Chapter 10
"Later that evening Jeffery went to find Tom and Bill to tell them of Matilda's proposition. He didn't have to look far however because right as he was coming out of the hotel they were coming out of the saloon.
"Gentlemen….oh Gentlemen." Jeffery called after them as he crossed the street.
"Is he talking to us?" Tom slurred the question as he swayed slightly.
"I do believe he is." Bill slurred back bracing himself on the hitching rail.
"Gentlemen I'm glad I found you." Jeffery said with a smile.
"Who are you?" Tom asked stumbling toward the stranger.
"Oh I'm sorry I haven't properly introduce myself, my name is Jeffery Holbrook and I represent Mrs. Matilda Jones one of the richest women in San Francisco." Jeffery said with a satisfied grin.
"So what do you want with us?" Tom asked attempting to stand up straighter.
"Well, my employer, Mrs. Jones has made the trip to Virginia City to retrieve her granddaughter and take her back to San Francisco with her. Unfortunately however we have met with some obstacles." Jeffery started to explain but was interrupted by Bill.
"What do you want us to do?" Bill asked a little confused.
"If you gentlemen would accompany me to the hotel Mrs. Jones will explain everything." Jeffery said as he turned to lead the way to the hotel.
"If you gentlemen would accompany me to the hotel Mrs. Jones will explain everything." Jeffery said as he turned to lead them back to the hotel.
"Oh mister what's in this for us?" Tom asked.
"Mrs. Jones is prepared to pay a great sum of money for your services." Jeffery said with a hopeful look as he turned to face the two men once more.
"Well Tom I think we should hear the lady out at least." Bill said at the proposition of money.
"I suppose you're right let's go. You lead the way mister." Tom said they followed Jeffery into the hotel. .
Once they were inside Jeffery asked the clerk for some coffee so he could sober Tom and Bill up before he took them to meet Matilda. Both men drank their coffee and once they were a little more sober than they had been Jeffery led them up the stairs to Matilda's room. As they approached her door Jeffery knocked lightly and Matilda answered.
"Ah, Jeffery come in." She greeted him with a smile. " And who are these gentlemen?" She asked politely.
"Allow me to introduce Mr. Bill Thompson and Mr. Tom Langston. Gentlemen this is Mrs. Matilda Jones."
"It's nice to meet you ma'am." Tom said nervously as he nudged Bill.
"Oh yeah nice to meet you ma'am." Bill repeated.
"So I hear you gentlemen can help me. I trust Jeffery told about my situation." Matilda said in a stiff tone.
"Well, we still don't know what you want us to do exactly." Tom said nervously.
"I need you two gentlemen to retrieve my granddaughter for me. You see I have a document giving me custody of her but her father refuses to honor it and has even gotten his friend Judge Warner to rule against me. So you see I must take matters into my own hands. She explained bitterly.
"Who is your granddaughter?" Bill asked curiously.
"Jamie Cartwright." Matilda said matter of factly.
"You mean Ben Cartwright's daughter?" Tom asked shocked.
"Yes. Is that a problem?" She asked a little confused as to why he was so shocked.
"It's just that it's not going to be that easy." Tom replied.
"I am prepared to offer you gentlemen a great deal of money." She said slyly.
"How much?" Bill asked greedily.
"How does $1000 a piece sound?" Matilda asked as she looked at them with a serious stare.
"That sounds good to us ma'am." Tom said as he and Bill looked at each other excitedly.
"Okay then I will need you two to retrieve the girl and bring her to me." Matilda said with an evil grin.
"Where would like to take her?" Tom asked knowing they couldn't very well take her back to town.
"I've acquired a small cabin in the mountains near the Ponderosa. I believe it belonged to a Mr. Josiah Smith." She said. "I trust you gentlemen know where it is at." She inquired curtly.
"Yes we know the place. We will get the girl for you don't you worry ma'am. We just need to discuss when we get paid." Tom said with a little more confidence than he had before.
"I will give you half now and half once you deliver the girl to me." Matilda replied stiffly.
"That sounds fair." Bill said looking at Tom hopefully.
"Yeah that sounds fair, you've got yourself a deal." Tom said extending his hand.
"Thank you Mr. Langston." Matilda said with a stiff smile as she took his hand lightly shaking it. Then she went over to locked trunk on the far side of the room, opened it and took out an embroidered satchel out of which she withdrew the money. She then walked back over to the two men. "Here you go gentlemen." She said handing them each their share.
"Thank you ma'am." Bill said as he looked at the money in his hand eagerly.
"Now once you have the girl take her to the cabin. Jeffery will be waiting there and he will come get me." Matilda said as she looked back and forth between the two men.
"Yes ma'am." They both said as they left the room.