Page 36 of The Gold Rush Bride

He chuckled and held out his arm. “Shall we?”

She placed a hand in the crook of his elbow. “We shall.”

They walked next door to the restaurant and were shown to a table in the middle of the room.

Barnaby held out her chair and then seated himself. He placed a hand palm up on the table.

Sadie smiled and placed a hand on his. “You’re being so romantic...first walking me here and now holding hands on the table. Should I be expecting something?”

Barnaby rubbed circles on the inside of her wrist.

She shivered and her heart beat faster.

“Can’t a husband hold hands with his wife?”

Smiling, she shook her head. “It’s usually not done in public.”

“Do you see anythingusualabout Dawson City or the people in it?”

Sadie glanced around. All the tables were full of men. Miners or claim jumpers, but she couldn’t tell the difference. “You’re right. Nothing about Dawson City is the least bit normal compared to St. Louis society.”

“After dinner, and our baths, we’ll have a peaceful time in bed without blankets weighing us down. I can turn over and make love to you much easier.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Sadie laughed, but it filled her stomach with butterflies, and her insides heated at his words.

Sally came and took their order for the special of the day, elk steak with biscuits and cream gravy.

Barnaby ordered two meals as usual.

Sadie ordered one and then only ate half. Her reduced appetite surprised her, but maybe she was just excited to be there. Getting a bath and sleeping in a proper bed always made such a difference.

He ate the rest.

When Barnaby finished, he paid Sally and then escorted Sadie back to their room with a stop at the front desk to order their baths.

At the room, he opened the door, stood back for her to enter first, and then stood there. “I have to run a quick errand. I’ll be right back.” He leaned down and kissed her before shutting the door.

* * *

Barnaby hurrieddown to the mercantile. Last time he was there, he’d noticed some gold wedding bands. He walked inside and directly to the case with the rings.

“Well, hi Barnaby. What can I do for you today? Need supplies already?”

“No, Joe, I need a wedding band for my wife.”

Joe smiled. “Let me show you what I’ve got.” He pulled out a tray of gold rings. Thick ones, thin ones, engraved ones.

Barnaby didn’t have a lot of money, but he’d brought some gold. He already knew that Joe had scales, and he was honest with what he paid. “I’d like one of those thin ones.” He grinned. “I’ll get her a diamond one when we hit the big one.”

“Sounds good.” Joe unlocked the case and brought out the tray of rings. “Do you know what size she wears?”

Barnaby’s eyes widened for a moment. “Well, I figure if I get it to fit to the first knuckle on my little finger, that should fit her. If it doesn’t we’ll come back tomorrow and get the right size. Will that work?”

“Sure thing. You staying at Kitty’s?”

“No place else in this town I trust, and she has the nicest rooms.”

Joe handed Barnaby the ring. “I don’t have any boxes or I’d give you one. That’s twenty dollars even.”