Page 33 of The Gold Rush Bride

“Shh. I made you some willow bark tea.”

Sadie took the cup of tea and drank as though she hadn’t had a drink in years. The tea was cool and eased the dryness in her mouth and throat. She looked up at Barnaby and smiled. “Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this bad. Did you find Grimes?”

Barnaby’s mouth set in a firm line, and he shook his head. “No. His tent was empty and the miners on either side claimed not to have seen him today. That might be true. He might have a camp in the trees so he could watch us. It wasn’t by accident that he found you alone. He’s been watching, waiting for me to leave. And he’s cleverer than I thought. I lost his tracks when they entered the river.”

“If I’d had time to think about it, I would agree. He came up behind me, not from either side.”

Barnaby nodded. “That makes sense. He is likely behind us somewhere in the forest. But it’s too big for me to search. I’ll have to wait and keep an eye out when we go to Dawson City. He’ll go there. He’ll have to, eventually, since he’s been shot.”

Sadie finished the tea and handed the cup to Barnaby. “I think I feel better, and I’d like to get up and sit at the table. This is warm and cozy, but I’d rather sit with you.”

He smiled. “I’d like that. Dinner is almost done. I’ve fried up a couple of venison steaks.” He moved back to the stove and turned over the steaks.

“What’s venison? I thought you were after deer.”

“A deer is the animal. After it’s been butchered, the meat is called venison. It’s the same with an elk.”

“Do they taste the same?”

“They are similar, but there are differences. In my experience, elk venison is a milder meat. Deer venison has a little, very little, stronger flavor. But you’ll like this, anyway.” He waggled his eyebrows and then took the skillet off the stove.

She walked over to the table. The place settings were already down. Two metal plates, metal cups and, of course, the utensils. Metal was sturdier. It didn’t break. You could heat food directly in it with no pan.

Barnaby put a steak on her plate and two on his. He had half a loaf of sourdough bread on the table, too.

Sadie cut off a bite of the steak and put it in her mouth. Uncertain about the intended taste, the flavor proved quite mild. “This is good. I like it.” She reached for the bread, just as Barnaby did.

He laughed. “After you. Might not be any left once I get hold of it.”

She shook her head and with a laugh tore off a chunk. “Is this the last loaf?”

“It is. Looks like tomorrow, if you’re feeling up to it, will be a baking day.”

“I’ll be fine. I just need some more rest, and I’ll be right as rain.” Suddenly, a thought struck her. “What month is this?”

He closed his eyes and furrowed his brows. “It’s late August. You arrived at the end of March. Why?”

Five months! I haven’t had my menses in three months. May was the last one. I think we first made love the middle of June. I’m pregnant. Two-and-a-half months pregnant. I knew it could happen, but didn’t think it would be so soon. I’d hoped I’d be able to get Barnaby to warm to the idea. Now, he still doesn’t want children, but this situation is as much his fault as mine. We’ll have to figure it out together...as soon as I get the nerve to tell him.“No reason. I just couldn’t remember. When does the first snow come?”

“Mid-September, usually. Is there a particular reason you’re interested in the first snow of the season?”

She shook her head and cut another bite of the meat. “No reason. Just curious, that’s all.” She put the bite in her mouth and chewed. Her mind was going a mile a minute. Would he know before she told him? Her knowledge of signs came from watching her neighbor Lacey’s mother during her pregnancy. She got sick in the mornings for a while, and then Lacey told her that her mother wanted strange things to eat at all hours of the day and night. Her poor father was in a dither for the six months he knew about the baby to come.

“You’re quiet tonight. Are you in pain? Would you like some more willow bark tea?”

She smiled, pleased he was being so attentive. “Actually, I’d love another cup of tea.”

He rose and put the water pail back on the stove. “It just needs to get a little hotter. It shouldn’t be too long.”

“I’m not worried about it.”

Barnaby sat again, reached across the table, and took her hand. “What’s really bothering you?”

She took her hand back and then clasped her hands together in her lap. She looked down at the table and then back up at him. “I’m pregnant. I know you don’t want children, but we’re having one, despite your desires. If you truly don’t want it, you don’t have to have anything to do with it. I’ll raise the child on my own.”

His mouth formed a grim line. “This was bound to happen, someday. I hadn’t expected it so soon. I’d hoped I would accept the idea before this happened, but I haven’t. I’m going out. I need some air. The willow bark is in your cup. Just pour the hot water over it and let it steep for about five minutes.” He stood, grabbed his hat off his cot and left.

He didn’t stomp out as she expected him to, but he hadn’t kissed her goodbye, either.