The ominous words stayed with Abby as she climbed into the Ford Explorer.

The engine started, and Gage pulled onto the road. “You heard what the man said. Lots of people go in and never come out. It’s not too late for you to change your mind.”

Abby just laughed. “Not on your life. I didn’t come all this way to turn around and go home.”

Gage shook his head, but she caught his smile.

“It was worth a try.” He increased his speed, pushing the Explorer faster down Apache Trail toward the ranch. “Mateo is also digging around today. We’ll talk after supper, make our final plans. If everything falls in line, we’ll head into the mountains first thing tomorrow morning.”

A thrill shot through her. Her dreams of adventure and finding treasure were getting closer.

Then she thought of the ruthless men they had left in Denver. Could their attackers have followed them?

Just how far would they be willing to go to find the Devil’s Gold?

* * *

There was a new car in the parking lot when they arrived at the ranch, a white Chevy Suburban with Arizona rental plates. Walt was showing the latest guests, two men in jeans and bill caps, to the cabin formerly occupied by the middle-aged couple celebrating their anniversary.

When it was time for supper, Gage walked Abby to the ranch house, but the men weren’t among the group seated at the long wooden dining table.

“I don’t see the new arrivals,” Abby said to him as he sat down beside her, their plates overflowing with baked potatoes and rib-eye steaks cooked outside on the grill. “You don’t think they could have come from Denver and followed us down here?”

Gage sliced into his meat, cooked nice and rare. “It wouldn’t be easy to track us, but it’s possible.”

“I didn’t get a good look at them when we pulled in, but even if I had, I don’t think I’d be able to recognize them as the men from Denver.”

“I talked to Walt. He said they came up from Phoenix. Since they’re driving a rental, that probably means they flew into Sky Harbor.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“I know what you mean.” He swallowed another tender bite of steak. “We’ll keep an eye on them, at least until we leave.”

They finished their meat and potatoes, and a piece of Mae’s chocolate cake for dessert. Afterward, Gage walked Abby to his cabin, and Mateo joined them there.