Page 81 of Falling for the Cowgirl
She plucked at the coverlet. “I’d be obliged if someone could let Jericho know I’m doing fine.”
The room fell silent. Even Hartley went quiet, as though he sensed a sudden tension in the air.
“He’ll wanna come out and visit now that I don’t have one foot in the grave.”
Flynn and Brody stared at the coverlet as though it had suddenly turned into a mighty fine work of art. Savannah picked up Hartley, settled him on her hip, and then combed her fingers through the baby’s fuzzy hair.
What weren’t they telling her? “C’mon now. Might as well spit it out.”
Flynn cleared his throat but didn’t look up.
Savannah glanced from one man to the other before shaking her head and meeting Ivy’s gaze. Her gentle blue eyes were filled with a sympathy that sent Ivy’s pulse into a free fall.
“What happened?”
“He left earlier in the week.”
Left. Ivy’s mind spun to remember all the little things she’d picked up during her times of coherency. Someone had claimed Jericho was hunting down outlaws, that Otis was a criminal. If that was true, then of course he’d be gone. He had to take Otis—and the others who’d been in the cave—to prison, probably in Denver.
“Makes sense.” She tried for an attitude of nonchalance, not wanting anyone to realize just how much she missed him. “Got any idea when he’s coming back? If he’s been gone all week, it oughta be real soon.”
Flynn and Brody still didn’t meet her gaze.
“He didn’t say anything about when he’s returning.” Savannah’s comment held a note of pity that set Ivy on edge even more.
Hadn’t she overheard Brody and Flynn talking about shooting at Jericho? Had they kept Jericho away? Preventedthem from being together? Her muscles tensed. “He came to see me, didn’t he?”
When no one responded, she had the answer she needed. “Land sakes, Flynn! Thought I was dreaming, but I wasn’t hearing things after all. You really did shoot at Jericho, didn’t you?”
Flynn finally lifted his chin, and his eyes flashed with obstinacy. “I was making a point, plain and simple.”
“And what point was that?” Ivy’s ire was rising, but she didn’t care.
“That I don’t want him getting within a hundred miles of you, or next time I’ll blast him to pieces.”
“Flynn!” Ivy pushed up to her knees. “You had no right to interfere.”
Flynn’s expression remained stubborn, and she guessed she wouldn’t get him to change his mind about anything.
Brody hadn’t taken his gaze from the coverlet. Savannah was making her escape with Hartley, closing the door behind her.
“Brody?” Ivy asked. “You have any part in this?”
Brody bent forward, braced his elbows on his knees. His eyes were dark and serious. “He’s a bounty hunter, Ivy.”
She shrugged. In the cave, she’d guessed he had some kind of job hunting criminals. And it didn’t matter.
“He’s involved with the most dangerous outlaws alive.” Brody seemed to be pleading with her, as though he hoped to make her understand why they didn’t want her to be with Jericho. “He was here undercover, tracking down one of the worst war criminals, a man by the name of Rodney James.”
Ivy sensed where Brody was going with the conversation before he finished, and her stomach knotted. “Otis.”
“Yep.”
“But Otis didn’t seem like a bad fella. Not like Hance.” She shuddered as she remembered the way he’d gone after her and hurt her so easily.
Brody’s mouth took on a pinched quality. “Can’t even begin to describe the crimes Rodney James committed. The details are too tragic to repeat.”
If Jericho was with so dangerous a criminal, would he be safe? It was hard to imagine Otis being able to harm Jericho. But that didn’t mean Otis’s fellow outlaws wouldn’t attempt to come to his rescue.
