Page 46 of The Gold Rush Bride

“What is it you need that couldn’t wait?”

She opened her hand.

His eyes widened as he took in the large nuggets she held. “Where did you get these?”

“Out of a spring just up the way.” She pointed to where she’d come from. “It’s on our claim. I made sure.”

“Show me.” He walked to the tent and grabbed a shovel.

She led him to the spring.

He took the shovel and dug down into the bubbling water. He brought up a spade of dirt and put it into her pan.

She added water and worked the pan. Nuggets appeared quickly, and gold flakes with them.

He spaded more and more dirt into her pan. Finally, he dug back toward the forest to see where the gold was coming from. He pointed out a good-sized crack in the dirt and saw his dream. A vein of pure gold ore. Barnaby dug as fast as he could. The vein gave them nuggets and flake for days. His bag and hers were both full. He got another one from his supplies and, in just a couple of days, filled it up.

They needed to go to Dawson City to get the gold weighed and exchanged for cash. But they couldn’t leave the claim empty.

“You go to Dawson City tomorrow.” Sadie spooned a savory chunk of venison from her chili. “We could use some supplies while you’re at it. As far as me here, it won’t be any different from when you go hunting. You can have Seth keep an eye out for me. Ask him to dinner tomorrow night when you get back with some potatoes and carrots, if you can find them. We still have some elk chunks left and I’m sure he would again appreciate a meal other than his own cooking.”

Barnaby sopped up the last of his dinner from his bowl with sourdough bread. “That should work. You know, as soon as word gets around town about our find, we’ll have desperate men following me here. We’ll have to be even more vigilant than normal to keep what is ours.”

“I know, but we don’t know how long the vein will last and it’s not really that big.”

“Big enough to make us rich, I’d say.”

“I hope you’re right. What do you want to do with your money?”

“I want to buy a ranch and raise horses, maybe some cattle. What about you? What do you want to do with the money?”

“I’d like to get what we can get and then get out of this godforsaken place and back to civilization. I desire a gracious home where we can raise our child with comfort and safety.

A smile traversed his lips. “Are you saying you don’t love our little bit of heaven here?”

She came close to spitting out her food, but she chewed and swallowed. “Heaven? Have you lost your mind? We’re only doing this for as long as it takes for that vein to play out. When it does, I’m out of here.”

The smile left his face. “You’ll stay as long as I do. You’re expecting my child, and I won’t have you endangering him by gallivanting over the countryside.”

Her gaze slammed into his, anger radiating through her. “This is a child you don’t even want. Don’t suddenly decide you can tell me what to do withmychild.”

“I’ll tell you whatever I darn well please and whether or not I want this child, he is still mine and I take care of what’s mine.”

“So do I.” She shoved up from the table. “I need to do the dishes.” She put the water on to heat and walked out of the tent to get another bucket of water.Dang men. Where does he get off telling me what to do with my child? It would be different if he wanted him, but he doesn’t, and he shouldn’t get to choose what I do.She reached down and rubbed her belly, which was now rounded with her baby. “Don’t you worry, little one, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As she approached the river, she heard Barnaby coming up behind her.

“Here, let me get that.” He took the bucket and waded out to the deeper water so it would be clean. He walked back to dry ground and up to the tent.

She followed, muttering under her breath. “I’ll tell him what he can do with his rules. I will take care of my baby.”

After the dishes were done, she stripped down and crawled under the blankets.

Barnaby followed suit, blew out the lantern and then tugged her back against his chest. “I don’t enjoy arguing.”

“I don’t like it either.” She kept her back to him.

He rubbed her shoulder and down her arm. “Talk to me, Sadie. What’s really the problem?”