Free A Big Sky Christmas by William W. Johnstone, J. A. Johnstone Page B

Jamie was willing to give any man the benefit of the doubt.
    Bradford, on the other hand, rubbed him the wrong way. Jamie would try to keep things civil between them because he liked the man’s kids. Bradford must not be all bad, he told himself, if he’d had a hand in raising Alexander and Abigail.
    Jamie started toward Lamar Hendricks’s wagon again, but he hadn’t gone very far before he was intercepted again. Three men stepped up and barred his path. They wore belligerent expressions and planted their feet as if they didn’t intend to move until they’d had their say, whatever that was.
    Jamie stopped and studied them. The one on his left was tall and lean, but the ropy muscles of his arms and shoulders testified to his strength. His hands were clenched into knobby-knuckled fists. The one on the right was tall, but broad-shouldered and powerful-looking. He sported a bristly black beard, while the other two were clean shaven.
    The man in the middle probably looked shorter than he really was, since he was standing between the two tall men. He seemed almost as broad as he was tall, and small, piggy eyes were buried in deep pits of gristle above a prominent nose in his round, sunburned face.
    He was the one who spoke. “You’re MacCallister.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œThe man who attacked Jeb Ralston for no good reason and broke his leg.”
    â€œWell, you’ve got that half right,” Jamie drawled. “Ralston started the fight. As for breaking his leg, that wasn’t my intention. It just sort of happened in the heat of battle.” Jamie’s voice hardened. “But I didn’t lose any sleep over it last night.”
    â€œJeb is a good man and a top-notch wagon master. He deserves better.”
    â€œI don’t plan on wasting my time arguing with you,” Jamie said. “Step aside.”
    â€œNo, sir,” the piggish man snapped. “We hired on with Jeb as scouts. We’ve worked with him before. Now we hear you figure on waltzin’ in here and takin’ over.”
    â€œAgreeing to take this train to Montana wasn’t exactly my idea. But I’ve said that I’ll do it, and that’s what I plan to do, with you men or without you. It makes no never mind to me. We’ll get there either way.”
    â€œOne of us should’ve got that job, blast it! It’s not right that you cripple Jeb and then take his job!”
    â€œYou’ve seen Ralston?” Jamie was mildly curious about the man’s condition. “How’s he doing?”
    â€œThe sawbones says it’ll be months before he can walk normal again, if he ever does. He may not ever get over what you done to him.”
    Jamie shrugged. “He should’ve let it go after I threw him over that bar, instead of coming after me again.” In a voice like flint, he added, “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.”
    â€œMister . . . by the time we get through with you, you’re gonna wish it was the other way around!”
    All three men attacked at the same time, charging at Jamie with fists swinging.

C HAPTER T HIRTEEN
    That didn’t surprise Jamie. He’d been able to tell as soon as the men got in his way that they were on the prod. They’d just taken a few minutes to talk themselves up into doing something about it.
    At least they hadn’t come after him with guns or knives. Maybe he wouldn’t have to kill the stupid varmints.
    That thought flashed through his brain as he planted his feet and hit the short man first, since he was the closest of the three hombres. Jamie’s fist crashed into that prominent nose and flattened it. Blood spurted hotly across his knuckles. The blow rocked the man’s head back and stopped him as abruptly as if he’d run into a stone wall.
    The lanky man with the malletlike fists darted in quickly. Jamie didn’t have time to block the punch he threw. All he could