Read Online Ordeal of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone - Free Book Online Page A

unaccustomed to being called back to the Sorry Place at night. His summons came from the night bartender, delivered by the old fellow who worked as a swamper. He showed up on the front porch of the Tucker house at eight-thirty that night.
    â€œFred says there’s trouble brewin’, Mr. Tucker. Some of those gunhawks are gettin’ drunk and makin’ talk about ambushing the new sheriff.”
    Aaron pursed his lips. “They might find that harder to do than they expect.” He sighed heavily. “All right, I’ll come.”
    When they reached the saloon, Aaron Tucker found the situation worse than he had expected. Five surly men lined the bar. Four more sat around a table, cards spread before them for a game of five-card stud. Behind the mahogany, Fred Barnes wore a worried expression. The only friendly face in the saloon was that of Mayor Lester Norton. He nodded a curt greeting to Aaron and cut his eyes around the room.
    Aaron saw what he meant. The usual local clientele had been run out, or had not come in at all. Aaron walked up to him. “What brings you out tonight, Les?”
    Norton rolled his eyes. “My mother-in-law is visiting. ’Nuf said?”
    With his establishment filled with heavily armed hard cases, Tucker had to force a chuckle. “How long is she going to be here?”
    â€œA week. Or more. There’s no telling with her, Aaron.” Again he sighed. Then he broached the subject both of them feared. “I thought the new sheriff was working at clearing out this riffraff?”
    â€œHe is. Has to rest some time. And eat a meal.” Aaron Tucker’s admiration for Smoke Jensen had not diminished. “I hear the schoolmarm invited him to supper.”
    A chair went back with a loud bang when the back struck the floor. “Barkeep, these cards are greasy. You been storin’ ’em with the free lunch?” growled one of the hard cases. “Bring us a new deck.”
    Fred Barnes shrugged and made a helpless gesture. “That is a new deck.”
    Aaron gave a nervous glance. “I think we need Sheriff Jensen. Les, will you—ah—will you go prevail upon him to come down here?”
    Mayor Norton pushed away from the far end of the bar. “Sure, Aaron. The sooner we rid our town of this sort, the better. It won’t take long to get him.”
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    Smoke Jensen and Virginia Parkins sat in her parlor, sipping coffee and letting their meal settle. Smoke felt a minor discomfort at her proximity. He should have brought someone along, maybe the mayor. Or, Ginny should have provided a third party. He felt a twinge of relief, then, when a knock sounded at the door. Ginny excused herself to answer. She came back with the mayor in tow.
    Lester Norton did not waste a moment. “Mr. Jensen, it is certain that trouble is brewing at the Sorry Place. There are a number of ruffians gathered there. They’ve made talk of bushwhacking you.”
    Frowning, Smoke Jensen came to his boots. “They just lost their chance. Excuse me, Miss Ginny, it appears I have more to do before I can settle down at the jail.”
    Virginia came to him, put an admonitory hand on his forearm. “Be careful, Smoke. Surely they will be reasonable. Like those others who left town on their own?”
    â€œI wouldn’t . . . ,” Mayor Norton started to blurt, only to stop at the hard look on Smoke’s face.
    Smoke filled the gap. “What the mayor means is that he wouldn’t worry if he were you.” Then to Norton, “Shall we go? This shouldn’t take long.”
    Virginia still looked concerned and unconvinced. “Please—let me know how it comes out.”
    Smoke smiled. “I’ll stop by before making my last rounds.” He started for the door.
    â€œWe’ll have pie,” Ginny called after him.
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    It had all been worked out while the mayor had been absent from the saloon. The four men