A Colorado Christmas by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone [Johnstone, William W.; Johnstone, J.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

Like a monster crawling out of its cave, the storm continued making its way down the mountains from the north, drawing ever nearer to the Colorado valley that was home to the Sugarloaf Ranch and the town of Big Rock. As darkness settled over the landscape, the snow began falling a little heavier and the wind picked up. The temperature slid down a few more degrees. It was already below freezing, and skin didn’t have to be exposed for very long for frostbite to be a danger.

The people inside the ranch house didn’t have to worry about that. Between the fireplace in the main room and the big stove in the kitchen, the place was toasty warm and comfortable.

The same was true out in the bunkhouse, where Pearlie and Cal had retreated with the other hands after supper in the house, which had been the usual boisterous meal around the long table. Not even the continuing animosity between Preacher and Eagle-Eye had spoiled the mood of the Sugarloaf cowboys, who were in high spirits because Christmas was fast approaching. Smoke kept only a skeleton crew on hand during the winter, trusted men who had worked for him for quite a while. All of them got along well, so the jokes and the laughter flew back and forth rapidly.

Pearlie and Cal were conspicuously quiet about a certain subject—bear sign—since they didn’t want the other hands to know they had enjoyed a treat that afternoon. The other hands would be jealous if they found out. Sally’s bear sign provoked a passionate response in anybody who ever tried them.

After supper, as the others lingered over second cups of coffee, Ace said, “I reckon Chance and I ought to head out to the bunkhouse with the rest of the fellas—”

“Nonsense,” Sally said crisply. “We have plenty of room. Smoke and I built this house intending to have a big family someday, and until we do, guests are more than welcome. Besides, your name is Jensen. You should think of this as your home, whether you’re related by blood or not.”

“That’s mighty kind of you, Miss Sally,” Chance said. “We’ll try not to be in your hair for long.”

She shook her head. “You’re more than welcome. Anyway, with that storm blowing in—listen to the wind howl!—the weather may not be fit for traveling for several days. And it’s almost Christmas. No one wants to be alone for Christmas.”

“We’re really obliged to you, Miss Sally,” Ace told her. “You and Smoke make us feel like we’re home, that’s for sure. We never had much of one when we were little, you know. The man who raised us, Doc Monday, he moved around a lot and took us with him.”

“He was a gambler, you said?” asked Smoke.

“That’s right.”

“But he wasn’t your father?”

“No, sir. According to what Doc told us, our real pa was killed in the war.”

There was no need for Ace to specify which war he was talking about. The Late Unpleasantness was years in the past, but memories of it still cast a large shadow over the nation.

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