[ Bonus Update Progress: 12/20]
Chapter 26: Splitting the Spoils
Inside the mine, corpses lay scattered in every direction; the sight was enough to make one's skin crawl.
With so many bodies, moving them all was beyond the strength of just Johnny and Dutch.
After hours of back-breaking labor, the two men finally dragged the outer ring of corpses—and the horses—back into the mine.
Now they were spent, both collapsing as though every ounce of strength had been wrung from their bones.
Dutch sat panting on the ground, pulling a thick wad of bonds from his satchel. Frowning, he looked at Johnny.
"Johnny, are these really worth ten thousand? I've got a bad feeling about this…"
Johnny pushed himself upright, took the bonds, and studied them carefully. At last he spoke.
"Dutch, these are bearer bonds issued by Cornwall himself—Cornwall Oil Company.
They don't mature for eight years; only then can you walk into his office and claim the full ten grand.
Right now, on the open market, that stack might fetch eight at best."
Dutch barked a laugh. "Eight thousand's still a hell of a payday! Let's sell 'em quick."
Johnny caught his arm. "Hold on. Dump those bonds now and we're basically sending Cornwall a letter saying we robbed him.
We need a plan—quiet and long-term."
Dutch nodded slowly.
Johnny stood. "I'm checking these bodies for usable iron—I'm short on guns."
Dutch waved him off, remembering Arthur's remark that Johnny hated to waste anything.
Johnny's hopes sank fast. Aside from Colm's engraved red-navy revolver—
gaudy but deadly by game rules—and two fine carcano rifles off the Bodyguards, the rest was junk.
No wonder the Gang was bottom-tier; if you could ride and pull a trigger, you were in.
Dutch left him to it, lifting Kieran off a horse and tying him to a post.
Kieran begged, insisting he only groomed the animals and knew nothing.
Dutch replied he wouldn't believe a word and would let him starve three days to think it over.
Soon the rest arrived behind Hosea and Ms. Grimshaw at the Odriscoll graveyard.
Arthur had driven Johnny's wagon; Johnny was touched—until he saw John wedged among sacks of wolf meat.
Arthur needled, "See, Little John? Wolves still keep you company—just like those two nights on the cliff!"
John turned crimson, ready to swing.
Abigail pleaded with Arthur to spare Jack the sight, ending the spat.
Even these weathered outlaws froze at the carnage, a silent hammer striking each soul.
Hosea staggered toward Dutch, whispering, "Lord, I thought I'd seen it all…"
Dutch, calm, called everyone in and laid out the next moves.
"Gentlemen! Ladies! The plan worked. Time for the moment you've waited for."
He pulled a brick of greenbacks that flashed like emeralds in the sun.
Counting out twenty-five-dollar slices, he pressed one into every hand.
Smiles flashed; pockets jingled.
Dutch wasn't done. He counted again and handed Ms. Grimshaw three hundred to share with the rest of the Gang.
Then came the bonds—ten thousand in "worthless" paper he'd convert later and split.
Cheers, whistles, a storm of joy.
"Quiet!" Dutch roared, arms high; silence snapped into place.
"Find yourselves clean, useful clothes—stash them. Strip these corpses of every coin and jewel.
Then dig one big pit—I'll inspect."
The Gang fell on the dead like wolves, scooping up moonshine, gun oil, anything loose.
Arthur ordered every gun stacked; Johnny might need them.
Inside, Arthur hunted for kerosene—he had a feeling they'd soon need a flame.