by Connie Mason
"You're a woman in a million, Maggie Afton, and I love you dearly," Scott grinned with warm regard "Do I dare hope that you and I might " His words fell off, allowing Maggie to draw her own conclusions Instead she chose to ignore them
"I'm starved, Scott, any chance of buying a girl supper1?"
"I'll take you to that new restaurant It's reported to be the best in town "
"Give me a few minutes to change and freshen up Would you wait for me in the lobby1?"
"Forever, if I have to Are you certain you're all right1?"
"I am now," Maggie said, forcing a smile "You're just what I needed "
"I always want to be here for you," Scott said with such profound meaning that Maggie felt almost guilty using his love and offering nothing in return
Maggie's bravado collapsed the moment Scott left the room How in the world was she supposed to act normal when her heart was breaking1? With a jolt, she realized that she was acting like a sniveling fool, something she'd never done before She'd gotten along thus far alone and she could do so again Resolve stiffening her spine, Maggie hurriedly washed and dressed and left to meet Scott, determined that Chase shouldn't ruin her life She was no silly, simpering female who needed a man to make her whole, Maggie chided herself There was an attractive man waiting to take her to supper and she was damn well going to enjoy herself
Surprisingly, Maggie did enjoy herself, as well as Scott's company He was an intriguing man, handsome, witty, kind, and gentle She thanked God she had someone like Scott around to keep her from feeling sorry for herself It was a pity Scott could never take Chase's place in her heart
The air was nippy as they strolled arrn-in-arrn back to the hotel They walked on wooden planks placed close to the buildings in order to avoid the oozing rnud of the streets Blaring music and bright lights from a nearby saloon drew Maggie's attention, and she couldn't help but glance inside when they ambled past Unaccountably her eyes settled on a table located close to the open door, and her steps faltered
"What is it, Maggie1?" Scott asked, following the direction of her gaze When he saw what had captured her notice, he muttered a string of oaths and propelled her forward "Forget him, Maggie, he's not worth it"
What Maggie saw in the saloon was a very drunk Chase sitting at a table with one saloon girl on his lap and his arm draped around another All three were laughing at something Chase had said, his roguish smile blatantly suggestive Maggie would have stood there staring forever if Scott hadn't literally dragged her down the street
Chase should have been happy He was on his way to becoming rich, he had not one but two voluptuous women ready and willing to accommodate him, and the whiskey was damn good, not the "hootch" so many saloons served but real, honest-to-God whiskey Yet he was miserable He didn't know doing the "honorable" thing would hurt so damn much He smiled distractedly at the women draped over and around him, not really seeing them They were there only because Chase felt the need to pretend cheerfulness, to celebrate when he actually had little to celebrate Obviously he could not do what he longed to do, make love to Maggie for the rest of his time in Dawson In the end he handed the two pouting beauties over to another man, staggered to his hotel and went to bed—alone The next day
Chase returned to the goldfields earlier than he'd planned
The days progressed with endless boredom as Maggie waited for the Susie In the meantime hundreds of starnpeders passed through Dawson City, either on their way to the goldfields or going home, broken and disillusioned at finding not one inch of land available Some stones had happy endings, for nearly all the claims along the Bonanza and its tributaries yielded gold Not all the potentially rich miners spent their wealth wisely, some ended up paupers after selling out and returning to the United States to squander huge sums of money
The other stones were more common Especially the one about a Russian miner who sold half of his claim for a sack of flour Then the buyer hit a paystreak that was forty feet wide and yielded five thousand dollars a day for months Another man, Alex McDonald, swapped and sold mines and became known as the King of the Klondike Eventually he would squander his money and die broke
By June there were two-hundred-and-fifty Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Dawson City and thirty thousand people The Mounties handled most matters They were customs officers, land surveyors, police, judge, gold commissioners, and governors It was no wonder Scott's duties kept him busy long hours each day
Not only were the crowded conditions in Dawson intolerable to Maggie, but she resented the outrageously high pnce of food and lodging A new hotel, named the Fairview, was nearly completed It was said to be the best in town, boasting three stones lighted by electncity and heated with hot air Board and room for a ten-by-twelve-foot cubicle was rumored to be set at two-hundred-and-fifty dollars a month Whenever Maggie ventured outside her
hotel, she found herself knee-deep in mud
Only a small portion of residents were permanent Most were constantly on the move Streams of men tramped to and from the gold diggings, in and out of saloons and stores Hundreds of tents were scattered over the swampy flatlands A surprising number of starnpeders actually expected to step ashore at Dawson and begin picking up nuggets from the ground, and they were shocked to learn that all the gold-bearing creeks had long since been staked
Two interminably long months had elapsed since Maggie said good-bye to Chase It was difficult to believe their shared rapture was really over Men, she thought disgustedly Damn them all to hell and back Not one of them was to be trusted First Matt and now Chase They were all scheming creatures driven by their insatiable lusts Maggie tried to convince herself that those nights of wondrous passion did not exist They were memories from a dream that had no place in reality It was over and done with
It was light for nearly twenty-four hours a day now, and the Susie was expected momentarily But on June sixth, Maggie received a shock that threw her plans in disarray Word was received in Dawson that the Susie had hit an iceberg in the Bering Sea and had limped into St Michael for extensive repairs It would be weeks before her sister ship, Sarah, reached Dawson Unwilling to remain in Dawson any longer than necessary, Maggie learned that the first mail steamer was expected soon from Skagway via Whitehorse and the Yukon River But even if she booked passage, she'd still have to travel over White Pass to Skagway When Maggie voiced her decision to take that route, Scott protested vigorously
"There's absolutely no way I'll allow you to travel over White Pass alone," he objected violently, aghast that she would even suggest such a thing "Look what
happened the last time you made that trip "
"Everything is different now," Maggie argued stubbornly
"Nothing has changed It's still dangerous, especially for a woman "
"I want to go home, Scott I want to leave this place and get on with my life "
"Can't you wait for the Sarah to arrive1?"
"No, I intend to leave as soon as the mail packet docks "
"Then I'll take you I'm due a leave of absence I'll make the arrangements and escort you to Skagway myself I won't be able to stay long, but at least it will give me another chance to convince you to marry me
Maggie's eyes grew misty She didn't deserve a friend like Scott She would miss him dreadfully, but marriage was out of the question where Scott was concerned
The stem-wheeler Belhngham steamed into Dawson two days later Maggie was surprised to receive a letter from Mr Grant urging her to hurry home, that her articles had been well received and he anxiously awaited more firsthand reports His concern and words of praise made Maggie even more determined to leave the Yukon as soon as possible
Scott made all the necessary arrangements for their passage aboard the Belhngham When the steamer left Dawson, Maggie and Scott were aboard Fortunately there was cabin space aplenty aboard the mail packet carrying only mail and passengers Forty feet long, with three decks and two funnels, she steamed out of Dawson on June 16, 1898 Excess freight was pushed ahead on barges one hu
ndred feet long, controlled by ropes and tackle from the steamer The trip upnver took four days, and the fare was one-hundred-and-seventy-five dollars Mag-
gie thought the savings in time and energy well worth the cost
A look of utter amazement crossed Maggie's face when they debarked at Whitehorse at the foot of White Pass Two other steamers were loading passengers and equipment for the trip downriver to Dawson The place was a virtual beehive of activity, and a steady stream ofgoldrushers wound their way down White Pass It was difficult for Maggie to imagine that a year ago she was one of the people rushing toward Dawson So much had happened since then She wasn't the same green girl who left Seattle those long months ago A handsome cowboy rogue had loved her and changed her life forever
Their lack of heavy equipment and mounds of supplies made the passage over White Pass much easier than on the previous trip, and Maggie traversed the dangerous trail without complaint Her courage and stamina never ceased to astound Scott, and he told her so
"You possess a unique passion for living, Maggie, a rare determination to succeed You deserve nothing but the best in life, and I'd like to be the one to give it to you "
"Scott, please, you promised "
From the moment they left Dawson days ago, Scott had constantly pressed his suit, hoping to convince Maggie to marry him after they reached Skagway He had become so persistent that Maggie had asked him to stop, insisting that she needed time to consider his proposal Chase had left her raw and hurting and in no condition to think seriously of another man for a good long while
Despite the normal difficulty associated with negotiating White Pass, they stumbled into Skagway without mishap Maggie was stunned by the changes that occurred in a year's time
Chapter Fifteen
Soapy Smith's Parlor was still located in the same place on Holly Street, and the Ice Palace seemed to be prospering, as were dozens of other gambling and dancing halls that had sprung up all over town Aline of small cribs used by whores to entertain their customers sat snugly at one end of Broadway There was the St James Hotel and the Golden North Hotel on Bond Street, in addition to several others Several long piers now reached out across the mudflats into the bay But most amazing of all was the appearance of a church in this lawless city still ruled by Soapy Smith There also existed a hospital of sorts in the largest log cabin in town Women and children were now a common sight on the streets, though most had been stranded in Skagway when their men lost their money by various means—mostly at the hands of Soapy Smith and his band of toughs, who still held the town in virtual terror
Newspapers had also been established in Maggie's absence, two of which were the weekly, four-page Skagway News and the Daily Alaskan A bank was now in operation and rumored to be stuffed with gold dust and yellow nuggets Most hotel safes in town were also crammed with the precious metal Since the steamers had started operating between Dawson and Whitehorse, the journey to Seattle could now be completed in ten days compared to twenty-six days via St Michael Miners were depositing hundreds of pounds of gold in Skagway In addition there were stores with fancy names and scores of new restaurants Maggie was happy to see that the Hash House appeared to be prospering, sporting a new addition as well as a fresh coat of paint
During her stay in Skagway, Maggie learned that fifteen thousand persons still lived in tents, shacks, and improvised rooming houses There were sixty-one saloons, and as many gambling dives, dance halls, and sporting houses Music halls had been erected as well as theaters, where some of the most famous entertainers of the day performed
Maggie checked into the St James Hotel, too weary to do more than bid Scott good night She ordered a bath, had her supper brought to her, and fell immediately into a deep, dreamless sleep The next day Scott appeared early to bid her good-bye, for he was obligated to return to Dawson and his duties immediately
"I won't ask you again to many me, Maggie," Scott said, his voice choked with emotion "But you know how I feel about you I also know how you feel about McGarrett I'm willing to allow you time to forget him, but expect me to ask you again soon to be my wife "
"You'd come to Seattle?"
"I'd go to the ends of the earth for you And when I see you again, I won't accept no for an answer,"
Scott confided "Will you think about me while we're apart1?"
"Of course," Maggie smiled fondly "You've been more than a friend to me, more than I deserve It would be difficult to forget you "
"Then you don't mind if I visit you in Seattle1?"
"I'd be happy to see you, but how can you get away1? What about your duties'?"
"My enlistment is up next spring I'll have thirty days then to make up my mind on whether or not to remain with the Mounties If things work out to my expectations, I may not go back at all," he hinted hopefully I want to kiss you good-bye, Maggie "
Maggie accepted Scott's kiss without protest, thinking it little enough payment for all he had done for her The kiss was pleasant, enjoyable even She stiffened slightly when his tongue slipped inside her mouth but allowed him access While Scott was kissing her, the thought occurred to her that, given time, she might be able to love the handsome Mountie, though she knew she'd never find the same kind of passion she enjoyed with Chase Besides, she'd be doing Scott a grave injustice by settling for a man she liked immensely but didn't love
"Look for me in the spring, Maggie," were Scott's parting words
Later that day Maggie ambled over to the Hash House to visit Hannah and Kate and arrange for her trunks of clothing to be delivered to her hotel Thank God she hadn't taken all her clothing with her to Dawson, for she'd have nothing left to wear except for what little she'd be able to find in the stores She was greeted with great enthusiasm by her two friends
"Hot damn, honey, it's good ta see ya," Hannah boomed, thumping her back exuberantly
"We've been worried about ya," Kate added, somewhat more subdued than her boisterous partner
"Did ya see Rusty? He left Skagway in late March "
"I saw him," Maggie replied, "on his way through Dawson "
"Was he well?" she asked eagerly
"Aw, pshaw, Kate, the man was fit as a fiddle when he left here," Hannah guffawed, knowing full well how Kate felt about Rusty "That old rooster's got a lotta years left in him "
Maggie swallowed a grin when Kate's face turned beet-red "Rusty was fine when I last saw him, Kate," she said, easing Kate's concern
"What about Chase?" Hannah probed "That handsome rogue is a mighty fine specimen Took a likin' ta him right off, even though he didn't sell me his cows Can't blame a man fer wantin' the most fer his investment"
Maggie didn't like where the conversation was leading "Chase and I are friends, nothing more I'll probably never see him again "
Hannah and Kate exchanged speaking glances but wisely kept their opinions to themselves It was plain-speaking Hannah who said bluntly, "Heard tell a handsome Mountie brought ya over the pass "
Maggie stifled a groan Word traveled fast I hate to disappoint you two matchmakers, but Scott is a very dear friend who saved my life in the Yukon " "I reckon that's a story worth heann'," Kate opined
"It's a very long story," Maggie said with a hint of underlying sadness She had little desire to reveal the harrowing details of her narrow escape from death, not once but twice, at the hands of Soapy Smith's toughs And her days and nights with Chase at Eleven Above were too private to share with another person It still hurt desperately to think how easily he had bade her good-bye, with no apparent regrets "I'd rather not go into the details right now Instead, tell me how you—"
Suddenly Maggie became aware of a thin man in threadbare miner's garb hovering in the doorway, looking as if he wanted to speak to one of them She stared so hard at the man that both the other women turned to follow her gaze
"Which one of ya ladies is Kate1?" the miner asked, picking his way around tables and chairs "I'm Kate, what can I do fer ya?"
Dangling from the stubby fingers of one hand was
a rather wrinkled and dirty piece of paper folded over several times "Ibrung this all the way over the pass fer ya," the miner said as Kate accepted the much abused missive "Friend of mine workin' on the Bonanza asked me ta carry it ta ya " Once the letter was in Kate's hand, he doffed his cap, turned, and left as silently as he had appeared
"It's from Rusty I" Kate crowed, her voice quivering with excitement as she quickly unfolded and read the smudged sheet "Well, what's he say?" Hannah demanded to know
"They hit paydirtl" Kate shrieked, barely able to contain her glee "Him and Chase struck a pay streak thirty foot wide and are diggin' out nuggets so fast they had ta hire two men ta help them "
"Glory be," Hannah gasped, flapping her apron back and forth to cool her flushed face "If that don't beat all Does my heart good to hear a success story after listerun' to all the down-and-out miners passin' through "
"Is that all?" Maggie asked quietly "Did—did he mention Chase?"
The two women exchanged knowing glances over Maggie's head "Just that they're both well and workin' their tails off"
"Did they mention when they're corning back?" Maggie probed
"Nope Rusty says the paystreak could play out tomorrow or five years from now " "Glory be," Hannah repeated, unable to comprehend so much money
Maggie left shortly afterwards to book passage on the steamship Portland, due in Skagway in a few days Nothing to do now, she thought bleakly, but wait—and think Think about Chase and those eternal nights of endless passion when nothing mattered but being together and the love they shared Words were unnecessary then Their bodies said all there was to say, their hearts and minds were so in tune that parting had been a supreme agony She wished she knew what had happened when Chase returned to Dawson At first he wanted her, but only on his terms Then not at all Evidently striking it rich had changed Chase, Maggie pondered, despising that shiny yellow metal that had the ability to tear people's lives apart
