"Really? What happened?"
Aggie laughed. "You know Snake. There were more rumors flying around town than facts. Billy heard the townspeople complained about his men searching every building and formed a vigilante group. Someone set fire to his saloon one night. The back room burned. Then Jacob Mueller told me he heard Snake had started drinking heavily, always muttering about losing a gold mine. He heard Snake lost a fortune on a foolish drunken bet and had to sell his saloon to pay up.
For long moments September grew thoughtful.
At the blast from the boat in the harbor, Jase and September pushed away from the table.
September glanced around. "We won’t say goodbye," she said firmly. "We’ll just say . . ." She couldn’t think of an adequate word.
"We’ll say hello," Billy said, tugging on a strand of her hair.
They both laughed, then fell into each other’s arms.
"Hello, September. Hurry back."
"Good . . . Hello, Billy. I know you’ll be the best mine foreman in the world."
Joining in the spirit, Aggie hauled the young woman into her arms. "Hello, September Malloy. You always have a home at Whelan’s boardinghouse."
"Thanks Aggie. I’ll see you soon."
She swallowed back the tears that threatened and hurried out to the sled. With a crack of the whip, the team started off toward the shore. September turned and waved to the woman and boy who stood together on the porch.
The boat was already filling with passengers. A few prospectors were returning to their homes, covered with glory. Most, however, were returning broken in body and spirit, their dreams shattered beyond repair.
At the water’s edge, Jase stopped the team and helped September from the sled.
"Maybe I should wait for the next boat," September muttered, glancing at the crowd along the rail.
"The next one will be just as crowded."
"Maybe I shouldn’t return to San Francisco. With Snake gone now, I’d be safe here."
"We’ve already talked about it," Jase said softly. "You told me how your friends and neighbors laughed at your father behind his back. This is your chance to clear his name." He took her hands. They were as cold as ice. "You’re a special woman, September. You deserve a better life. Now you can afford to build a fine mansion on Nob Hill and live the way your father always dreamed you would."
She nodded. It was true. Everything Jase said made sense. This was what her father would have wanted for her. His wee princess. She felt the sting of unshed tears and blinked.
"Yes. Of course. You’re right, Jase."
She knelt down and buried her face in the thick fur of Lucky’s neck. "You were one of the luckiest things in my life, old boy." Looking up she asked, "You will take good care of Lucky, won’t you?"
"You know I will. This old dog and I work perfectly together. He can lead my team until he’s too old to see the trail. And then he and I can retire to my cabin together. We’ll sit by the fire and remember the good times."
September ran the back of her hand roughly across her eyes to brush away the tears that threatened and stood up. With her hands at her sides, she looked up into Jase’s face, memorizing his features.
"Well." She ran her tongue over lips gone suddenly dry. "I guess this is goodbye." Tell me to stay, Jase, she prayed. Tell me you love me.
"I guess so." If only I were a man of words. I’d tell you how much you’ve meant to me. I’d drag you into my arms and make you see how much I need you.
"Take care of yourself, Jase." Please kiss me. Just once more.
"You too. Don’t get too soft, now that you’re a rich girl." God, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But I have no right to hold you back from a life of luxury.
The boat’s horn gave a single blast, shattering the stillness.
"Time to go. Thanks for everything, Jase." Don’t let me get on that boat.
"No. I’m the one who’s grateful. You saved my life. I’ll never forget that." Or you. There’ll never be another woman, September Malloy. Only you.
"Goodbye, Jase."
"Goodbye, September."
She turned away, fighting the sobs that welled up inside her, making her throat ache.
She stepped into the water and lifted her skirts high. Turning, she saw Jase climb on the runners and flick the whip. The team made a graceful arc and began to climb the hill.
With tears blinding her, she turned and headed toward the boat.
* * *
Jase couldn’t bear to stay at the shore and watch her leave. Urging the team up the hill, he stopped them and unharnessed them. It had been a long trip. They deserved a rest. Sitting down, he leaned his back against the rough bark of a tree. Lucky ambled up to sit beside him. They watched the boat steam out of the harbor. Neither man nor dog looked toward the water again.
"She was the most amazing woman I’ve ever met," Jase said softly.
The dog’s ears picked up. He cocked his head, watching the man closely.
"I’ll never again be able to love a woman," he muttered, feeling the first stirrings of anger. "She’s spoiled me for any other woman."
The dog touched a paw to his arm, in a gesture of comfort. Jase reached over to smooth the fur of his head and neck, then drew him closer, draping an arm about his back.
"The first time I saw her, she did strange things to me. She had a way of clouding my thoughts, making me do stupid things. There were times around her I felt like a schoolboy. More awkward than Billy Warfield. I wanted to impress her. I wanted to throttle her." He chuckled. "I wanted to make love to her. Always." He shook his head, knowing he was rambling, unable to stop. "But I’ve never been a man of words, Lucky. I was just never able to tell her how I felt. But I loved her. I’ll always love her. And my life will be unbearably empty now that she’s gone."
The dog looked up at him and licked his face. Reaching into his pocket, Jase removed the little pouch of tobacco. He removed a thin paper and held the pouch above it.
From behind him, a delicate hand reached out and took the paper and pouch from his hands. His eyes widened. With his mouth gaping open, he could only stare as a vision of beauty deftly rolled his cigarette, held a match to it, and took a deep drag before handing it to him.
Both he and the dog jumped up and stood watching as she exhaled a plume of smoke.
"I don’t understand. How did you . . . ? Why did you . . . ?"
"I can see you’re not much with words, Jase Conroy. At least in my presence. Of course, I’ve discovered when you think I’m not around you’re very articulate. I guess whenever I want to know what’s on your mind, I’ll just have to send you out to talk to the dogs."
He couldn’t seem to believe she was really standing there. "I saw the boat leave. What are you doing here?"
"I decided I had a right to my own dreams. And they aren’t exactly the same as Patrick’s. And I decided I didn’t need you to ask me to stay. I’d just do what I wanted and hope you didn’t mind too much."
"Mind too much! I didn’t have the right to ask you to give up a life in San Francisco for this."
"My life isn’t in San Francisco anymore, Jase. It’s here. With you. We make a good team."
She gave him a coy look, then held up the cigarette. "Besides, who’d roll a perfect smoke for you each evening? Who’d make you venison stew and blueberry pies?"
"The best pies in Alaska, I’ve heard." He took the cigarette from her hand and tossed it away.
"Jase. That tobacco is precious."
"Not as precious as the woman in my arms," he murmured, wrapping her in an embrace.
His lips hovered above hers, teasing her, taunting her.
"I don’t have much to offer you, September. But I want you to marry me."
"No," she said, and for a moment, a razor of fear sliced his heart. Then he heard the laughter that warmed her tone. "You don’t have much to offer. Just a land teeming with more game, more fish, more gold, and more glorious sunsets than anywhe
re else in the world. I couldn’t bear to miss even one sunset with you, Jase. Or one sunrise." She brought her lips to his. Against his mouth she whispered, "Or one single night of love as Mrs. Jason Conroy."
Epilogue
Skagway, 1900
On its trek from Dawson, the luxurious pullman of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad pulled into the station. At Jase’s signal, a horse-drawn rig pulled alongside. Settling September comfortably inside, they threaded their way through the busy streets of Skagway toward the imposing house nestled in the foothills. As they approached, Lucky barked his welcome, setting up a yawling from the other dogs. It took Jase and September half an hour to pet each dog and settle down the team for the evening.
"Billy’s done a fine job," Jase said, helping her off with her coat.
"I still can’t believe he’s married to little Melanie."
"Little Melanie is seventeen now. And so is Billy."
"But Jase, that’s so young."
He gave her a wicked smile. "That’s how old you were when we married."
She seemed surprised for a moment, then paused to contemplate.
"Was I really that young?"
"Younger. You were the most innocent seventeen year old I’d ever met."
"Really. As I recall, you thought I was a wicked woman out to bilk miners of their gold."
"Only a first impression," he said, catching a strand of her hair and watching it sift through his fingers. In her expensively tailored red traveling dress, he was once again reminded of the Velvet Voice. He’d never tire of looking at her. She was still the most fascinating woman he’d ever met.
"I have a surprise for you," he said suddenly.
"I love surprises. What is it?"
Jase held out a small box. Inside she saw the gleam of old gold. Eagerly she held it up.
"My mother’s locket. Oh, Jase. Where did you ever find this?"
"I bought it from a dealer. The Todding family suffered some financial losses this year. I’m sure it held no sentimental value for Adelia."
As September lifted up her hair, he fastened the clasp.
Casually he asked, "How would you like to go to San Francisco?"
She turned. "When?"
"As soon as Billy and Melanie are back at the mine site from their honeymoon and everything is going smoothly, I thought it might be fun for you to go back to your old neighborhood and see everyone."
Her smile grew. "You mean, be seen by everyone."
He shrugged. "We could hire a fine carriage and show everyone the result of your father’s dream."
She threw her arms around Jase’s neck. Just then Aggie descended the circular stairs carrying a chubby infant with pale, ivory skin and a thatch of fiery hair. Eagerly September cuddled him to her.
"Could we take Paddy along?"
"Of course. You won’t even have to introduce him to your old neighbors. One look at that hair and they’ll know he has to be Patrick Malloy’s grandson."
They both laughed as Jase took the infant into his arms. September stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his dimpled cheek. Then she stared up into the dark, laughing eyes of the man who had so often been there to fight for her safety and honor.
"If you want to make the trip, we’ll go," she said solemnly. "But if we never left this place, I’d be content. As long as I have you, and little Paddy here, I have everything I’ll ever want."
"Do you mind if I tell you something I usually only tell the dogs?" he muttered against her lips.
"What?"
"I love you, September Malloy Conroy."
"That’s all?"
He snuggled the infant against his chest and brought his other arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. "I’ve never been very good with words. But if you’ll come upstairs with me, I’ll show you."
Laughing, she handed the baby to Aggie and gave her a dreamy smile. "Don’t wait dinner tonight, Aggie. Jase and I have a lot of important things to—talk over."
The older woman cuddled little Patrick and gave a smile of approval. Some people wore love very well.
A warm, deep chuckle and a rich, husky whisper of laughter mingled as Jase and September walked arm in arm up the stairs.
The End
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Epilogue
September's Dream Page 24