared. You want some kind of a share of this? You’re going to earn it.” He walked out of Kate’s office tall and straight, ready for a parade.
    On the front porch, Soiled Dove was rubbing her feet with both hands, as Howard and Chaney swung onto their horses. Lem took a torch from a barrel by the front door, watching Dove as he lit it.
    Dove’s lower lip protruded, more snuff filling it. “That’s a courtesy for the boys who ride in at night. The good customers.”
    Lem got onto his horse with the torch. “I’ll come back, and promise to spend a fortune.”
    Howard punched the air with a giant fist, and said, “I’m back-slidin’. Five minutes with Beaudine, and I don’t have a Christian feeling left. There’s lumber ’round back. I could make that dead woman a coffin. It won’t take long.”
    Lem said, “You’re wanting to do it is enough to keep your soul safe.”
    Chaney said, “I figured we’d be given a map or something, not drafted into another war.”
    Lem turned his eye on Chaney. “Another? I didn’t know you served. Thank you for your sacrifice.”
    Lem snickered at his own joke, making Chaney feel like a fool, again. Chaney let his fingers dance on the Colt he’d just re-holstered, playing with the idea of ending this game right now.
    Lem had been watching Chaney’s hand. “Stakes getting too high?”
    That’s when Soiled Dove piped up. “So, you all arrest that crazy man?”
    Lem said, “He’s coming with us.”
    â€œThe regular