She closed her eyes, her body singing, her heart racing. “I’ll go anywhere and do anything so I can be with you, Jericho. Even if that means I have to travel to the ends of the earth.”

He paused then and broke away, holding her at arm’s length, his eyes turning suddenly serious.

Her heartbeat stuttered. Were they gonna have this conversation already? Him telling her she couldn’t live in Chicago because she wouldn’t be safe? She jutted her chin. “I’m going with you this time. Ain’t no way you’re leaving me behind.”

“I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not leaving you behind.”

Her defenses rapidly crumbled. “You’re not?”

“I’m staying here. Pinkerton needs another agent in Colorado to do ongoing detective work. And they want someone to help protect the transport of money and gold between the mining towns and Denver.”

“Really and truly?”

“Really and truly.”

“Speaking of gold.” He lifted a hand into her hair, plunging it in as though he’d been waiting a long while to do it. “Finally got confirmation that the gold we found in the cave on Windy Peak had been stolen by the Kingston Gang from the Old Boston Mine up by Leadville.”

“I’m getting along just fine without gold—thanks to you.”

“Think you could handle taking a reward?” He dug his fingers into her hair deeper. “The mine owner’s offering us a hefty sum for returning the gold.”

She could certainly use it to get more sheep, add fencing, buy a wagon, and Lord knew what else. But there was only one thing she wanted—the thing that mattered most. “The reward’s ours to split evenly. I know exactly what I’d like to use my half for.”

As she told him, Jericho’s gaze softened, and he nodded. “That’s a fine idea. We’ll use the whole reward for that if we have to.”

She couldn’t contain her smile. It felt like it would bust her right open. Jericho’s grin slid up too, making him so fine looking that she wanted to throw her arms around him and kiss him senseless.

As she tried to lift her arms, his lasso stopped her. “You ever gonna let me loose?” She glanced pointedly at the rope.

“Only after you let me put my ring on your finger.” He glanced pointedly at the ring he still held in his hand.

“So you’re planning to keep me tied up until our wedding day?”

“I’m planning to use this rope to drag you to the preacher tonight.”

Her heartbeat turned over itself in a wild tumble. “Tonight?”

He tugged at the rope, and she toppled against him—right where she wanted to be. “You got a problem with me marrying you tonight?” His voice rumbled low and did crazy things to her insides.

“Reckon I can oblige you.”