Page 8 of The Gold Rush Bride

A petite brunette woman came to the table. “What’ll it be?”

Sadie looked at the board. “I’ll have the stew and bread with butter if you have it.”

“Got it, one stew.” She smiled at Barnaby. “And what about you, Barnaby?”

“I’ll have the same, but double portions. You know what I like, Edie.”

“That I do, sugar. That I do.” She chuckled and tilted her head toward Sadie. “Who’s she?”

He gazed at Sadie. “She’s John’s daughter...and...my wife.”

Her eyes widened. “Your...wife?”

“That’s right. We got married this morning.”

“You could have said something last night,” she screeched, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed.

Sadie, face flaming, closed her eyes and covered her face with a hand.

“I didn’t know last night. If I had, we wouldn’t have had a last night.” Barnaby glanced around and kept his voice low. “It’s only because she wants to work her daddy’s claim, and I can’t have an unmarried female up there.”

Edie took a deep breath, placed her hands at her sides, and looked at Sadie. “Is that right? This is only for show?”

Sadie nodded. “Only for show. I needed protection when I’m out there and this was the way to do it. No one can question a man’s wife helping him work the claim.”

The brunette put an index finger on her chin. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. When are you all headed back?”

“Tomorrow morning at first light,” said Barnaby.

“So, does that mean we can see each other tonight?” She winked at him.

He shook his head. Niggling in the back of his mind was a smidgen of guilt for letting Edie talk about sex in front of Sadie...after all, she was his wife, even if in name only. But he couldn’t fault Edie either. “I can’t. If it got out that I didn’t spend my wedding night with my bride, then everyone would know about the marriage.”

Edie sighed. “Yeah, that would sort of give it away. Then I’ll see you next time you come to town, if I’m still here.”

Barnaby reached out and ran his finger down her cheek. “I’ll see you then.”

“Okay.” Edie put her pad and pencil in her apron pocket. “Three stews coming up with coffee.” She turned and headed back to the kitchen.

“I’m sorry.” She looked down at the table. “I didn’t know this would affect you so. It never occurred to me you might have a sweetheart.”

Barnaby chortled. “Edie isn’t my sweetheart. She works in the brothel next door at night and here in the afternoons until just after dinner. Then she goes back next door.”

“Oh.” Sadie’s eyes were wide.

Barnaby was sure she was curious. “Do you want to know what the women in the brothel do?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. Yes. No. It’s unnecessary. I assume they have sex for money.”

“That would be correct. All of them except Kitty. She’s retired from that and is now the madam. She only hires women willing to work at both the brothel and the restaurant because we have a shortage of women, in case you didn’t know.”

She laughed.

Apparently, he was entertaining. He liked the sound of her laugh. It wasn’t a belly laugh but was deep and rich. She didn’t titter. And the way her eyes sparkled like the finest emerald...he could look at that forever. If they could find amusement with each other, it would bode them well when winter came.

“I figured out that they were in short supply by the reaction of the men to me. I’ve never caused a scene like that before.”

They were quiet for a few minutes before he spoke again.