Ordeal of the Mountain Man by William W. Johnstone

Smoke’s voice. “The lady is waiting for an apology.”
    â€œNo—” sputter-wheeze—“way I’ll do that.”
    â€œYou want more, then?”
    For the first time, Brandon’s belligerence broke. He winced and cringed away from Smoke’s intimidation. “No. No, man. But I ain’t gonna apologize.”
    Smoke took Brandon’s nose between his left index and middle finger and squeezed. With a good yank, he brought the lout along with him to where Virginia Parkins stood, hands over her eyes. Smoke tipped his hat and spoke politely.
    â€œMa’am, this pitiful piece of human garbage has something to say to you.”
    â€œNo, I ...” Smoke squeezed the nose. “Eeeh—eeeh! Yes-yes. I’m sure sorry we busted up your stuff, Miz Parkins.”
    â€œAnd you will pay for their replacement, right?”
    Another tweak of the nose. “Yes. Yes, I will.”
    â€œDig it out, then.”
    Brandon Kelso fought back tears as he reached into his pocket. He brought out a fistful of coins. Smoke looked up at Virginia Parkins and then cut his eyes to her ruined purchases. “How much did this cost you, ma’am?”
    She told him, and Smoke plucked the proper amount from Brandon’s open hand. He handed it to Ginny, then turned Brandon by his nose and planted a boot across the junior thug’s buttocks and sent him on his way. He returned to the boardwalk and looked up to see the mayor standing, openmouthed, staring at him. Smoke reached out his hand.
    â€œWell, Mr. Mayor, I think I’ll take that badge you offered. Looks like you have a need here, right enough.”
    â€œThank you, Mr. Jensen, thank you from the bottom of my heart. But—what about your herd.”
    Smoke Jensen looked beyond the mayor to see his top hand standing there grinning. “Jerry, you take the herd on for a few days. I’ll catch up before the end of the week.”
    â€œRight, boss. Say, you do good work, Smoke.”
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    Mayor Norton led the way to the sheriffs office and jail. There he showed Smoke around and further explained the situation in Muddy Gap. In particular he apprised Smoke of the names of the local boys he had taken down a notch minutes earlier. While they talked, Boyne Kelso stormed into the room. Fury exploded out of him.
    â€œMayor, I demand that the man who beat up my son and robbed him be arrested at once.” He cut his eyes from Norton to Smoke, noted the badge and jabbed a long finger at him. “Well? What are you waiting for? If you’re the new lawman I’ve heard about, you had better start earning your keep. I want that saddle bum arrested and jailed.”
    Smoke provided him a sarcastic grin. ’I’m afraid that is impossible. You see, I’m that ‘saddle bum.’ ”
    Kelso’s jaw sagged a moment, then he regained his self-righteous outrage. “Lester, I can’t believe you’ve hired a thief to replace Sheriff Hutchins.”
    â€œI haven’t,” Mayor Norton told him blandly. “This is Smoke Jensen. He is a former deputy U.S. marshal. And your boy was tormenting Miss Ginny.”
    â€œI don’t believe it. Brandon is a good boy. He would never do such a thing.”
    Smoke took it up. “You had better believe it, Mr. Kelso. He and two other oafs assaulted the schoolteacher, took her packages from her and destroyed the contents. When your brat made to strike her, I intervened. The money I took was to replace what they had destroyed.”
    Indignation filled Kelso. “You can’t do this. I’m Boyne Kelso. And, my son is ... my son.”
    Smoke’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Are you implying that you, too, assault women and ravage their property?”
    Astounded, Kelso’s mouth worked for a second before he could find words. “What impudence. I’m warning you . . .”
    Smoke moved like a striking rattler. He crossed