Page 59 of The Gold Rush Bride

“So am I. I took a chance to find adventure and feel alive, and I found love instead. I never expected you or that I’d love you. But I do. You gave me this most precious gift. Gracie.” She looked down at the baby in her arms. “She’s everything to me. I would give my life for either of you.”

“As would I.”

“Let’s put her down and then I’ll let you hold me until we sleep.”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”

She reached up and stroked his face, now covered in a heavy beard. Then looked again at their daughter, who was now fast asleep.How did I get so lucky?

“I ask myself the same question.”

“I didn’t realize I said it out loud.” She grinned. “Or do you now read my mind?” She tied on a new cloth to catch her blood and hopefully, keep the sheets clean.

Barnaby undressed as well.

They both got into bed and she snuggled into his arms as though no time had passed between them.

Sadie laid an arm on his chest and tangled her fingers with the soft curly chest hair. “I missed this.”

He tucked her even closer. “As did I.”

Sadie looked up at him. “I don’t think I’ve had a truly good night’s sleep since I left you.”

“Nor I, since you left.”

She settled; her body completely relaxed. She yawned.

“I love you. Thank you for finding me.”

“I love you back. I would have kept searching for the rest of my life. I don’t have a life if you’re not in it. Now, sleep, my love. I have you.”

Sadie yawned again. Her family was now complete. A tiredness swept over her like someone had lifted a weight replaced by a deep contentedness. And it had. She no longer had to face a life alone. She had her husband and daughter to love and love her back.

All was finally right with the world.

EPILOGUE

Three years later

Sadie saton the back porch swing holding her eight-month-old son, Jamie, in her arms.

The baby stood bouncing on her lap as they watched his sister and father playing in the yard.

Gracie would run, and Barnaby would give chase until he caught her, usually in just two steps. Then he’d grasp her under the arms and swing her high in the air. All the while, she giggled.

Barnaby walked onto the porch, carrying his wiggling daughter under one arm. She was turning three that day.

Laughing, Sadie leaned to the right and looked at her upside-down daughter. “Gracie, what do you want for your birthday?”

“A sisser or a puppy.”

Sadie chuckled. “A sister or a puppy, huh. Are they the same in importance, or would you rather have one more than the other?”

“Puppy.” She wiggled around. “Down, Daddy.”

“Sure thing,ah storeen, my little treasure.” He turned her and set her on her feet. “There you go, sweetie.”

She wobbled a little before finding her equilibrium. Then she shot off the porch, her long red braids swinging back and forth as she ran to go play with her dolly, who lay dejected on the lawn.