Law of the Mountain Man

“I reckon Jud just tried to toss too big a loop. Is that the way you see it?”

“Why did you and Jud kill my son?”

Jason laughed, a nasty bark of dark humor. “ ’Cause we wanted to, you old bastard!” Jason closed his eyes as the pale rider came closer.

Walt lifted his Colt and earred the hammer back. Then he slowly lowered the weapon as Jason tumbled down the steps to lie on the ground.

“Ride for Doc Evans and the sheriff, Matt,” Smoke told the boy.

“They’re comin’ up the road now, Smoke,” Matt told him, pointing. “And it looks like the Army is with them.”

28

Smoke had to hang around for the hearings—both state and federal government, since the Army had finally gotten involved—but that was all right, his wounds needed the time to heal. He watched as Rusty and Doreen, then Jackson and Susie got married. Since Walt was Jud’s sole living survivor, Walt took possession of the Bar V. He signed over the Box T to Rusty and Doreen and gave the Bar V to Jackson and Susie. Matt stayed on as a hand for Rusty. Walt and Alice were going to build a little place on Bear Lake and retire.

Jackson was having the great mansion torn down on the day Smoke rode out. The couple planned to build a smaller, much more practical ranch house.

Smoke stopped by the trading post for a beer and to say good-bye to Bendel.

He was halfway through his beer when Jaeger and Di Peso pushed open the batwings. Smoke sighed and set the mug down.

“Your time to die, Jensen,” Di Peso told him. “I don’t think so,” Smoke replied, turning and drawing both guns.

Smoke stepped over the bodies and walked to Dagger, swinging into the saddle and pointing Dagger’s head south, toward Arizona and Sally and the kids. Bendel’s voice stopped him. “Smoke!”

He twisted in the saddle.

“If you ever plan a return visit, do me a favor, will you?” Bendel yelled. “What’s that?”

“Please bring a damn shovel!”

William W. Johnstone is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of over 220 books, including THE FIRST MOUNTAIN MAN, THE LAST MOUNTAIN MAN, BLOOD BOND, EAGLES, A TOWN CALLED FURY, SAVAGE TEXAS. MATT JENSEN, THE LAST MOUNTAIN MAN; THE FAMILY JENSEN, SIDEWINDERS, THE LAST GUNFIGHTER. and the stand-alone thrillers Vengeance is Mine, Invasion USA, Border War, Remember the Alamo, Jackknife and Home Invasion. Visit his website at www.williamjohnstone.net or by email at dogcia2006@aol.com.

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