Page 38 of The Gold Rush Bride

She chuckled and swatted his chest. “We’re already married, silly.”

He took her left hand and placed the ring on her finger. Then he kissed it and kissed her.

She held up her hand and admired the thin gold band. It fit a little snug but that was perfect. She wouldn’t lose it in the river. “Oh, Barnaby, it’s beautiful and perfect. I love y…it. I love it so much.” She leaned over, pushed him back on the pillows and then showed him how much she appreciated the ring.

Oh, he kept her warm and then some.

CHAPTER10

They made love in the hotel bed all afternoon until suppertime.

“Come on and get dressed. I’m starving.” He rolled to the side and sat up as he placed his feet on the floor.

Sadie felt like a rag doll, but she rose from the bed, freshened her private parts, and dressed in clean clothes. Once she brushed her hair and gently wiped a wet washcloth over her face, she felt better.

“You know I’m hungry myself.” Her stomach rumbled.

Barnaby laughed. “I guess you are.” He waited until she was near the door before he opened it and ushered her through the opening.

They stopped at the desk and asked for the tubs to be removed.

Supper was roasted elk with gravy, mashed potatoes and sourdough bread. The meal was filling, if not inventive.

After they finished supper, she wrapped her hand through the crook in his elbow while they walked down the boardwalk. Though it was past eight at night, it was still very much daylight. They walked along past ramshackle buildings of varying degrees of finish. Some were painted while others were bare wood.

Sadie was amazed when she looked at the windows. She couldn’t imagine bringing glass over the mountains, but some buildings had glass windows. Others had only shutters which were open now to provide air circulation. She imagined in winter they would remain closed until the spring thaw.

“Do you know if the doctor would be open now? I don’t want to wait until tomorrow morning to have him confirm that I’m expecting.”

“I don’t know. Shall we walk that way? We need to check on Lucky, anyway, and they are in the same general direction.”

She cocked her head and smiled at him. Suddenly, she wanted to kiss her husband more than anything. She stopped, reached up, wrapped a hand around his neck, and brought his lips to hers. She kissed him, her mouth making love to him as much as she could there on the boardwalk.

His arms wrapped around her, and he brought her flush against him. He broke the kiss and set her away. “I’ll remember this for later, I promise.”

She giggled, excitement running through her as her heart pounded and her pulse raced. “I’ll hold you to it.”

She took his arm again, and they continued a couple of blocks and then made a left for another block. The doctor’s office was in a building that looked like a home. She supposed the doctor must live there, too. A shingle hung on a post said,Doctor Amos Kitteridge.

Sadie walked in front of Barnaby up the gravel path toward the house. The garden boasted flowers of all kinds, most of which were wildflowers she’d seen in the forests and flats around their claim. The doctor had a couple of rose bushes and a geranium plant, too.

The house had a wide, covered porch on the front side of the building. The house itself was a white clapboard structure with light-green shutters. The door was light-green, as well.

Barnaby took her hand when they reached the porch and knocked on the door before entering. When they crossed the threshold, the stairs were directly in front of them and to the right was a small waiting room with six wooden, straight-backed chairs, three on the same wall as the entry door. The doctor had painted the waiting room the same light green as the door and shutters, which Sadie found calming.

“Have a seat while I locate the doctor,” said Barnaby. He went off down the hall to the left of the staircase that formed the fourth wall of the waiting room.

She sat in one of the wooden chairs and wondered if the room she was in was the living room at one time.

“Dr. Kitteridge!” she heard Barnaby yell.

“Coming.” A man’s voice emanated from the back of the house.

A few moments later, the two men appeared from the hallway.

Barnaby crossed the room to stand at her side. “Dr. Kitteridge, this is my wife, Sadie.”

She stood and held out her right hand.