Page 32 of The Gold Rush Bride

Barnaby would notice, but there wasn’t a thing she could do about that. She’d won. She wasn’t raped, and a broken nose was a little price to pay to keep that from happening.

* * *

Barnaby headed homein the early afternoon. As he walked through the forest, he whistled. He’d had the best day. He’d gotten the good-sized doe before noon, he’d butcher it on the spot. His backpack was full of meat and he’d be home in time to make love to Sadie before supper. He whistled until he got to the claim.

When he arrived back at camp, he expected to see Sadie at the river or baking bread. Neither was true. He opened the tent flap and found her sitting at the table, holding a washcloth to her face.

He smiled. She wanted to be clean for him.

She turned his way.

The air in his lungs whooshed out in one long breath. “What the hell happened?”

She turned away. “Homer Grimes is what. He tried to rape me. I had something to say about that. He’ll be nursing his foot where I shot him. Well, the gun shot him, but I tried to.”

Barnaby regained his breath and walked over, falling to his knees. “Let me see.” He took her chin gently between a thumb and forefinger and turned her to face him.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I should never have left you alone. I should have known better.”

“No!” Her voice softened. “You prepared me as best you could, and that preparation saved my life. I will be forever grateful for that.” She reached over and cupped his face. “Besides, you can’t be with me twenty-four hours a day. But you’re here now and that’s what matters.” Reaching up with the hand that had been on his face, she touched her nose and winced. “I’ll be ugly for a while and maybe forever with this broken nose.”

“If you want, I can fix it for you. It will hurt, but should feel better afterward. I won’t do anything you don’t wish me to.”

“Is it that crooked?”

“Not bad really.”

“I think I’ll just leave it. I might have a crooked nose, but as long as you don’t mind it, neither do I.”

“Okay, why don’t you lie down for a while? You look like you could use some rest. In the meantime, I’ll be looking for Homer Grimes.”

“He’s probably long gone.” She laid on the mattresses on the muddy blanket.

“Get under the covers. I’ll take that blanket outside. We can clean it later.”

* * *

She satup and took off her boots, then got a clean washcloth for her nose which had started bleeding again, before getting under the blankets.

After about ten minutes, the bleeding stopped, but she felt exhausted. Like she’d worked the entire day without a break. And her body hurt from fighting with Grimes. But she’d take this kind of hurting every day compared to what Grimes had in store.

Barnaby came inside. “Is there anything I can do for you before I go?”

She sat up, leaning back, arms straight and her hands flat on the mattress. “No. I’m fine.” She pointed at the weapon in the corner of the tent. “I’d like the shotgun next to me. I don’t intend to get caught by anyone else.”

“Of course.” He reached over and grabbed the shotgun, then placed it next to her on the bed. He fell to his knees beside her. “After I get done with Grimes, no one will bother you...ever.”

She touched his arm. “Don’t kill him. I don’t want you to go to prison for killing him.”Even if Grimes deserves to be dead.

He patted her hand where it lay on his arm. “I’ll try not to.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “If you can, nap until I return. I shouldn’t be long. I don’t imagine he has gotten very far on that leg. Besides, tracking him will be easy now.”

“I don’t know. He moved fast enough to get out of here before I shot him again.”

“As well he should. Now, go to sleep. I’ll wake you when I return. I promise I won’t be gone long.” He kissed the top of her head and left the tent.

Sadie doubted she would sleep, but her eyes seemed to close regardless of what she thought or wanted. She finally gave in to the need and closed her eyes.

She awoke to the smell of food cooking. It smelled good, like meat frying. She sat up and her head started pounding. Lying down again, she closed her eyes and put a palm on her forehead. “Oh, God, I hurt.”