Mateo led them farther up a steep trail running along the east side of Bluff Spring Mountain to a wide flat that matched the description in King’s notes. As Gage paused to look at the map, Abby came up beside him.

“You think this is it?” she asked.

“Longitude and latitude are right.” He read from King’s notes. “Cross the ridge, go down past a large, pointed, isolated hill on the left-hand side, then up the first right-hand canyon, out onto a flat. Don’t mistake the canyon for the trail. The trail leads up the first long draw, then down into a canyon filled with sycamore trees.”

“I spotted a line of sycamores as we came up this last leg,” Kyle said.

“So we’re here.” Abby’s gaze ran over the barren landscape. “This is the place King found the Devil’s Gold.”

“I guess we’ll see.” The flat was near the top of the mountain, yet protected by jagged bluffs on one side and vertical canyon walls on the other.

“I saw human signs,” Mateo said, his black eyes following Gage’s. “Very old. I think this place was used by people many years ago.”

Gage nodded. “There’s evidence the Mexicans kept horses and mules somewhere in the mountains to transport the gold they took out of the mine. The animals needed to be guarded, so there were men stationed here.”

According to King’s notes, there was a spring near the cottonwoods that could be used to water the animals in times of drought, and if the weather turned bad, the animals could be sheltered in the steep surrounding canyons.

Abby glanced around. “The mountains here form a natural stronghold.”

Gage followed her gaze. “With guards posted on the top, it would be the perfect place to defend against the Apaches.”

“Sí,” Mateo agreed. “I found old charcoal beds nearby.”

Abby turned to Gage. “They could have had a smelter up here,” she said, excitement in her voice.

“If this is where the Peralta mine was located,” Gage said, “they could have melted the gold into ingots before they were transported out of the mountains.”

“We need to go over King’s notes again,” Abby said.

Gage nodded. “Let’s get camp set up, study the maps, and go over the notes. We can take a quick look around before it gets dark, then start searching first thing in the morning.”

Abby grinned. “It’s here. I know it.”

Gage smiled, her enthusiasm contagious. And the way she looked at him, as if he were some kind of hero for bringing her here . . . Gage felt a tightness in his chest.

He thought about what had happened at the pool. The next time they were together, he’d make sure it wasn’t some hurried affair. Abby deserved better, and he wanted to give it to her.

Even more, he wanted to give her the Devil’s Gold.

* * *