“I mean it. Stop. Or I’ll finish her off.” Otis swung the gun toward Ivy, aiming the barrel at her head. His hand shook with the effort, but his finger closed about the trigger and started to squeeze.

Jericho halted. “Don’t do it.”

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.”

“Because I’m the one who knows who you really are. Not her.”

“And who do you think I am?”

“You’re Rodney James.”

Otis shifted the gun back onto Jericho just as he’d hoped, confirming his suspicion.

At first Jericho had assumed Hance was the notorious outlaw, but the truth had fallen into place once they’d reached the cave.

Hance’s comment about having a wife had been a major clue, coupled with the realization that Hance had some skill in interacting with women—albeit mediocre skills. Otis, on the other hand, bumbled around anyone wearing a skirt. He was the type who would have remained a bachelor living with his grandmother well into old age.

Although the person in the photograph from the war hadn’t been hefty, it was possible Otis used the weight gain as part of his disguise. It had certainly rounded out his facial features and made him less recognizable.

And then, of course, there was the asthma. Otis had it in full force and was still wheezing even now. The fellow had learned how to survive over the past years by hiding in the shadows of other people. Namely Hance.

“Let me guess.” Otis studied Jericho’s face. “You’re a bounty hunter intent upon bringing me in for justice.”

Jericho had to put an end to his conversation with Otis and tend to Ivy. From what he could see of the knife wound, he had to get her back to Fairplay as soon as possible. She wasn’t bleeding profusely—which meant the knife hadn’t hit a major artery. Even so, she needed the care of a physician, and the trek down the mountain would be long and hard.

The trouble was, Otis had a loaded gun along with every reason to put a bullet in his head.

“The question I have”—Jericho had to distract the fellow—“is where you got the information that the treasure was here.”

The gun in Otis’s hand shook. The man was weak and short of breath. Jericho could take him down in an instant if he didn’t have to worry about Otis shooting Ivy. He still had his knife, but with his hands bound together, he might not be able to unsheathe it fast enough to stop Otis from doing damage.

Otis glanced at Hance’s prostrate form near Ivy. Jericho hadn’t wanted to kill any of the men, only wound them enough to disable them. He’d succeeded with the other two in knocking them out. But with Hance threatening Ivy’s life, he’d done what he needed to in order to protect her.