Page 55 of The Gold Rush Bride

Sadie led the way to the kitchen, where she got another cup and saucer. She prepared the tea the same way as she had for herself. When finished, she carried it to the table and set it in front of the woman. “Here you go.” She sat across from the cook. “How did you know I was back in town?”

“Mrs. White, down at the market, said she’d seen you and that you were back to stay.” She lifted her eyebrows and leaned forward. “Is that true? You’re here to stay?”

Sadie smiled and nodded. “I am. I want my baby to be born here.” Looking down, she rested her arm on the top of her belly.

“It’s a good house to grow up in, as you well know.”

“I do. I’m looking for staff for the house. Can you recommend people?”

“Well, there’s me—”

Sadie’s eyes widened. “You’re available? I didn’t dare hope. Of course, you. You’re hired. Your bedroom is off the kitchen—” She stopped and laughed. “Of course, you know that. I also need two maids and either a cook or a housekeeper, depending on which position you would like.”

Mrs. Underwood took a sip of tea. “Oh, I’ll be staying the cook. I don’t want the headaches that can come with being the housekeeper. But I can get the other positions filled if you’ll trust my judgement.”

“Of course. You’ve been the cook here since I was a child. I trust you implicitly.”

“Good, I’ll be by tomorrow with the women. Now, I need to go and inform them of their new employment.”

Sadie walked her to the door and gave her a hug. “Thank you for stopping by. You’ve just made my life a lot easier.”

With her staff in place, Sadie felt she could rest now. She was so tired; it seemed like all the time she felt like she needed a nap. She knew it must be the baby, but she was tired of feeling tired.

The next day, bright and early, Mrs. Underwood returned with the three women who would now work for Sadie. She greeted each woman and then put them to work cleaning the house, which had sat empty for nearly a year.

She was ready for the baby and nothing could go wrong now.

* * *

A knock soundedat the front door.

Alice, the downstairs maid, answered it.

Sadie was on a ladder dusting the top of the bookcases in the study.

“What in Hades are you doing, woman?”

Sadie whipped around. Her heart pounded like it was trying to escape her body. “Barnaby?”

He rushed up and caught her as she lost her balance and fell.

She wrapped an arm around his neck. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to find my wife, and when I do, she’s trying to kill herself climbing ladders she has no business being on.”

She liked being held safe in his arms, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “You can put me down now.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I like you right where you are.”

She stared up at his face. “You do?”

“Yeah. I do.”

Sadie sighed and melted into his powerful arms. He cradled her gently like she was a small child and he might break her. “I missed you.”

“I was a fool. Choosing gold rather than the treasure I had right in front of me. I love you, Sadie Drake. Do you forgive me?” He carried her over to the brocade sofa that faced the bookshelves she was working on and sat with her on his lap.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh, Barnaby. I love you, too. I shouldn’t have left.”