Page 51 of The Gold Rush Bride

“Again, why should she? She’s got a child to take care of. If she doesn’t go now, she might be stuck for the winter. You don’t want that baby born here. Do you?”

Barnaby huffed out a breath and ran a hand through his hair, his other on his hip. He walked in a circle, trying to figure out what to do. “No. I don’t want the baby born here. The little mite will have a hard enough time of it without trying to survive in the freezing winter.”

“Barnaby. Look at me. What is the right thing to do? What is more important—the gold, or your wife?”

As if lightning had struck, he knew what to do. “Sam, will you deal with the claim? You can keep half of what you pick up and all of what you dig up. I trust you and know you’ll be fair. I have to go after my wife. She’s been gone too long. I don’t know if I can catch her before Dawson City.”

“Then I guess you’d better get moving. I’ll collect everything I can and bring it to you as soon as possible. My claim isn’t paying out anything and it sounds like yours is played out now, too.”

“Yes, I believe it is, but we did well. And from the looks of all this.” He swung his arm wide, “you’ll do well, too.” He walked to his friend and hugged him. “Thank you, Sam.” He released him and hurried back to his camp. He was taking only what he needed in his pack. He was about to leave when he noticed a glint of gold on the table, along with a piece of paper.

Since gold is what you love, here is the last bit for you.

The wedding ring he’d purchased her on their second night in the honeymoon suite, was on the table.

He picked up the ring and put it in his pants pocket. He set off after his wife.What have I done?

* * *

Sadie gallopedwhen she could and walked Lucky the rest of the way to Dawson City. She made good time, arriving in the early afternoon. She headed straight to the bank.

When she walked in, Reginald Whitmore, the bank president came out of his office and greeted her.

“Mrs. Drake. I hadn’t expected to see you so soon.” He looked around the bank lobby. “Where’s Barnaby?”

“He’s still at camp. He’ll be meeting me later, but seeing as I’m expecting, we don’t want to get caught by the winter and have the baby here or God forbid, at the claim.”

“Very understandable. What can I do for you?”

“I’d like you to wire half the money, less five-hundred dollars to this account in St. Louis. Barnaby will get the other half when he comes through later on.”

“Well, this is most unusual, but Barnaby did set up the account in both of your names and made sure that I knew you had access to any and all of it.”

Sadie’s throat clogged at the thoughtfulness he’d given to setting up the account. She was sure that Reginald wouldn’t have given her the money without that stipulation. “Thank you. I have to see about catching the next riverboat out of here. You’ll excuse me if I ask for a receipt, please.”

“Of course.” He wrote her a receipt for twenty-five-thousand dollars and handed it to her. “I wish you the best, Sadie…may I call you Sadie.”

“Please, do.”

He extended his hand. “I hope you have a happy life.”

Tears filled her eyes but she smiled. “I’m sure we will. Thank you.”

Then she headed to the riverboat station.

She walked into the building and up to the counter. “I’d like one ticket for Skagway.”

“You’re in luck. We’re just loading up and getting ready to leave. That’ll be one-hundred dollars just to Skagway, assuming you don’t take the tram, but if you can afford it, I recommend the tram. It will save you weeks and harsh conditions that walking over Chilkoot Pass will dish out. You’ll have to get a steamer from Skagway.” He turned his gaze toward the gray sky. “Looks like you’re getting out just in the nick of time. Winter is on its way.”

“I know, and I don’t want to spend winter here. The summer has been long enough for me. How long will it take to get to Skagway without the tram?”

“It might be a little shorter as the pass is easier to cross this time of year, but it’s two months more or less. If you take the tram, you’ll shave two weeks off that for sure. I’m glad to see you’re prepared for the weather.”

“I understand.” Sadie paid her money and walked over to the group that was getting ready to load into the boats to travel upriver. She’d take the tram again. No reason to walk over the pass. Then she’d walk down to Skagway.

She’d hoped Barnaby would come after her, but now she looked behind her and wondered if she’d ever see Barnaby again.

* * *