Page 1 of The Gold Rush Bride

CHAPTER1

January 1898 – St. Louis, Missouri

Knock!Knock! Knock!

Sadie Thompson stopped polishing the banister, the last of her morning chores, and pushed tendrils of red hair back toward the bun from which they escaped. She answered the door and saw, from the uniform the young man wore, he was a Western Union representative.

“Can I help you?”

The young man removed his hat and looked down at the telegram he held. “Miss Sadie Thompson?”

“Yes.”

“A telegram for you.” He handed her the envelope and then donned his hat.

She took the envelope. “Wait just a moment and I’ll get you your tip.” She went to the sofa in the living room where she’d left her reticule and got a nickel, then she returned to the door.

“Here you are.” She handed the coin to the man.

He tipped his hat. “Thank you, miss.”

Sadie closed the door and opened the envelope and read.

YOUR FATHER SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES SUSTAINED IN AN AVALANCHE – STOP – WILL BUY YOU OUT

BARNABY DRAKE

She dropped the telegram and slid down the door to the floor, while tears poured down her face. Dead? Her father was dead? “No!” she screamed. “No, it can’t be true.” These last words came out in a whisper.

Sadie didn’t know how long she stayed that way. She cried until she had no more tears to shed.

What will I do now?She had the house; as she’d inherited it from her grandmother. She’d helped her father raise Sadie when her mother died twenty-five years ago. But she’d been living on the money her father sent each month. Sadie was twenty-seven-years-old and had no appreciable skills to earn a living. Her grandmother taught her how to sew, but working as a seamstress or assistant wouldn’t pay enough for her bills. Besides, she didn’t want to rent it and be a landlord, but just the thought of living forever alone in this house that held so many memories didn’t appeal to her, either. The following day, she left early and went to her father’s best friend and man of business, Angus Murphy. He was a dear man, and her father had trusted him implicitly. He would know what her father’s finances were and if they’d struck gold. After all, why else would Mr. Drake want to buy her share of the claim?

She climbed the stairs to the third-floor offices of Jones and Murphy, Esq. Upon entering, she noticed the partners had updated the offices, and a new secretary sat at the desk.

“Good morning, is Mr. Murphy in?” Sadie asked the young, blond man.

“Yes, he is in his office. Please go right in.” He pointed at the door to the right of his desk. The door on the left was Mr. Jones’s.

Sadie walked into Mr. Murphy’s office.

He rose to greet her. His glasses perched on the end of his nose. He combed over silver hair trying, in vain, to cover his bald spot.

“Sadie, my dear, how are you? Please sit.” He pointed at one of the leather chairs in front of his desk.

As she sat, she took a deep breath to keep the tears at bay. “I’ve been better, sir. I received a telegram from a Mr. Barnaby Drake, and I’m here to find out what it means.”

“Ah, yes, the telegram. I received one as well. I’m sorry to say it means exactly what it said. An avalanche killed your father. Mr. Drake is...was...your father’s partner and wants to buy his share from you.”

“Had they hit gold yet? Father sent me money every month, so they must have hit something.”

Mr. Murphy shook his head. “I wish I could report that they had, but no, mostly they mined just enough for the three of you to live on.”

“Thank you, Mr. Murphy. I really appreciate all you’ve done.”

“It’s my pleasure, Sadie. I only wish I could do more.”

Sadie thanked him again. She’d hoped the telegram was a mistake, but it wasn’t, and she left the office with a heavier heart, knowing it was true. She was now alone in the world, and she wasn’t sure what to do. Tears followed a trail down her cheek as she raised her hand and waved it, calling for the Hansom cab.