She’d been disappointed when shortly after they arrived at Wyatt’s ranch, Nash and Jericho had gone up into the mountains to mine gold like so many other men, lured by the prospect of getting rich.
They’d only lasted a year before they returned to South Park completely broke, hungry, and in need of work. When Nash had taken over running Flynn’s place while he’d gone east to track down Brody after the war ended, she made up excuses to visit Jericho and work alongside him.
But by that point, the camaraderie from their trip was long gone. Jericho considered himself too grown-up to associate with her. After he took the foreman job at Elkhorn Ranch shortly after Nash’s accident, he snubbed her even more.
As much as her attraction to him was still very much alive and well—even after all she’d done to forget about him—she had to keep those feelings cinched up and on a short rope. She’d already let him trample her heart once. And she couldn’t throw her love out there only to have him stomp all over it again.
Chapter
4
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Ivy called out as she entered through the front door of Wyatt’s house.
Jericho hesitated at the threshold. He wasn’t sure he’d be welcome among the McQuaids after riding off with Dylan the way he had without a word all this time. But even if they were upset with him for the silence, he owed them an update on their brother—at least as much of an update as he could afford without ruining his cover.
The front room was brightly lit and a hub of activity like it had always been whenever he’d visited. The log walls belonged to the original cabin Wyatt had built, which he’d added to over the years. A table took up the center of the room, the benches on either side filled with Wyatt’s family finishing a late supper.
How many children did Wyatt have now? Jericho counted three little heads. From the way Greta’s abdomen rounded out beneath her apron, he guessed another child would soon join the household. Greta’s sister, Astrid, was also at the table. A few years younger than Ivy, Astrid had become a good friend to her. Yet, it’d always been a sore spot of his that Ivy hadn’t made more female friends and instead gravitated toward the men.
From the end of the table, Wyatt’s eyes locked on him and filled with recognition. “Jericho Bliss.” Wyatt stood. “It’s been a long time.”
Jericho sized Wyatt up in an instant. The solidly built man not only had the same brown eyes as Ivy, but they shared the same dark hair color. Wyatt’s weathered face contained a thick layer of scruff that made him appear more mature. It fit him well. Thankfully, his expression contained only anticipation and not a hint of animosity.
“Wyatt.” Jericho reached out for a handshake. “Good to see you.”
Wyatt’s grip was firm but friendly. The oldest of the McQuaid brothers was even-tempered, which was why Jericho had decided to visit Wyatt first instead of Flynn. More like a father figure to the family, Flynn viewed life seriously and wouldn’t be as easy on him as Wyatt. Jericho couldn’t put off visiting Flynn for long, but he hoped to give his old friend a little time to get used to the idea he was here—without Dylan.
In no time, Jericho found himself seated at the big table with the family. Astrid insisted on Greta staying put and resting her feet while she went to the big kitchen in the next room and dished Jericho up a plate of beef with vegetables and gravy. The rich roasted scent mixed with the aroma of freshly baked bread, and his mouth watered at the prospect of slathering his bread with some of Greta’s famous mountain-berry jam.
As he ate, Wyatt caught him up on the doings around the ranch, including the construction he’d begun on a new house and inn adjacent to the hot spring on his property. Apparently Greta had the idea of developing a resort for people who wanted to experience the fresh mountain air and the healing hot water of the spring. She planned to run the new business as well as continue to sell her wares.
Jericho didn’t see how Greta could possibly find the time or the energy for all her endeavors, not with her young ones underfoot. But she was a hard worker and a savvy businesswoman. In fact, all the McQuaid brothers had married smart women. Flynn had married Linnea, a botanist. And Brody had married Savannah, a veterinarian.
Jericho doubted Dylan would be as lucky, not with the type of women he spent time with. Dylan might have stopped his gambling, but he was still a heavy drinker and as wild as always.
“If you’re needing work,” Wyatt said, “I’m looking for a few more reliable fellas to help with the new building projects.”
Jericho nodded and scraped the last of the gravy from his plate. Maybe the temporary job would buy him time and give him more opportunities to investigate the newcomers to the community.
Wyatt held his youngest child—a boy named Ryder—on his knee and bounced him up and down. The infant slapped his hands on the table and grinned with glee, revealing a couple of tiny teeth. Jericho didn’t have enough experience with children to guess ages, but the baby had to be younger than two since Greta had given birth right before he and Dylan had left.
“Just until you find something steady,” Wyatt added. “Reckon you’ll be wanting a foreman position like before?”
“Actually, I’m considering getting my own ranch.” Jericho didn’t like having to lie, but he had no choice with the kind of criminals he hunted, especially his newest. Rodney James was too intelligent and always managed to stay one step ahead of the law. They’d only been able to trace him by linking his victims. He cut out their tongues the same way he’d done during the war. Jericho suspected he did it so that if anyone lived, they wouldn’t be able to talk about him.
Maybe now was the time to change the subject and update the family on Dylan. He’d sensed how eager they were to hear about their brother, and he was grateful they’d given him a chance to eat first.
Before Wyatt or Greta could ask him any more about his plans or his reasons for being in the high country, he pushed aside his plate. “Suppose you’d like to know how Dylan is doing.”
“Yep.” Wyatt stopped bouncing his baby. “Been praying for that kid a whole heap, and I’m hoping you’re bringing good news about him buckling down and getting back on the straight and narrow.”
Jericho could feel all eyes on him and suddenly noticed Ivy wasn’t in the room. Where had she gone off to? Just the thought of her competing in the riding and roping contests needled him with fresh guilt. Not only was he lying about himself, but now he was lying for her too.
He tucked away his guilt and said what he needed to. “Dylan’s got a job as a police constable in Chicago.”
“Police?” Wyatt and Greta asked the question at the same time.
“He’s doing real well for himself.” Except for the women and the drinking. Good thing Jericho was already an expert at rescuing and taking care of drunks. The Lord only knew how many times he’d had to step in and drag his dad home from saloons after his mom died.
“Why Chicago?” Wyatt persisted.
“I took him to my home—to my dad.” Even though Jericho had told himself he’d never return, he’d gone because he had every confidence Elijah Bliss would keep Dylan safe from Bat and his gang.