Jericho was half-tempted to break into Hance’s shop and poke around to see what he could find. But the urgency inside prodded him toward the livery and his horse. He didn’t like the idea of Ivy being alone with any men at this point, not until he whittled down his Rodney James suspect list.

Yet, he couldn’t just ride out and drag Ivy home. She’d put up a big fight and refuse to come with him. And he couldn’t offer to tag along with her, not after the way things had ended between them. It wouldn’t be fair to keep pushing himself into her life and giving her hope when there wasn’t any.

His sights shifted to the haze that had settled over the Kenosha Range. Billows of smoke rose into the air. Reports from those coming over Kenosha Pass all said the same thing, that the forest fires were burning in the Mount Evans area, that the flames hadn’t made their way down into the Kenosha Range. Ivy wasn’t in any danger. But the smoke seemed to be drifting farther south.

Maybe he could ride out with the excuse that he was checking on the direction of the fire to bring a report back for any stagecoaches and teamsters considering traveling up the Kenosha Pass. Hopefully Ivy wouldn’t see through his excuse and realize he’d followed her. Even if she did, he couldn’t restrain himself any longer. His muscles were tightening with each passing moment with the need to go after her.

Within the half hour, he was on his way northeast up into the Kenosha Range, his weapons loaded and canteen full. He’d been there often over the years and was familiar enough with the rock formations to guess approximately where Ivy was taking the men. It was a long trip, and he wasn’t taking any chances.

Still attired in his Sunday-meeting clothes, he rode at a punishing pace, sifting through the details he’d gathered about Hance and Otis. From all appearances and everything they’d said, they were just ordinary fellows trying to build successful businesses in the Fairplay community that Mayor Steele had worked hard to develop.

However, Jericho would use the opportunity today to spend time with them and hopefully discover more about their backgrounds and the treasure they were searching for—Spanish or otherwise.

By midday, as he traveled into the area known for its unique rock patterns, he found evidence of fresh tracks and horse droppings and guessed Ivy was headed to Windy Peak. He veered his mount in that direction, even though everything within him resisted the prospect of going to the area where his brother had died. He’d never been back, had promised himself he wouldn’t return.

But today the urgency to protect Ivy drove him. He had to make sure she was alright.