Page 37 of The Gold Rush Bride

Barnaby put the ring in a pants pocket and pulled out his poke from another. He took out a small nugget. Added to his fifteen dollars, that should be enough. He set the money and the nugget on the counter. “Will this do it or do you need more?”

“Come on over to the scales and we’ll see what we have.” Joe walked out from behind the jewelry counter and walked to the next counter along the back wall. “Now let’s see.” He put the nugget on one side of the scales and different sized weights until the two sides balanced. “Looks like I owe you a dollar.” Joe reached under the counter and took out his cash box. He unlocked it and handed Barnaby a one-dollar bill.

“Thanks Joe. I hope it fits and we don’t see you tomorrow.”

Joe laughed. “Always a pleasure, my friend.”

Barnaby headed back to the hotel. He stopped at the desk and checked on their baths, then walked back to the room.

He knocked before using the key to enter.

* * *

As soon ashe closed the door, she was in his arms, his lips on hers.

With just his lips, he made her melt in all the right places.

“Sadie.” He moaned.

“Oh, Barnaby, make love to me.”

He kissed her neck. “Soon,mo cuishle, soon, my darling. After we bathe.”

About that time, the men came to the door with the baths.

Once they were gone, Sadie slowly undressed. Her stomach was slightly rounded with their child.

Barnaby stared. “Even in pregnancy, you are the most exquisite woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m your husband. I get to see you as often as I want.”

Her face heated, and she filled with pleasure at his compliment.

Barnaby undressed and climbed into his tub.

Sadie climbed into her tub and dunked herself into the water and wet her hair. Then she picked up the bar of soap provided by the hotel and rubbed it all over her head before dropping the soap beside the tub. She added water to her hair and then scrubbed her scalp and made enough suds to wash it down the length to the end. After she was done, she laid back in the water and rinsed as much of the soap out as possible. She washed her body and her privates.

Barnaby finished before her and stood with a towel wrapped low on his hips.

“Will you rinse me, please?”

“Sure.” He grabbed the extra bucket of warm water.

She stood.

He poured the water slowly over the top of her head.

She worked the suds out of her hair and rubbed her body to remove the last remnants of soap.

He set down the bucket and handed her a towel.

She wrapped it around her head.

Then she stepped out of the tub and he gave her a second towel, which she used to dry her body. She looked up at him. “I didn’t bring a nightgown. I guess you’ll just have to keep me warm.”

He chuckled. “Don’t I always?”

She smiled seductively, lowered her lashes and then slowly raked his body with her gaze. “That you do.”

Laughing, Barnaby picked her up and carried her to the bed. “Before we finish this wonderful conversation with some activity I know we’ll both like, I have something for you.” He rose and took something from his pants. He sat back on the bed. “Sadie Drake, will you marry me?”