A Rocky Mountain Christmas by William W. Johnstone Read Free Book Online

head.”
    “Great,” Luke said. “I was prepared to sell for thirty-five dollars a head. The five-dollar increase paid for shipping them over here.”
    “Well, then,” Heckemeyer said with a broad smile. “We will both be happy, and you will be sure to tell others of the wonderful service provided you by Heckemeyer and Sons.”
    “Yes sir. I’ll be glad to do that, Mr. Heckemeyer.”
    Luke signed the bill of sale, then left the office. Twenty thousand dollars was the most money he’d ever had, and he went on a short shopping spree, buying a new shirt, a pair of boots, and a rain slicker. After that he stopped by the saloon to have a celebratory drink before heading back to Two Crowns.
    “Did you get your cows sold?” the bartender asked as he poured a shot of whiskey into Luke’s glass.
    “I did indeed. And a good price I got for them too,” Luke replied. “Set the bar up for one round. This has been a most productive and profitable trip for me.”
    “One free drink to everyone,” the bartender called. “Compliments of this gentleman.”
    With shouts of thanks, the other patrons in the saloon rushed to the bar as Luke saluted them with a raised glass.
    In another part of the same saloon two men exchanged glances, then left the saloon.
    “You think he’ll have the money with him?”
    “He just bought drinks all around, didn’t he? Where else would the money be, if not on him?”
    “Yeah, you’re right. Where else would it be?”
    “So, what do we do, now?”
    “Let’s get our horses. We’ll watch the front of the saloon, and when he leaves, we’ll follow.”

    Half an hour later, after exchanging good-byes with the new friends he had made, Luke left the saloon, mounted his horse, and started home.
    “Tell me, Harry,” he said, patting his horse on the neck. “How does it feel to be ridden by a rich man?”
    Harry whickered and nodded his head.
    Luke laughed. “All right, Harry, all right. I’m not really what you would call rich. But I’ll have you know I am carrying more money than I have ever held in my hands in my entire life.”

C HAPTER S IX
    “Here he comes,” muttered one of the two men waiting for Luke.
    “Let’s go,” the other instructed.
    “Shouldn’t we wait until he passes, then follow?”
    “No, we’ll ride ahead of him. That way he won’t suspect anything, and we can set up and wait for him.”
     
     
    Shortly after leaving town, Luke noticed the two horsemen on the road ahead of him. Acutely aware of his environment because of the money he was carrying, he decided not to overtake them, but to keep them in sight. That worked well for the first fifteen minutes, and when he reached the top of the next rise he expected to see them still on the road just ahead.
    They weren’t there, and despite a very careful perusal, they were nowhere to be seen. Where did they go? There were no buildings to have entered nor crossroads to have taken, so what happened to them? He found it rather troubling that he could no longer see them.
    Pulling his pistol, Luke checked the loads in the cylinder chambers, and satisfying himself that he was ready for any contingency, returned the gun to the holster. Shifting his eyes back and forth from one side of the trail to the other he rode ahead. Suddenly, through a break in the trees, he caught a glimpse of two mounted men waiting just off the side of the road. Drawing his pistol again, he cocked it and held it straight down by his side. Thus armed and alert, he continued forward.
    When the two riders thrust themselves in the road in front of him, Luke was ready for them. Both men were wearing hoods over their faces, only their eyes visible through the eyeholes.
    “Throw down your money!” one shouted.
    “The hell I will!” Luke called back, bringing up his arm and firing in the same motion.
    A little puff of dust flew up from the man where the bullet hit. A red spot appeared there as well, and the man who had challenged him fell from his