Jericho pulled Otis’s shirt taut and slit it at the hem, rending the linen until a long, loose strip formed. He cut it free, then dangled it in front of Otis. “I didn’t keep the gold from Windy Peak. I’m returning it to the mine owner the Kingston Gang stole it from.” Without waiting for a reply, Jericho wrapped the strip around Otis’s mouth.

The outlaw’s brows rose in surprise, whether from his news about the gold or the gagging, Jericho didn’t know or care. All he cared about was making sure he got to Chicago before the man somehow finagled his way free.

Jericho hadn’t returned the gold to its rightful owner yet. But he’d brought it into Fairplay and locked it away in a vault at the mayor’s house for safekeeping until all the inquiries were completed. Now that he knew the Kingston Gang had been involved, tracking down the original mine owner would be a little easier.

Sheathing his knife, he glanced down the street toward Steele’s house and envisioned the Independence Day celebration when he’d spoken to Wyatt at the dessert table and Wyatt had recognized how much Jericho loved Ivy even before he’d been willing to admit it.

“You love her. Reckon every cowhand this side of the Divide knows it but you. Best you work through whatever’s holding you back before you end up losing her.”

A sharp pain twisted at Jericho’s heart. He hadn’t been able to stop himself from going out to Healing Springs Ranch yesterday to check on Ivy and see her one last time.

As he’d ridden across the yard, Flynn had stepped out the front door of Brody’s house. When Jericho started to dismount, Flynn shot right in front of his horse. The second Jericho’s feet touched the ground, a bullet nearly pierced his boot.

“Go on, hightail it outta here!” Flynn wore his hat brim low but couldn’t disguise the fierce love and loyalty in his eyes and tightening his features. “And don’t come back.”

Jericho returned to his saddle. “Just came to say good-bye to Ivy—”

“She ain’t gonna say good-bye to you.” Flynn aimed his revolver at Jericho with an unswerving hand.

Heaviness had fallen over Jericho as he’d taken in Flynn standing on the porch threatening to kill him. He never would have thought it possible six years ago when they’d traveled west together. Never would have imagined it when he and Nash had taken over watching Flynn’s place back in ’65. Never would have predicted it when he’d left with Dylan two years ago.

But Jericho had gone and done what he said he’d never do. He’d fallen in love with Ivy. And in the process, he made an enemy out of the McQuaid men.