Page 34 of The Gold Rush Bride

Tears formed of their own accord. If she’d had her way, she wouldn’t cry, but that didn’t seem possible. Her marriage seemed to be falling apart, all because of a wonderful, blessed event. The birth of a child. She would not regret that she was expecting, and she wouldn’t ever be anything but happy and grateful for this consequence of making love to her husband. If only she could convince him. This was a joyous occasion. But convincing him would be harder than it should be. Just how hard she didn’t know.

CHAPTER9

Sadie was already in bed by the time Barnaby returned. He stripped out of his clothes and crawled into bed.

She shivered as he took the warmth of the blankets while he covered them both.

He gathered her into his arms.

His heated skin warmed her.

He kissed her temple. “I’m sorry,mo ghra. I never meant to hurt you.”

Tears came unbidden; she couldn’t stop them. “I wanted you to be happy. Even though I knew that was unlikely...I hoped.”

“I will try. That is all I can do. I worry this child will be like my first son and die while still a baby.”

She sniffled and swallowed over a lump in her throat. “We’ll pray that doesn’t happen.”

He pulled her closer, though she didn’t think that was possible.

She turned and pillowed her head on his chest, her left arm holding his waist. She loved him. Had she always been in love with him? She agreed to the marriage because she was attracted to him, regardless of what he said. But she’d wanted him all to herself. She didn’t want him visiting whorehouses anymore. And, to the best of her knowledge, he had not. He was faithful, as was she. Though she knew no one would or could compare with her gentle giant, she found herself thinking of the men she’d known in Missouri. They were thin and pale in comparison.

With a quickness she wouldn’t have expected from such a big man, he turned them, so he was on top, braced on his elbows so as not to crush her. Then he made love to her. They had never made love so tenderly before. He was careful of her injuries and when he kissed her, was extra gentle. This love making and the care he took of her, she thought this was what pure love was supposed to be.

* * *

When Sadie awoke,Barnaby was gone. She heard him outside washing his face and hands, getting ready for the day. She rushed to dress after getting out from under the warm blankets. The air was too cold to stay in the buff for very long.

Once dressed, she built the fire in the stove and heated yesterday’s coffee. Each time she bent over, her face hurt. Not just her nose, but her cheeks and forehead. She also had a headache and her eyes felt swollen. She was a mess, but she had work to do and couldn’t be lying around all day.

So, she started breakfast. Today was oatmeal and a couple of venison steaks. She needed to bake today. The bread was one of their staples and made their sometimes-meager meals palatable. She wished she had butter to go with it, and they were down to their last bit of jam. They needed to venture to Dawson City for supplies and to locate a doctor who could confirm her pregnancy.

She finished the oatmeal, and the coffee was hot. Stepping out of the tent, she gazed around for Barnaby. “Breakfast is ready.”

He entered the tent a few minutes later, a grin on his face. “How are you this fine morning,mo ghra?”

Sadie liked his nickname. “What doesmo ghramean?”

“It is Gaelic for beloved.”

Her mouth dropped open and then a smile split her face. “I’m your beloved?”

“You are. You’re my wife and soon to be the mother of my child.”

The smile remained on his face even when he talked of the child. Had last night convinced him he should be happy about the baby? She wanted to know, but she was afraid to ask.

She watched as he came over to the table where she had dished up their breakfast. “It’s time for us to make a trip to Dawson City. We need flour, sugar, oatmeal, crystalized eggs, if we can find them, and even more bacon would be nice.”

He sat across from her. “You know, your money makes our life here much nicer than it would otherwise be.”

“I know. I’m...we’re...fortunate and it’s almost gone. I hate leaving the claim. Do you suppose we could get our neighbor, Seth Jones, to watch it in exchange for some bread and meat? I’m sure he would enjoy the extra food.”

Their neighbor, Seth Jones, had the claim to the south of theirs. Whatever they missed as far as gold, he would have the right to it if he found it.

“I don’t know, but I’ll ask him. Perhaps we can bring him back some supplies and save him a trip.”

“Yes, besides the bread and meat. I doubt he had gone hunting since he hurt his leg, so he might enjoy having the venison more than anything.”