Free A Rocky Mountain Christmas by William W. Johnstone Page B

men in handcuffs and shackles. One of them she recognized as Luke Shardeen, the man she had met during her brief time in jail. She had no idea who the other man was until she heard someone point him out.
    “That’s Michael Santelli!” The stranger’s voice was filled with awe. “They say he’s killed more ’n thirty men.”
    “He’s only killed seventeen,” another man corrected.
    “Yeah, well, they’re goin’ to hang him, and he’ll be just as dead whether he killed thirty or seventeen men.”
    The first man chuckled. “You got that right.”
    “That’s Luke with him. What’s he there for?”
    “He’s goin’ to serve his four years in jail.”
    “He’s goin’ to Cañon City?”
    “No, he’s goin’ to be put in the Eagle County Jail at Red Cliff.”
    The two prisoners were either unaware of the conversation about them or were ignoring it as they kept their eyes straight ahead. Deputy Proxmire prodded them toward the bench where Jenny was sitting. “You two men sit right there while I get the tickets,” he ordered.
    Jenny started to get up, but Proxmire looked at her. “No, you stay there. You are being run out of town, so you are as much under my authority as these two men are.”
    Jenny, with her cheeks flaming in embarrassment, sat back down.
    “Hello, Miss McCoy,” Luke said. “It’s good to see you again.”
    Jenny appreciated the calm and respectful greeting, and it helped her overcome some of the embarrassment she had felt at Proxmire’s harsh words to her. “Hello, Mr. Shardeen.”
    “You remember my name. I’m flattered.”
    “Of course I remember your name. I also remember that you are a rancher.”
    “I wa s a rancher. Now I’m a prisoner.” Luke made the comment with a disarming smile.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    “I am too. I have finally met you, a most attractive and very pleasant young lady, and now I must leave.”
    “Lady?” Santelli scoffed. “She ain’t no lady. You heard what the deputy said, didn’t you? This here woman’s bein’ run out of town. What did you do, girlie?”
    Jenny didn’t answer.
    “Cat got your tongue?” Santelli laughed.
    Several women came hustling into the depot, drawing his attention. They unfurled a big, hand-painted sign.

    H ARLOTS W ILL F IND
N O W ELCOME
IN P UEBLO

    “Whoa!” Santelli said, holding his handcuffed hands out toward the women. “Did they bring that sign in here for you? Are you being run out of town because you’re a whore?”
    Still, Jenny didn’t answer.
    “That’s it, ain’t it? You’re a whore. Well, I’ll tell you what, darlin’, I’m about to go get myself hung. And if you had any kindness in you, why, you’d let me enjoy this almost last night I’m goin’ to have on earth. What do you say that me ’n you go over there in the corner and have us a little poke?”
    “Please,” Jenny said. “I’d rather not talk.”
    “I’d rather not get hung, too. But we don’t always get what we want,” Santelli said.
    “Santelli, why don’t you leave the lady alone?” Luke couldn’t stay silent any longer.
    “Lady? Ha! I told you, she ain’t no lady. She’s bein’ run out of town because she’s a whore, and you’re calling her a lady?”
    “Yes, I’m calling her a lady.”
    Santelli stared at Luke for a moment, then turned his attention back to Jenny. “Tell me, darlin’, what if I—?”
    Smack! With both hands cuffed together, Luke brought his fists around in a powerful stroke. The blow knocked Santelli out.
    “I’m sorry, Miss McCoy,” Luke said to Jenny. “I apologize for his rudeness.”
    “You have no need to apologize for him. You have nothing to do with him, and you have been most kind to me. I appreciate your coming to my aid.”
    At that moment Proxmire returned. “All right, I have the tickets here. We can board as soon as—” He stopped his comment in mid-sentence and frowned.
    Santelli was sitting with his head thrown to one side, his mouth open and his tongue