Page 28 of The Gold Rush Bride

“We’ll stop and give Kitty the key, then eat breakfast and go get the mattresses you want. They will make a great deal of difference come winter when the snow is so deep that even near the river it comes up to my knees. Wood is harder to get then because the snow is so deep. Dragging a log through the deep snow is very difficult. With that in mind, I’ll be taking time now to cut some trees and chop them for firewood this winter. That’s what the extra tarp is for. John bought it instead of a tent, just for that purpose. Thanks to your father, we came as prepared as we could get. He thought of almost everything.”

Everything except getting buried in an avalanche and leaving me alone. Oh, Daddy. I miss you.

They stopped at the front desk where Kitty stood. She had a big smile on her face. “So, what did you two think of my honeymoon suite?”

“It’s beautiful, Kitty. Thank you for giving it to us.” The woman had been extremely kind since Barnaby had only asked for a room.

“I wanted to know if any couples we get would be interested in renting a suite instead of a room.”

Sadie nodded. “I think any woman would love it, and to be pampered with the bath that was wonderful, too.”

Kitty frowned. “The bath was extra. I hope you know that.”

Sadie shook her head and waved a hand in front of her. “Of course. I’m just saying how nice it was. You should ask everyone if they would like to add a bath. I’m sure you’d sell more. Especially here, considering what the weather is like outside.”

Putting an index finger to her chin, Kitty nodded. “You’re right, but I can’t do that for every room. I don’t have enough tubs or buckets for the water. Not to mention, the stove can only handle four buckets at a time.”

“What do we owe you for the night?” asked Barnaby.

“Nine dollars. Five for the room and two each for the baths,” replied Kitty. “I’m giving you a discount, since you were my guinea pigs.”

“Cheap at twice the price.” Sadie opened her reticule and pulled out a ten-dollar bill.

Kitty gave her back a dollar. “I hope you’ll come again.”

“Definitely.” Barnaby placed an arm around Sadie’s shoulders. “The next time we come to town, hopefully we’ll get the same room.” He winked at Sadie. “It has a special meaning for us.”

Sadie’s face heated. She wouldn’t have been surprised if she were as red as a ripe apple.

Barnaby laughed and steered her away from the desk before Kitty could comment. He walked them to the restaurant next door for breakfast.

After a filling breakfast of oatmeal, toasted bread with Saskatoon jam and coffee, Barnaby pointed toward the door.

“Let’s get the mattresses and get back to camp.”

“I’m ready.” She put her napkin on the table and stood, stepping away from the table and waiting to feel Barnaby’s hand on the back of her waist. Today, though, he took her hand and walked in front of her.

She wasn’t sure what to make of his change. Was it because they’d made love? There had to be more to it than that. And if she found herself expecting would he change his mind about children? What then? With nothing to do about it, would he accept the baby and her, or would he reject them both?

* * *

Sadie felton top of the world. Barnaby made love to her and had taken great care of her since she was a virgin. Though reaching twenty-seven-years-old and still being a virgin, was something she hadn’t thought possible. She had always expected she’d be married and with children by now.

Maybe her father had sheltered her too much before he went prospecting for gold, leaving her alone. But, even then, she hadn’t had any serious suitors. She was neither shy nor submissive, and most men hadn’t liked that.

She was more than willing to put in a full day’s work beside Barnaby in the river. Even he’d had to admit she was meticulous about panning for gold. She kept even the smallest flake, and he had to admit her flakes and small nuggets were adding up. Their bag of gold was becoming heavier and heavier. He’d told her he wanted to get it weighed when they were in Dawson City, but he decided against it. He’d seen no need to let anyone know how much they had. Claim jumpers were already causing them enough trouble up and down the river, with Homer Grimes being the worst of them. According to Barnaby, if it wasn’t nailed down, Grimes would steal it.

When they arrived back at the claim, Barnaby took her arm and stopped her from entering the tent. Then he put a finger over his lips. He pointed down, and she saw strange footprints around the tent and going in and out of it.Claim jumpers.

He pulled his pistol and then opened the tent flaps. “It’s clear.” He holstered his gun.

They took stock of their belongings.

“They took a bucket, a blanket, and the rest of our crystalized eggs. They might have taken some sugar and flour, but I’m not sure. Thankfully, we had all the guns with us. It doesn’t look like they took any ammunition because the footlockers are undisturbed.” Sadie sat on her cot. “Why can’t these men just leave us alone? We haven’t done anything to them.”

Barnaby sat next to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Because they have gold fever, but not the drive to do it themselves. It doesn’t matter to them they’re taking what isn’t theirs. I suspect they go from claim to claim taking things because they’ve run out. Undoubtedly because they managed them poorly and didn’t have the money to replace them. They thought they could just pick up gold nuggets off the land. When they found out that wasn’t the case, they turned to claim jumping, looking for one that’s paying out. Now, let’s get those mattresses off the sled, feed Lucky and get in some time panning.”

“Okay.”