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

groaned. “You ‘member last time Miss Sally got to feelin’ fat?” Pearlie asked.
    Smoke glanced at him, wondering how any of them could forget that terrible time.
    â€œShe didn’t cook no biscuits nor bear sign nor pancakes for near about two months.” Pearlie shook his head in sorrow. “Greens an’ carrots an’ vegetables was all we had to eat, an’ I swear I ‘bout had to threaten the hands with my six-gun to keep ‘em on the job till she got over that foolishness.”
    â€œI remember,” Smoke said. He forced a hopeful look on his face. “Maybe this time she won’t stay on it too long.”
    â€œYeah, an’ maybe pigs’ll learn to fly too,” Pearlie added morosely.
    Cal gave a short laugh. “I guess ol’ Pearlie’ll be findin’ lots of reasons to come to town. ‘Member last time, Smoke? He came to town at least ever, two or three days so’s he could eat at Louis’s.”
    â€œIt was the only way I could keep my weight up enough to keep my pants from falling down around my ankles,” Pearlie said, laughing at the memory.
    â€œYeah, an’ you spent just about all your wages on food, so when you needed a new pair of boots you had to borrow the money from me,” Cal said, laughing.
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    As the three men entered Louis Longmont’s saloon, Daniel Macklin and Carl Jacoby watched them from an alley up the street.
    â€œNow’s my chance,” Macklin said, pulling out his Colt and checking the loads once again, even though he’d just done it back at the hotel that morning. He was nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs, but he was too proud to back down now that he’d told Jacoby what he had in mind.
    â€œYou’re not gonna try for him in Longmont’s, are you?” Jacoby asked. “He’s in there with all his friends. You won’t stand a chance.”
    â€œNo, I’m not gonna take him in there. I’m gonna wait until he comes out of the batwings. His eyes won’t be used to the brightness an’ he’ll be half blind for a minute or two. That’s when I’m gonna pull iron on him. Once he’s down, I’ll jump on my horse and hightail it toward Pueblo.”
    â€œHow will you know when he’s coming out?” Jacoby asked, watching the front of the saloon. “You can’t just hang around the doorway an’ wait. Someone’ll see you and get suspicious. Hell, you might even get arrested for loitering.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Macklin said, his brow furrowed as he thought about how to do it. Jacoby was right. He couldn’t just stand at the window peeking in, or Jensen would surely see him and get suspicious.
    â€œI know. I’ll go in an’ have me a beer or two at the bar. When I see Jensen getting up to leave, I’ll walk out right ahead of him and when he comes through the batwings, I’ll be waitin’ for him out front.”
    He turned to Jacoby and stuck out his hand. “I know you don’t much agree with me on this, but it’s the only way I can think of to keep Sarah from getting herself hurt by trying to do it herself.” He paused. “Besides, I owe it to Johnny and our other friends he cut down to do something about it,” he added, his voice trembling just a bit.
    â€œI know,” Jacoby said, taking his hand. “And once you’re gone, I’ll explain it to Sarah and send old man MacDougal a wire tellin’ him you’re on your way.”
    As Macklin nodded and turned to leave, Jacoby added, “Good luck, Mac.” He thought but didn’t say out loud, you’re gonna need it!
    He didn’t really think he’d have to wire Angus that Macklin was on his way, for he knew as sure as shooting that Macklin was going to die this day.
    Jensen hadn’t survived this long by letting men surprise him outside saloons.

N INE
    Louis