The problem was, the mountaintop looked the same from every direction, and she was starting to wonder if she was going in circles.

“This is the second time we’ve passed this location,” Jericho said.

“I left them here somewhere.”

“I’m sure they made it down.”

She fisted her hands onto her hips and tried to see through the heavy smoke to the mountainside below. But as far as she could make out, the area was deserted.

Jericho climbed down behind her. When he hopped onto the rock beside her, she could feel the power of his presence and wanted to sink against him and into his arms. As much as she longed to revel in his nearness, she clasped her hands together to keep from reaching for him. She’d already made up her mind that if he wanted to have a relationship with her, he’d do it of his own free will or not at all. That was her resolve, and she had to stick to it.

“Once we find them, I’m gonna feel bad not telling them about the treasure.” She pulled the gold from her pocket and admired it again. Even with the haze obscuring the sky, the rock sparkled in the daylight. It was stunning, and she couldn’t keep it in her pocket despite Jericho’s warning that he’d take it from her if she didn’t leave it tucked out of sight.

“Put it away.”

“Make me.”

He reached for it with a growl, but she leapt to the boulder beneath them and smirked over her shoulder, hoping he’d read her challenge to come and get her . . . if he could.

His eyes took on a glint, one that made her blood race with delight, anticipation, and desire all mingled together. When he began to chase her, she was half tempted to cheat and go slow, just so he could catch her. But she was too competitive to allow him to win that easily. If he wanted her, he was gonna have to capture her fair and square.

She descended several more paces before glancing at him over her shoulder. He was still in pursuit. She released a breathless laugh and started forward only to smack into someone. The hard jolt threw her off-balance.

Fingers bit through her sleeve, pinching her arm hard, but the grip steadied her and kept her from toppling.

As she tilted up her hat, she took in Hance’s long, lean form. Relief washed through her like a flooded creek in a narrow gully. “Oh, Hance. Thank the Lord Almighty you’re alright. We’ve been searching for you. Where’s Otis?”

She glanced beyond him to find Otis standing with two other fellas a dozen paces away. In their stained trousers and scraggly shirts, the newcomers looked familiar. Had she competed against them in a cowhand contest? Or were they miners who’d come to town from time to time?