Trail of the Mountain Man (22 page)
Read Trail of the Mountain Man Online
Authors: William W. Johnstone
17
Ed Jackson and his wife went back East ... anywhere east of the Mississippi River. They did not say goodbye to anybody, just loaded their wagon and pulled out early one morning.
Louis Longmont, Mike, and Andre left the town of Big Rock. Louis thought he'd retire for a time. But Smoke knew he would not ... not for long. The raw and woolly West had not seen the last of Louis Longmont.
Word drifted back that Lester Sundance Morgan had been braced by a couple of young duded-up dandies looking for a reputation down in New Mexico Territory. Sundance had managed to drop them both and was now riding low, keeping out of sight. The report that Smoke received said that Lester was not a very happy young man.
Monte Carson recovered from his wounds and became the sheriff of Big Rock, Colorado. He married himself a grass widow and settled down.
The aging gunfighters pulled out of the area, riding out in small groups of twos and threes ... or alone. Alone. As they had lived.
Charlie Starr shook hands with Smoke and swung into the saddle. With a smile and a small salute, he rode out of Big Rock and into the annals of Western history. Smoke would see the famed gunslinger again ... but that's another story.
The
Fontana Sunburst
became the
Big Rock Guardian.
And it would remain so until the town changed its name just before the turn of the century.
Fontana Sunburst
became the
Big Rock Guardian.
And it would remain so until the town changed its name just before the turn of the century.
Colton Spalding remained the town's doctor until his death in the 1920's.
Sally and Mona and Bountiful and Dana and Willow would live to “see the vote.” But, there again, that's another story.
Judge Proctor returned and was named district judge. He lived in the area until his death in 1896.
The gold vein ran dry and all the miners left as peace finally settled over the High Lonesome.
The gold still lies in the ground on Smoke and Sally's Sugarloaf. They never touched it.
The last store in Fontana closed its doors in 1880. The lonely winds hummed and sang their quiet Western songs throughout the empty buildings and ragged bits of tent canvas for many years; the songs sang of love and hate and violence and bloody gunfights until the last building collapsed in the 1940's. Now, nothing is left.
Danner and Signal Hill died out near the turn of the century, but the town that was once called Big Rock remains, and the descendants of Smoke and Sally Jensen, Johnny and Belle North, Pearlie, and all the others still live there ... finally in peace.
But peace was a long time coming to that part of Colorado, for not all the gunslicks were killed that bloody day in Fontana. Those few that managed to escape swore they'd come back and have their revenge.
They would try.
It would be many more years before Smoke Jensen could hang up his guns for good. Many years before Smoke and Sally Jensen's sons and daughters could live in peace. For Smoke Jensen was the West's most famous gunfighter. And for years to come, there would be those who sought a reputation.
But before that, on a bright, sunny, warm, late-summer morning, Velvet Colby called out for her mother and for Johnny.
The newly wed man and woman ran to Velvet's bedroom. Johnny North, one of the West's most feared gunfighters, knelt and took the girl's hands in his hard and calloused hands.
“Yes, baby?” he said, his voice gentle.
Velvet smiled. Her voice, husky from lack of use, was a lovely thing to hear. She had not spoken in months. “Can I go outside?” she asked. “It looks like such a beautiful day.”
And a gentle, peaceful breeze stirred the branches and the flowers and the tall lush grass of the High Lonesome ...
... along the trail of the last Mountain Man.
THE MOUNTAIN MAN SERIES BY WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE
| __The Last Mountain Man | 0-8217-6856-5 | $5.99US/$7.99 CAN |
| __Return of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1296-X | $5.99US/$7.99 CAN |
| __Trail of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1297-8 | $5.99US/$7.99 CAN |
| __Revenge of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1133-1 | $5.99US/$7.99 CAN |
| __Law of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1301-X | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Journey of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1302-8 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __War of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1303-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Code of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1304-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Pursuit of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1305-2 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Courage of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1306-0 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Blood of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1307-9 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Fury of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1308-7 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Rage of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1555-1 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Cunning of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1512-8 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Power of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1530-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Spirit of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1450-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Ordeal of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1533-0 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Triumph of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1532-2 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Vengeance of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1529-2 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Honor of the Mountain Man | 0-8217-5820-9 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Battle of the Mountain Man | 0-8217-5925-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Pride of the Mountain Man | 0-8217-6057-2 | $4.99US/$6.50CAN |
| __Creed of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1531-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| â Guns of the Mountain Man | 0-8217-6407-1 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Heart of the Mountain Man | 0-8217-6618-X | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Justice of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1298-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Valor of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1299-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Warpath of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1330-3 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Trek of the Mountain Man | 0-7860-1331-1 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
Available Wherever Books Are Sold!
Â
Visit our website at
www.kensingtonbooks.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
THE EAGLES SERIES BY WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE
| __Eyes of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-1364-8 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Dreams of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-6086-6 | $5.99 US/ $7.99 CAN |
| __Talons of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-0249-2 | $5.99US/$6.99CAN |
| __Scream of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-0447-9 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Rage of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-0507-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Song of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-1012-6 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Cry of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-1024-X | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Blood of Eagles | |
| 0-7860-1106-8 | $5.99 US/ $7.99 CAN |
Available Wherever Books Are Sold!
Â
Visit our website at
www.kensingtonbooks.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
CHILLING HORROR BY WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE
| __Cat's Cradle | |
| 0-7860-1001-0 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| _Cat's Eye | |
| 0-7860-1000-2 | $5.99 US/ $7.99 CAN |
| _The Devil's Cat | |
| 0-7860-1005-3 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __The Devil's Heart | |
| 0-7860-1004-5 | $5.99 US/ $7.99 CAN |
| __ The Devil's Kiss | |
| 0-7860-1003-7 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __ The Devil's Touch | |
| 0-7860-1002-9 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| _Them | |
| 0-7860-1425-3 | $5.99 US/ $7.99 CAN |
Available Wherever Books Are Sold!
Â
Visit our website at
www.kensingtonbooks.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
THE ASHES SERIES BY WILLIAM W. JOHNSTONE
| __America Reborn | 0-7860-0490-8 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Out of the Ashes | 0-7860-0289-1 | $4.99US/$5.99CAN |
| __Fire In The Ashes | 0-7860-0335-9 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Anarchy In The Ashes | 0-7860-0419-3 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Blood In The Ashes | 0-7860-0446-0 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Alone In The Ashes | 0-7860-0458-4 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Wind In The Ashes | 0-7860-0478-9 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Smoke From The Ashes | 0-7860-0498-3 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Danger In The Ashes | 0-7860-0516-5 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Valor In The Ashes | 0-7860-0526-2 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Trapped In The Ashes | 0-7860-0562-9 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Death In The Ashes | 0-7860-0587-4 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Survival In The Ashes | 0-7860-0613-7 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Fury In The Ashes | 0-7860-0635-8 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Courage In The Ashes | 0-7860-0651-X | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Terror In The Ashes | 0-7860-0661-7 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Vengeance In The Ashes | 0-7860-1013-4 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Battle In The Ashes | 0-7860-1028-2 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Flames From The Ashes | 0-7860-1038-X | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Treason In The Ashes | 0-7860-1087-8 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __D-Day In The Ashes | 0-7860-1089-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Betrayal In The Ashes | 0-8217-5265-0 | $4.99US/$6.50CAN |
| __Chaos In The Ashes | 0-7860-0341-3 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Slaughter In The Ashes | 0-7860-0380-4 | $5.99US/$6.50CAN |
| __Judgment In The Ashes | 0-7860-0438-X | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Ambush In The Ashes | 0-7860-0481-9 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Triumph In The Ashes | 0-7860-0581-5 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Hatred In The Ashes | 0-7860-0616-1 | $5.99US/$7.50CAN |
| __Standoff In The Ashes | 0-7860-1015-0 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Crises In The Ashes | 0-7860-1053-3 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Tyranny In The Ashes | 0-7860-1146-7 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Warriors From The Ashes | 0-7860-1190-4 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Destiny In The Ashes | 0-7860-1332-X | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
| __Enemy In The Ashes | 0-7860-1333-8 | $5.99US/$7.99CAN |
Available Wherever Books Are Sold!
Â
Visit our website at
www.kensingtonbooks.com
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Other books
Spook Lights: Southern Gothic Horror by Eden Royce
The Portal (Novella) by S.E. Gilchrist
Disgraced by Gwen Florio
Rotten to the Core by Kelleher, Casey
Quiet Neighbors by Catriona McPherson
On the Ropes: A Duffy Dombrowski Mystery by Tom Schreck
Best Gay Erotica 2015 by Rob Rosen
I'm Not Gonna Lie by George Lopez
Bear Down: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance by Terra Wolf, Alannah Blacke
Arcanum by Simon Morden, Simon Morden
