The Mother Lode — Gary Franklin

Mountain man Joe Moss continues his quest to find the woman he loves and the child she bore him. In Carson City, he downs a record four bottles of whiskey, gets roaring drunk, and scalps two would-be robbers while they're still alive. Luckily, an outcast Mormon woman Joe befriended aids his jailbreak before a lynch mob insists on his attendance at their necktie party.
 
Joe locates his beloved Fiona's father, Brendan McCarthy -- a man he hates more than anyone alive -- who tells him Fiona has killed a prominent mine owner and has a bounty on her head. Like it or not, the rotgut-ravaged Brendan may be the only one who can help Joe find his family. And that will require Joe to do the hardest thing of all -- remain on his best behavior.