by Connie Mason
Chase growled deep in his throat Then he was inside her, lifting her naked hips to his She quivered, renewed desire rising swiftly as she opened her thighs hungrily, feeling him press deep—so deep, until he had no more to give her His bold thrusts earned her back into the world of wild ecstasy she had left just moments ago as he stroked her to a second climax as explosive as the first
A groan of unholy torment erupted from Chase's lips as his body responded to the scent and feel of the extraordinary woman in his arms He took her mouth with a wild, hungry kiss, his passion honed and sharpened by Maggie's eager response Suddenly Chase stiffened, his cry smothered in the moist recess of Maggie's mouth A blossom of sublime pleasure unfolded inside her as her own climax shattered the world into tiny fragments of pleasure
Chapter Sixteen
Slowly descending from the most incredible experience of her life, intuitively Maggie understood that her life would never be the same As important as her career was to her, it wasn't as necessary to life as Chase was Chase McGarrett, a cowboy with little finesse but capable of taking her to untold heights of rapture, was the only man she would ever love
Chase shook like a leaf, appalled at how close he had come to losing Maggie forever How could it be wrong or destructive to love someone so desperately, to want that person with every breath1? All his wealth meant nothing without Maggie to share it with During his life he'd had sex with dozens of women, some he was fond of, but nothing compared to what he experienced when he made love with Maggie No matter what it took, Maggie would be his forever
Chase slowly ran his hands over Maggie's trembling body, adoring every inch of her luscious curves
"I don't want to lose you, darlin'," he said, his voice laced with desperation "Many me, Maggie girl—now, today I'm afraid of losing you if we wait "You won't lose me. Chase, not now, not ever I'm yours for as long as you want me " "That's forever " Chase grinned happily "Shall I hunt up a preacher1?"
Maggie worried her bottom lip with small white teeth as she pondered Chase's question, undecided They had so little time before the Portland sailed in the morning that she hated to waste a moment of it There was ample time to many when Chase came for her in Seattle They could have a proper wedding, one she'd always dreamed about She'd ask Mr Grant to give her away There was still a great deal for her and Chase to decide upon, still much left unsaid and unresolved
"I haven't changed my mind about going home," Maggie ventured hesitantly "I've obligations to fulfill I can't just quit my job after the paper paid my expenses to the Yukon And the claim will occupy your time for the next several months I'll wait. Chase, as long as necessary, and well be married in Seattle "
Chase considered Maggie's words carefully "I reckon you're right, darlin' I'd hate for you to be stranded in the Klondike another winter, or alone in Skagway It's no place for a woman I'd rather marry you here and now, but if you want to wait, I 'spose it can't hurt none Just remember, you're mine "
"Forever," Maggie said, snuggling into this arms "There's still several hours left before I have to board the Portland are you going to waste them1?"
"No way," Chase replied, his eyes darkening to smoldering gray "I'm gonna love you so thoroughly, you'll never forget me I want enough memories to warm me all those cold, bleak nights to come "
Purple smudges lined Maggie's amber eyes the next morning when Chase delivered her to the quay where the Portland docked, but her obvious exhaustion wasn't the cause of her distress When the actual time arrived to bid Chase good-bye, it nearly tore her apart All manner of things tripped through her mind Suppose something happened to Chase in the Klondike1? So many dangers existed in this wilderness that just thinking of them filled her heart with dread
Chase insisted on accompanying Maggie aboard the ship and settling her into a comfortable cabin on the upper deck Before he left, he placed several gold nuggets into the room steward's hand, charging him with seeing to Maggie's comfort Then he dropped those remaining in the sack in Maggie's pocketbook, refusing to listen to her protest
"Consider it an engagement present," he said
Lumps as large as stones lodged in Chase's throat when it came time to say good-bye, and his eyes grew suspiciously moist "Come what may, I'll see you in the spring," he vowed urgently as he took her in his arms
His kiss was sweet and filled with tender promise Maggie felt his yearning, his fears, the deep conviction of his love Chase felt Maggie's response, the pounding of her heart against his chest, and marveled that so beautiful and intelligent a lady could want him as much as he wanted her Then it was time to go
"Don't forget, darlin'—spring I'll start down as soon as the ice breaks up on the lakes No later than April Plan as big a weddin' as you want You deserve the best"
"Hove you. Chase "
Chase had time for one last quick kiss, then, as an afterthought, whispered in Maggie's ear, "I don't
care about the babies, Maggie, I don't need them as long as I have you The little critters are too much trouble anyways " Part of what he said were downright lies but he wanted Maggie to know he loved her despite her inability to bear children
Maggie was confused—until she recalled that Chase still thought she couldn't have children Somehow she never got around to telling him the truth "Chase, waitl" But it was too late He was already bounding down the gangplank
Chase's parting words caused Maggie a twinge of guilt as well as considerable anguish in the days that followed Did Chase really mean he didn't want children1? She knew most men wanted an heir or two Suppose Chase merely said he didn't want children for her benefit1? Suppose he said it to assuage her supposed guilt for being unable to bear children1? Somehow she had managed to get herself into an unexpected predicament The only way out was to admit she had lied, and the sooner she did it the better
Maggie couldn't imagine a life without Chase's children and had hoped Chase felt the same, but his parting words left a doubt in her mind The only reason she had lied to him in the beginning was that she didn't want to trap him into marriage should their loving result in a child If she had become pregnant during their times together, she would never have told Chase unless he had already asked her to be his wife A forced marriage to legitimize a child was a subterfuge Maggie would never countenance
The Portland steamed into Seattle amid much fanfare, for many starnpeders were returning from the Klondike, some of them with tremendous wealth The gold rush was still big news and people crowded the docks whenever a ship arrived from Alaska
and the Yukon Maggie slipped through the throngs, collected her baggage, and hired a hack to take her to her small flat She had been gone almost a year and so much had happened in that time that she felt like an alien in a foreign country Nothing had changed, yet everything seemed different Loving Chase had altered the entire fabric of her life She must have been half a woman before meeting Chase He might be a roguish cowboy, but he was the only man for her
The next morning Maggie created quite a stir when she appeared at the newspaper Her first articles had already been published and brought sufficient acclaim to assure her the recognition she'd stnved so hard to attain In fact, her fellow workers held her in such awe, they clamored around her for details of her adventure Noting that Maggie was having difficulty extracting herself from the group of admirers surrounding her, Mr Grant came to the rescue
"Welcome home, Maggie," the beaming editor said "I began to doubt we'd ever see you again Was the Klondike so attractive you couldn't tear yourself away1? Come into my office where we can talk without being disturbed
"Maggie, I'm damn proud of you," Fred Grant expounded once they had gained the privacy of his small office "I must admit, I hadn't planned on your being gone a year, but if your other articles are as good as the first ones I received, it will all be worthwhile You're damn near a heroine, Maggie, surviving up there in the north country amidst all the hardships My God, you must have endured hell in the Klondike!"
"It wasn't so bad," Maggie shru
gged, thinking of all those endless days and nights spent loving Chase while snowbound at Eleven Above "Everything is recorded in my journal," she said, plunking her briefcase down on his desk "There are interviews.
firsthand reports of the demise of Soapy Smith and his gang, and my experiences in Skagway and the Klondike I think you'll be pleased "
"Pleased is too tame a word—I'm ecstatic I have to admit I was worried about you I would have blamed myself if anything had happened to you Are you all right1? You look a little peaked, and thinner than I remember "
"I'm fine, Mr Grant, truly," Maggie assured him
"Would you like a few days to settle in before returning to work1?"
"No, there's too much to do I want to finish the rest of the articles and get back to reporting About the photographic equipment—it was wrecked by Soapy Smith's thugs I'm sorry "
"My God, Maggie, what happened1?"
"It's a long story, Mr Grant, involving Smith and being abducted by his men I have it all down on paper, including firsthand reports of the events leading to Soapy's death I'll leave them here so you can look through them "
"Abductedl I knew I shouldn't have given in so easily and allowed you to go to the Klondike on your own There will be a big raise for you, Maggie, and recognition for your fine work Your next article will run in tomorrow's edition with your byline in big letters It's regretable about the equipment, but human life is more valuable I'm glad you've come back to us safe and sound "
Maggie started to rise, thought better of it, and sat back down "Is there something else1?" Grant asked curiously "If you need money, I've already arranged for your back pay "
"No, it's not that, it's—I'm engaged "
"Engagedl My word, when did all this come about1? Do I know the young man1?"
The announcement of Maggie's engagement shocked Fred Grant more than any of the
astounding adventures she wrote about He had assumed her career was too important to her to ever marry When a woman reached twenty-six, she was likely to be set in her ways and considered unrnamageable It would take a special kind of man to handle headstrong Maggie Afton properly, and Fred Grant sincerely hoped she had found that man
"I met him in Skagway—actually, aboard the North Star His name is Chase McGarrett and he owns a spread in Montana," Maggie explained "He's the man who took me over White Pass to the Klondike He and his partner own a claim on Gold Bottom We fell deeply in love "
"Montana, you say1?" Grant asked sharply "Does that mean I'm going to lose my ace reporter1?"
"Chase is a rancher I doubt he'll want to live anywhere but Montana But we haven't actually discussed it yet He's promised to return next spring, and I certainly intend to remain on the job till then "
"Is this McGarTett one of the lucky ones with a claim on the Bonanza to hit paydirt?"
"Yes, extremely lucky," Maggie confirmed happily "He'll return to civilization quite rich "
"I'll hate losing you, but you deserve the best, Maggie I hope the young man appreciates you, you're one in a million "
Maggie received tremendous satisfaction from seeing her stones and articles appear prominently in the Post-Intelligencer Some of her work was picked up by newspapers all over the country Because her picture was shown above her articles, she captured immediate recognition wherever she went She became an overnight celebrity, people spoke glowingly of her pioneering spirit and love of adventure Consequently she was courted by large Eastern newspapers and much sought after as a lecturer What thrilled Maggie most was the fact that
her talent and ability were finally recognized and publicly acknowledged A renowned book publisher had promised immediate publication of a book she was working on in her spare time, a work of fiction involving the lives of starnpeders and the families they left behind If it hadn't been for missing Chase so desperately, her life would have been perfect
Maggie had achieved so much this past year—recognition, an adventure most women only dreamed about, and love, by far the most important of her accomplishments But two months after her return, Maggie learned that the love she and Chase shared was soon to bear fruit A visit to the doctor confirmed her suspicion, she was expecting Chase's child A child he might not want, if his parting words were any indication
According to Maggie's calculations, she could continue working for several months yet, at least until the first of the year, if she was careful with her diet and wore loose-fitting clothes By then her articles on the Yukon would be completed and she could take a well-deserved leave of absence She could say she wanted time to complete her novel and no one would be the wiser After much agonizing, she decided she owed it to Mr Grant to confide in him
Instead of heaping condemnation on her, Fred Grant showed rare compassion for Maggie's plight "Is there any way to get in touch with your fiance1?" he asked, concern coloring his words Til use all my influence to see that your message is delivered "
"It's already late September," Maggie said, gratified by Mr Grant's sympathetic response to her condition "The passes may already be closed and the lakes and rivers frozen over Sometimes mail reaches the Klondike by dog sled, but I'm not certain Chase will winter in Dawson to receive mail And—and I'd hate for him to leam something like this in a letter "
"What are your plans'? I'll stand by you whatever you decide You're a remarkable young woman, Maggie Afton "
"You're a remarkable man, Mr Grant, and I value your friendship If you don't object, I'd like to continue working through December Then I'll request a leave of absence until my child is bom sometime in late April I'd prefer that my fellow workers not know, since they might not be as understanding as you I can use the free time to work on my book "
During the next three months, Maggie's job consumed most of her time Her initial articles set up a clamor for more of the same and she was pleased to comply In addition, she sold several short stones using characters she had encountered along the Yukon Trail She wished her father had lived to see her success but drew comfort from the knowledge that he would be extremely proud of her
It was the only comfort Maggie received during those long weeks, for she heard nothing from Chase—not one solitary word As her pregnancy progressed, doubt took root in her brain and refused to be dislodged
Had Chase forgotton so soon the vows they had exchanged, the love they shared1? She berated herself endlessly for not marrying him in Skagway Had she agreed to a ceremony back in July, her child would be bom with his father's name But she had grown complacent, thinking she was immune to pregnancy since it hadn't happened before now What was Chase going to think when he returned and found her bulging with his child1? Why had she foolishly allowed him to believe she couldn't conceive1? Hindsight was a bitter brew she was now choking on, Maggie reflected glumly, regretting her actions, no matter how well-intentioned
When Maggie left the newspaper on the last day of December 1898, no one but Mr Grant knew she
was expecting in four short months The slight curve of her abdomen was well-concealed beneath the loose folds of her clothing, with no one the wiser Though Maggie felt well, and the doctor pronounced her fit, she had gained little weight In fact, Mr Grant had expressed concern several times over her too-slim figure Small babies ran in her family—Maggie herself had only weighed only five pounds at birth—and the baby seemed to be thriving Naturally slim, Maggie took her slender proportions in stride, for she'd already experienced movement within the narrow confines of her womb and knew Chase's child prospered If only she was as certain of Chase as she was of his child
Maggie didn't venture far from her flat during January and February By now some of her neighbors recognized her condition, noted her unwed state, and promptly shunned her—all but a friendly older couple who had no children of their own Ivan and Jenny Greene went out of their way to be kind to Maggie and she greatly appreciated their visits They never questioned or condemned her but quietly let her know they'd be there should she need them It was good to know someone besides Mr Grant c
ared about her welfare
As for Chase, he was conspicious only by his absence, though Maggie was convinced he'd arrive in plenty of time for the birth of their child April arrived. Chase did not Maggie attained the great age of twenty-seven
Standing outside the cabin at Eleven Above, Chase watched the sun rise for the first time after a dismal winter The harsh months hadn't prevented him and Rusty from working, though All summer they had dug chunks of gold from the ground, their wealth accurnmulating at a shocking
rate Just before the first snowfall, they made a trip to Dawson City to deposit their cache in one of the newly opened banks On those days during the long winter months when they were unable to venture outside due to severe weather. Chase and Rusty spent long hours reminiscing about Montana and their ranch
Though the Yukon had been good to them, both longed to return to the land of the big sky Rusty had decided to ask Kate to return with him to Montana and share his life Chase was cheered by the fact that Maggie waited for him in Seattle Now, as the sun rose over the horizon. Chase turned to Rusty and saw in his eyes the same kind of longing that plagued his own troubled mind
"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin', son1?" Rusty asked, his gravely voice oddly choked "Reckon I am," Chase admitted
"I ain't no miner, and I reckon I'm rich enough ta suit me I'm all fer sellin' out ta one of them big Eastern companies and headin' home This climate makes my bones ache somethin' fierce " He searched Chase's face, hoping his partner's sentiments matched his own
"It takes a heap of wonyin' off my mind to know you feel the same," Chase returned "I promised Maggie I'd see her in Seattle in April, and I'm not hankenn' to spend another winter up here We've enough money to buy half of Montana if we wanted to "
