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

mustang’s head.
    He looped the reins around the hitchrail and walked up tothe porch, conscious of a lot of hard eyes on him as he knocked on the door.
    A very lovely young woman opened the door and smiled at him. “Why, Mister Jensen. How nice. Please come in.”
    Smoke removed his hat and stepped inside the nicely furnished home just as Cord stepped into the foyer. “Trouble, Cord. Bad trouble.” He looked at Sandi.
    â€œGo sit with your mother, girl,” the father said.
    Sandi smiled sweetly and leaned up against the wall, folding her arms under her breasts.
    Cord lifted and spread his big hands in a helpless gesture. “Boys are bad enough, Smoke, but girls are impossible.”
    Smoke told them both, leaving very little out. He did not mention anything about the chipped shoe; not in front of Sandi. Nor did he say anything about the trail leading straight to Circle C Range.
    â€œI’ve got to get over there,” Sandi said, turning to fetch her shawl.
    â€œNo.” Smoke’s hard-spoken word stopped her, turning her around. “There is nothing you can do over there. Rita is unconscious and will probably remain so for many hours. Dooley is killing mad and likely to go further off the deep end. And those who ... abused Rita are still out there. Your going over there would accomplish nothing and only put you in danger.”
    She locked rebellious eyes with Smoke. Then she slowly nodded her head. “You’re right, of course. Thank you for pointing those things out. I’ll go tell Mother.”
    Smoke motioned Cord out onto the porch where they could talk freely, in private. He leveled with Cord.
    â€œDamn!” the man cursed, balling his fists. “If the men who done it are here, we’ll find them and hold them for the law ... or hang them,” he added the hard words. “No matter what I feel about Hanks himself, Rita and my Sandi have been friends for years. Rita and her momma is the two reasons I haven’t gone over there and burned the damn place down. I’ve known for years that Dooley was crazy; and his boys is twice as bad. They’re cruel mean.”
    â€œI’ve heard that from other people.”
    â€œIt’s true. And good with short guns, too. Very good. As good and probably better than most of the hired hands on the payroll.” He met Smoke’s eyes. “There’s something you ought to know. Dooley has hired a back-shooter name of Danny Rouge.”
    â€œI know of him. Looks like a big rat. But he’s pure poison with a rifle.”
    Cord looked toward the bunkhouse, where half a dozen gunhands were loafing. “Worthless scum. I was gonna let them go. Now I don’t know what to do.”
    Smoke could offer no advice. He knew that Cord knew that if Dooley even thought his daughter’s attackers came from the Circle Double C, he would need all the guns he could muster. They were all sitting on a powder keg, and it could go up at any moment.
    A cowboy walked past the big house. “Find Del for me,” Cord ordered. “Tell him to come up here.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œYou want me to stick around and help you?” Smoke asked.
    Cord shook his head. “No. But thanks. This is my snake. I’ll kill it.”
    â€œI’ll be riding, then. If you need help, don’t hesitate to send word. I’ll come.”
    Smoke was riding out as the foreman was walking up.
    Smoke rode back to the site of the attack. His people had already righted the buggy and hitched up the now calmed horse.
    â€œI’ll take it over to the D-H,” Smoke offered. “I’ve got to get my horse anyway.”
    â€œI’ll ride with you,” Lujan said.
    â€œWhat are we supposed to do?” Silver Jim asked. “Sit here and grow cobwebs? We’ll all ride over.”
    Bobby had returned to chasing strays and pushing them toward new pasture.
    The foreman of the D-H, Gage, met them