Trail of the Mountain Man Read Free Page A

Colby’s place. I couldn’t get through to him.”
    â€œHe’s got to think on it a spell. But I don’t have to be convinced. I come from the store yesterday. Heard the rumors. Tilden wants our land, and most of all, he wants the Sugarloaf.”
    â€œAmong other things,” Smoke said, a dry note to the statement.
    â€œI figured you knew he had his eyes on Sally. Risky to leave her alone, Matt. Or whatever your name is,” he added acknowledging the Colts in a roundabout manner.
    â€œTilden won’t try to take Sally by force this early in the game, Steve. He’ll have me out of the way first. There’s some gold on your land, by the way.”
    â€œA little bit. Most of it’s fool’s gold. The big vein cuts north at Nolan’s place, then heads straight into the mountains. Take a lot of machinery to get it out, and there ain’t no way to get the equipment up there.”
    â€œPeople aren’t going to think about that, Steve. All they’ll be thinking of is gold. And they’ll stomp on anyone who gets in their way.”
    â€œI stocked up on ammo. Count on me, Matt.”
    â€œI knew I could.”
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    Smoke rode on, slowly winding downward. On his way down to No-Name Town, he stopped and talked with Peyton and Nolan. Both of them ran small herds and farmed for extra money while their herds matured.
    â€œYeah,” Peyton said. “I heard about the gold. Goddamnit, that’s all we need.”
    Nolan said, “Franklin has made his boast that if he can run you out, the rest of us will be easy.”
    Smoke’s smile was not pleasant, and both the men came close to backing up. “I don’t run,” Smoke said.
    â€œFirst time I ever seen you armed with a short gun,” Peyton said. “You look ... well, don’t take this the wrong way, Matt ... natural with them.”
    â€œMatt,” Nolan said. “I’ve known you for three years and some months. I’ve never seen you upset. But today, you’ve got a burr under your blanket.”
    â€œThis vein of gold is narrow and shallow, boys,” Smoke said, even though both men were older than he. “Best thing could happen is if it was just left alone. But that’s not going to happen.” He told them about boom towns. “There’s going to be a war,” he added, “and those of us who only wanted to live in peace are going to be caught up in the middle of it. And there is something else. If we don’t band together, the only man who’ll come out on top will be Tilden Franklin.”
    â€œHe sure wants to tan your hide and tack it to his barn door, Matt,” Peyton said.
    â€œI was raised by an old Mountain Man, boys. He used to say I was born with the bark on. I reckon he was right. The last twelve-fifteen years of my life, I’ve only had three peaceful years, and those were spent right in this area. And if I want to continue my peaceful way of life, it looks like I’m gonna have to fight for them. And fight I will, boys. Don’t make no bets against me doing that.”
    Nolan looked uncomfortable. “I know it ain’t none of my business, Matt, and you can tell me to go to hell if you want to. But I gotta ask. Who are you?”
    â€œMy Christian name is Jensen. An old Mountain Man named Preacher hung a nickname on me years back. Smoke.”
    Smoke wheeled his horse and trotted off without looking back.
    Peyton grabbed his hat and flung it on the ground. “Holy Christ!” he yelled. “Smoke Jensen!”
    Both men ran for their horses, to get home, tell their families that the most famous gun in the entire West had been their neighbor all this time. And more importantly, that Smoke Jensen was on their side.

3
    When Smoke reached the main road, running east to west before being forced to cut due south at a place called Feather Falls, he ran into a rolling, riding, walking stream of