Colt didn’t figure the entire gang had left the area, but he didn’t mention his concerns to Promise. They left the sheriff ’s office and made a trip to the bank so Promise could deposit the bulk of her money. Colt sent Victoria another telegram to tell her he would be coming home soon. When the time came for Promise to say good-bye to her aunt and uncle, she was filled with mixed emotions. To keep from changing her mind, she focused on the reasons she was leaving. She’d seen what these men were capable of doing, and she couldn’t stay in Denver and risk her family being harmed. It was even more difficult since her aunt and uncle didn’t want her to leave, but Jake assured them he would bring her back in the spring. And she was sure he meant to keep his word. She didn’t know what made him change his mind about her going to Wyoming, but she had the feeling it had more to do with his concern over Victoria than actually wanting her there. She figured she would eventually learn to deal with his rebuff, but she couldn’t deal with her family being harmed.
