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At first he packed all of his family’s belongings into a single wagon, leaving three wagons for the goods they planned to sell in Montana. Then he struck on the idea of spreading the goods among all the wagons and packing the things the family would need most in the rear of all four wagons. “No. I don’t think so,” he said, his distraction obvious. “I figured they served with you. Said they knew you.”
    Caleb tried to keep his voice even. “What were they like? None of them were familiar to you?”
    â€œHmm?” Rutledge climbed into the wagon, a new logic no doubt upon him when he turned to face Caleb. “Oh, yes. Big fellows. You know, soldiers.” He clambered farther into the wagon, then stopped as if a new thought occurred to him. “One of them was different.”
    â€œDifferent in what way?”
    Rutledge thought a moment, stroking his white beard. “He looked a bit of a dandy, really. One of those fellows who spends a lot of time in saloons. Not like the others at all.”
    Harrison. Caleb had avoided town. Too many people there. Too many chances to be recognized. Damned talkative Rut-ledge. Caleb wanted to take a whip to him, an idea that never would have occurred to him before the war. Things had changed between them. Or maybe the world was changing. A rich man was out of his element here. Caleb still worked for Rutledge, but the differences between them weren’t as great as they’d been. The differences would be even less once they reached Montana. Caleb would be the rich man, and the likes of Rut-ledge would fall over themselves to win his favor. Caleb needed to get there quickly. He saw that now.
    â€œI wish we were gone already.” He drew a drink from the water bucket tied to the side of the wagon. “We’ve been talking about this for days, and nothing seems to get done.”
    The placating tone in the rich man’s voice proved just how much things had changed. Instead of issuing commands, Rut-ledge pleaded. “You were the one who told me we had to wait until spring to make sure the grass would be high enough to sustain the stock.”
    â€œBut May’s almost gone and we’re still waiting. Other companies are headed out. If we don’t hurry, all the sweet grass will be gone when we get out there.”
    â€œWe had to organize. You know a larger party will be safer.”
    â€œI just don’t like waiting.”
    â€œI don’t either, Caleb.” Rutledge jumped down from the wagon, landing awkwardly but keeping his footing. He sprang up with a smile. “They say ‘discretion is the better part of valor,’ my boy.”
    Caleb looked at him, his forehead crinkled in thought. This man has no business heading to Montana. “I don’t know what that means, Mr. Rutledge.”
    Rutledge chuckled. “It means don’t let the gold fever get to you,” he said, patting Caleb on the shoulder.
    Caleb bit back a response. If I can just get to Montana, men like Rutledge will no longer talk down to me. He imagined again what that would be like. Rutledge speaking to him as a gentleman. Even his pretty daughter would have to look at him differently. Annabelle never let Caleb forget his place when he worked for her husband. It pleased him to picture her reaction when he was the richest man in Virginia City. He had to live long enough to see it, and Rutledge was right. There was safety in numbers.
    â€œI guess that’s what I’ve got,” Caleb said, forcing a smile. “Gold fever.”

C HAPTER N INE
    Of the three men lined up before him, Josey focused on the one called Harrison. The other two would follow his lead. Harrison spoke like they were familiar, but Josey had no memory of him. This wasn’t the first time he had come across men eager to prove themselves against a myth and war stories. He had gone west hoping to put it behind him.
    As soon as Harrison took the