Page 7 of The Gold Rush Bride

Barnaby wanted to turn and growl at the man as he lifted him into the air with one hand. But he didn’t do it. He ended the kiss and leaned back.

Sadie had her eyes closed and her lips pursed like she was waiting for another kiss.

He might have to explore more of that later. But for now, he was hungry and wanted to keep Sadie off the street as much as possible. Looking like she did, even being married to him wouldn’t save her from some men.

“Let’s get something to eat and we can talk, now that you’re safer.”

“Surely, no one will challenge you. Isn’t that why we did this?”

He stiffened his spine and dropped his chin. “We got married to protect you, but with some men, that won’t be enough. In case you didn’t know it,Mrs. Drake, not all men are good, upstanding citizens.”

She put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. “I’m well aware of that,Mr. Drakeand I would never have gone through with this...this—”

“Marriage is the word you’re looking for.” He lifted a brow and smiled.

She stamped a booted foot. “Yes,” she said between clenched teeth. “This marriage, if I didn’t believe you were a good man. My father wouldn’t have been partners with a miscreant. And I know it won’t stop all men, but most men are respectful of a man’s wife.”

“If you weren’t so determined to work the claim, if you’d let me buy—”

Her fiery eyes were directed at him. “I’m not selling. Period.”

“I don’t know what it is you expect to find.”

“I want to understand what my father found that kept him from me for so long. What was he seeking that he couldn’t find with me in St. Louis?” She bit her lower lip and then soothed it with her tongue.

Barnaby watched and, for the life of him, he wished he was the one to soothe that lip. He closed his eyes and gave himself a mental shake. “Maybe he wanted something of his own. Maybe he didn’t want you to support him. I know you’re wealthy because your maternal grandmother left you everything. Maybe he thought that living off of you wasn’t what he wanted for his life. He wanted more. He aspired to be independent.”

She let out a single laugh. “I’m not wealthy. Daddy thought Grandma had much more money than she did, but I was living off what he sent me every month. Grandma left me the house and some bonds worth about five-hundred dollars. I cashed them in and sold the house to come here. And why would it be okay for me to live off of him? I’m a grown woman.”

They’d kept their coats on for the marriage ceremony, so headed directly out onto the boardwalk.

He nodded as they walked next door to the restaurant. “And yet you did. Don’t you see? You’re his daughter. Society expects it to be that way, at least until you marry. Then it is your husband’s responsibility to take care of you. Even though he thought you were wealthy, he still sent you money...to support you...because that’s what a father does.”

“I don’t desire to be anyone’s responsibility.”

He lifted an arm to signal the waitress. “Too bad. That’s the way of the world, and the sooner you accept it, the better.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Hmpft.”

The waitress appeared.

Her disheveled appearance showed how busy the place was. Of course, it was dinnertime, and Barnaby’s stomach growled with hunger. He hadn’t eaten lunch, and he was now starving. Someone was always awake, regardless of the time of day or night. So, some businesses, like the saloons and the restaurants, were open twenty-four hours a day.

Barnaby held up two fingers. “Table for two.”

She was a blonde. It appeared half her hair had come out of her bun and hung in sweaty curls around her face and neck. “This way.” She pointed toward the back wall. “Menu’s there. I hope you don’t mind sitting by the window. It’s the only table we have open.”

“That’s fine.”

He put his hand on Sadie’s waist and guided her as they followed the woman. She showed them to a table for two right in front of the window. Shortly, a group of men gathered outside the window fixated on Sadie.

Barnaby looked out the window and saw a group of about twenty men had gathered outside on the boardwalk. They were jostling and pushing to get closer to the window. He pointed. “Now, do you understand why you need a husband? If you don’t, then head outside without me.”

She looked again at the throng of men. “No, thank you. I’ll pass on that.”

Barnaby chuckled and set his hat on the back of his chair. “Believe me now?”

She nodded. “You were right.” She looked him in the eye and lifted a brow. “But that doesn’t mean you always will be.”