Free Ambush of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone Page A

conscious effort to soften her expression. “Oh, of course, you must be Mr. Jensen,” she said, sticking out her hand and forcing her lips into a cordial smile.
    Smoke shook it. “Yes, I am, but my friends just call me Smoke.”
    Sarah forced her eyes off Smoke, lest she give away the hatred she felt for him. “And who are these gentlemen with you, Mr. . . . uh . . . Smoke.”
    â€œThis is Calvin Woods, and the skinny one over there is my ranch foreman, Pearlie,” Smoke said, inclining his head at the two men.
    Sarah nodded her head at Pearlie and smiled demurely at Cal, causing the boy to blush furiously.
    â€œAre you here alone?” Smoke asked, looking around the shop as he loaded his arms with supplies and piled them on the counter.
    â€œYes,” Sarah answered. “Mr. and Mrs. Jackson took the morning off to take their children on a picnic.” She glanced over at Cal, who was still standing there staring at her with his mouth half open. “Mr. Jackson said he might even do a little fishing on the creek up north of town. Mrs. Jackson will be in later.”
    â€œThey must trust you very much to leave the store in your hands all alone.”
    She dipped her head, embarrassed by the compliment, especially as it came from a man she was all set up to hate. “Yes, sir, I guess they do.”
    Cal moved up next to Smoke and also dumped a load of supplies on the counter, almost stumbling over his feet since he seemingly couldn’t take his eyes off Sarah.
    When the boy just stood there staring, Pearlie, standing behind him with his arms also loaded down, cleared his throat loudly. “If you don’t mind, podnah,” he said with a hint of a laugh in his voice, “I’d like to put these down when you’re finished gawkin’.”
    Cal whirled around, his face bright red. He leaned forward and thrust his face out. “I ain’t gawking, Pearlie, an’ don’t you dare say I am.”
    â€œCalvin,” Sarah called, “do you want me to add those things you’re holding?”
    Cal turned back around and put his supplies on the counter. “Uh, yes, ma’am, but everybody just calls me Cal.”
    Sarah smiled, forgetting for the moment her hatred of Smoke Jensen and everyone who worked for him. Cal was very cute, she thought, and he seemed so shy she just wanted to grab him and cuddle him like a little puppy.
    Her soft mood was ruined when Smoke stepped up to the counter and said, “Just put it on the Sugarloaf bill, if you would, Sarah.”
    When she nodded, not looking at him for fear her hatred would show in her eyes, Smoke and Cal and Pearlie began to pick up the supplies and carry them out to the buckboard in front of the store.
    Once the wagon was fully loaded, Smoke climbed up on his horse and inclined his head toward Louis Longmont’s saloon. “Why don’t we grab lunch over at Louis’s?” he asked.
    â€œYou don’t have to ask me twice,” Pearlie said, “Though we’d better save some room for Miss Sally’s bear sign. She told me yesterday she was gonna cook up a batch today.”
    â€œUh, I wouldn’t count on that, Pearlie,” Smoke said as he spurred his horse toward Louis’s saloon.
    Pearlie slapped the reins on the butts of the horses pulling the buckboard and caught up with Smoke. “Oh, that’s right. You said Miss Sally was fixin’ to go on one of her diets.” He looked over at Smoke. “Now what in blazes could make Miss Sally think she was getting too fat?”
    â€œWell, to tell the truth, it’s my fault.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThis morning I was fooling around and I teased her that she wasn’t as light as she used to be.”
    Pearlie groaned. “Oh, no! Don’t tell me you was fool enough to say somethin’ like that to a woman?”
    Smoke nodded. “Yep.”
    â€œDamn!” Pearlie