Page 69 of Falling for the Cowgirl
Even then, Hance kept the blade against Ivy’s throat. Thankfully, she’d stopped resisting, clearly sensing her life was at stake.
As the two men led him down toward Hance, Jericho’s mind whirled in a hundred directions. Hance was definitely not who he claimed to be, not if he had a team of men working with him. And not if he could so easily hurt Ivy.
In fact, his calculated brutality hinted at the emotional profile of someone like Rodney James, who had no value for life, who used people for his own gain, and who slayed the innocent in the blink of an eye.
And, of course, Hance fit the physical profile in nearly every way too.
If Hance was Rodney James, then Ivy was in real danger of losing her life. And Jericho couldn’t take any chances in angering the man. He just prayed Hance hadn’t figured out his true motive for being in South Park.
“Tie him up tighter.” Hance’s gaze connected with Jericho’s, and the coldness behind the spectacles told Jericho more than any words. Hance had been playing a part these past weeks, pretending to be a normal man with a normal past. But now on the mountaintop, where no one else was around, he’d stopped acting and was revealing his true nature.
No doubt about it. The man was Rodney James.
Jericho kept his own eyes and face from revealing anything except the emotions expected of a man in his situation—bravado and fear. The fear wasn’t all that hard to conjure, since he was terrified for Ivy.
Hance’s lips curved into a semblance of a smile, as though satisfied with seeing the distress. Most of the worst criminals seemed to thrive on fear, almost as if it sated their appetite. The more Jericho could feed the man’s lust for fear, perhaps the more he could throw him off guard.
“You can do anything to me, but please leave Ivy out of this.” Jericho’s words came out desperate without his having to try too hard.
Ivy’s eyes had widened, and her face was growing pale. He guessed his show of panic was only frightening her more. But if he could somehow get her away from Hance and the knife blade, he could work at freeing her.
“Tie her up,” Hance ordered the men.
As they moved to obey, Jericho guessed the two as well as Otis were a part of Rodney’s regiment during the war. No doubt they’d escaped to Texas, mustered there in one of the outlaw camps, and then come up to South Park together. Not to hide out and live here. But to search for this specific treasure, a treasure they obviously knew a great deal about.
Who had given them the information? Another band of outlaws? Perhaps even someone who’d been in the original group that had hidden the treasure in the first place? It was entirely plausible that Hance—Rodney—had gained knowledge about the treasure by killing and stealing for it.
Records indicated Rodney had been a brick mason before the war. When coming to Colorado, he’d probably settledon being a barber because the trade wasn’t all that hard to learn, especially if he’d given haircuts to other soldiers during the war.
Of course, it stood to reason that Hance had needed to stop in Denver to purchase supplies for his barbershop business. Somehow he’d gained the money he needed for equipment and transportation to South Park—likely through gambling or thieving.
Whatever the case, Hance wanted the gold, had been seeking it for months. And now that it was within his grasp, he’d do anything to get it.
As soon as Ivy’s hands were tied together, Hance pulled his knife away from her throat. But he kept her firmly within his grasp, the knife close enough that he could hurt her if Jericho made the smallest move to try to escape or defy him.
Hance still held Ivy’s gold nugget in his free hand. He examined it again, unable to hide his excitement. “Let’s go.” He prodded Ivy so hard that she nearly tripped.
Fury burned a trail through Jericho. He wanted to rip the fellow apart with his bare hands for hurting her and treating her with such disrespect. As ungodly as his attitude was, the anger festered inside him so that he was afraid of what he was capable of doing once he freed himself ... because he would free himself. He had no choice if he wanted to save Ivy.
The two men led him forward between them, while Hance followed behind with Ivy. Otis, as quiet as always—except for his coughing—took up the rear, his gun out and trained on Jericho.
“Take us directly there, Bliss,” Hance called out before erupting into a fit of coughing too. The smoke wasn’t nearlyas thick as it had been when they’d left the cave, but it was still irritating.
Jericho traversed the mountain back the way he and Ivy had come. As he headed toward the cave opening, he considered the possibility of leading them astray for a while longer and pretending he couldn’t find the gold. He’d buy himself more time, as well as tire and weaken them.
However, when they finally reached the cavern, he stopped. Dragging out the search was too risky. He couldn’t chance angering Hance and having him harm Ivy. “It’s in there.” He nodded toward the line of boulders that swiveled back and forth, forming the body of a snake.
Hance paused, his hold on Ivy’s arm unwavering.
Jericho glanced at her, hoping she would behave for as long as possible. He’d learned years ago that she was unpredictable—he never knew what to expect from her. And in this case, he needed her to cooperate.
She met his gaze and gave him an imperceptible nod, as if she was attempting to signal him.
He shook his head, warning her not to try anything. As the men shoved him forward, he had the terrible premonition that Ivy had a plan—a plan he wouldn’t approve of. He wanted to turn around and shout at her to let him take care of things in his way and his timing.
But all he could do was duck into the dark cave and pray he’d get them out of this trouble before she made things worse.
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