At the Rainbow's End

by Jo Ann Ferguson

  Hours later, in the golden afterglow of their love, Joel tucked the comforter tighter around them. “Better?”

  “Much.” She shivered delicately. Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed her cheek to his bare chest.

  “You’re never cold when we make love, Sam. Only afterwards.”

  She laughed. “I do remember once when I was cold the whole time.”

  He ruffled her hair as he thought of the desperate love they had shared in the frosty, snow shelter. How many times he had wished she would come to him in the snow again! Even the discomfort of that night had not kept him from wanting to love her any way he could.

  “Soon we’ll be home.” Looking up at the cracked ceiling, he asked, “Why did you agree to be mine again? What made you change your mind?”

  She wrinkled her nose impishly. “Humility. I loved it when you begged me to take you back. It was irresistible to be wanted that much.”

  He pressed her back against the pillows. The gleam of the lantern glittered on his smile as he said smugly, “I know.”

  “You know?” she cried. When she tried to sit, he laughed and held her to the bed. “That was all a trick?”

  Running his hand along her smooth skin, he whispered in her ear, “No, my love. I meant every word I said, but I admit I was ready to try anything and everything to make you believe me. If it took making myself look like a fool, I was willing to do it.”

  She twisted her fingers in his thick hair and pulled his mouth to hers. “You can be a bastard, Joel Gilchrist!” she announced in a light tone.

  “And you are a shrew.” He kissed her lightly. “I think we shall do just fine together for the rest of our lives. Now, do you want to go for dinner, or would you prefer to eat later?”

  Her voice became soft with desire as she answered, “Later, Joel. Much later.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Joel’s hand tightened on Samantha’s arm as they entered the saloon. They had said their farewells to Mrs. Kellogg, promising to stop in for a visit before they left the Yukon. It had not been easy for Samantha to see her friend cry tears of joy because Joel had professed his devotion. Harder still was realizing that their next good-bye to this woman who had helped her in her most dire moments would be final.

  With the sled packed for their journey they would be back to the claim by tomorrow afternoon. They did not look forward to the confrontation with Kevin, but they would not lie any longer. Tonight they could enjoy the entertainments Dawson offered.

  Seating her at a table, Joel walked to the bar to order a whiskey. He hurried back, noticing several men converging on Sam. He felt a smile tease the corner of his mustache. This could be amusing.

  Hearing three strangers speak to her at once, Samantha smiled, forgetting how Yukon men regarded women.

  “Are you dancing tonight?” asked one, yelping when his companion chortled and gave him a sharp elbow in the ribs.

  “No, I’m here with my fiancé.” She smiled, and her words warmed her heart. Clutching her bag in her lap, she added, “I see the next dance is beginning. You still have a little time to find someone to dance with.”

  “Leave the lady alone.” At the deep words, she saw a scarlet North-West Mounted Police uniform. Her gaze traveled up a row of shining brass buttons to the strong face of Constable French’s commander, Captain Starnes. She had seen him at Mrs. Kellogg’s.

  The men scattered like crisp leaves before an autumn wind. When she tried to thank Captain Starnes, he brushed aside her words. With a tip of his hat, he strode across the room to a table where several men seemed to be waiting for him.

  “The Mounties to the rescue?” Joel chuckled as he offered her a glass of champagne. “I had hoped that would be my chore.”

  “Too late,” she said with a smile.

  Putting his hand under her elbow, he urged her to her feet. “Come with me, Sam. I arranged for a more private spot for us.”

  “A more private spot?”

  He smiled. “The Monte Carlo offers all kinds of luxuries to its patrons. Do you want to see?”

  “How can I resist?” she asked, taking his outstretched hand.

  “I’m hoping you can’t. That’s the whole idea, honey.”

  She laughed while they crossed the busy room and walked up the stairs leading to the private rooms. Although she had heard rumors of the lush chambers waiting for customers wealthy enough to pay for them, she was unprepared for the grandeur of the room spread before her when he opened the plain door.

  Her fingers reverently touched the velvet portieres draping the arch beyond the door. When Joel switched on the lights, she gasped. Gilt shone everywhere. Tables and upholstered chairs waited for cardplayers, or lovers. Beneath the brilliant glare of the electric lights, the vivid scarlet Persian rug under their feet contrasted with the sedately carved back of a settee upholstered in gold fabric.

  “Sit down,” he said gently.

  “Joe, this must be costing you a fortune. If—”

  He smiled as he took her hands and drew her next to him on the hard cushions. “Don’t think about that.”

  Lifting her fingers to his lips, he kissed them one at a time. A shiver ran through her as his tongue teased the tip of her pinky. She wanted to urge him to kiss her. Pulling her hands out of his, she put one at the back of his head and brought his mouth over hers.

  She laughed softly when she felt his fingers on the buttons of her jacket. “Joel, I just dressed, you know.”

  “And now you’ll be undressed. My love,” he moaned with eager desire against the side of her neck. “My dear,’ dear love, let me love you again.”

  “Is this why you brought me to the Monte Carlo—”

  His chuckle interrupted her. “Only to love you? No. I wanted to show you off, too, Sam. Having you on my arm is so grand. I yearn for everyone to know you love me.” He pressed her back against the sofa. “No more talk.”

  With her arms around his shoulders, she ceded herself to their love once more. Her fingers moved along the silk of his vest. He loosened her short coat and undid the front of her blouse. The tip of his tongue traced ecstasy along the top of her fancy embroidered lace corset cover. Slowly he lowered the lace to reveal the curve of her breast. Crescendos of passion burst over her in a wild symphony, and she tightened her grip on him.

  Somewhere in the far reaches of her mind, she heard a strange sound. Opening her eyes to look past Joel, she saw the gilded paper on the walls. With a smile, she slid her hands along his firm muscles. She could feel his reaction through the crisp thickness of his clothes.

  Another odd noise invaded her delight. She felt Joel freeze. Looking up, she saw his face in profile, his horror reflected in the bright glow of the electric bulbs. Following his gaze, she gasped.

  “Kevin!” He stood like a statue, a pistol pointed directly at them.

  Silent, their partner watched Joel move in front of Samantha. Feeling her clothes gaping, seeing the recriminations and pain on Kevin’s face, Samantha blushed and held her jacket closed.

  Kevin shut the door and moved toward the settee. “You told me Samantha was in Dawson to help nurse a friend, didn’t you, partner?” His tone fierce, he put snide emphasis on the last word. “Instead, I discover she has been working for Mrs. Kellogg. Did you two have a lovers’ quarrel which you’re patching up? Is that why I find her half dressed in your arms, Gilchrist? I assume you two decided to leave without telling me. Or did you intend to return to Fifteen Above?”

  Samantha answered quickly, “We did,” starting to rise. Then, not sure if Kevin would use the gun, she moved close to Joel again. He had already broken the law by bringing a firearm into Dawson. He was so enraged that she could not guess what he would do next. “The cold made traveling dangerous. We planned to start back in the morning.”

  “After spending the night together here in this expensive whorehouse?” His eyes narrowed. “You must think me a fool.”

  Joel silenced her reply with his hand on her arm. Sh
e tried to keep her face calm as he said, “Sam is still unwed, if that’s what worries you.”

  “Sam?” Kevin’s mouth twisted at Joel’s use of the nickname. “You and she sure have played me for a fool, haven’t you?”

  Kevin pulled a leather bag from his pocket.

  Still holding the gun, tossing the bag at Joel’s feet, he snarled an order. Joel bent and picked it up, guarding Samantha.

  Balancing the bag in his hand, Joel said, “This is your share of the gold we got from the claim so far. Why are you throwing it around? There’s a small fortune in here!” He tossed it back to Kevin.

  Kevin snorted, catching it. “Smaller than it should have been. When we started together from Skagway, we were partners, Gilchrist. Half for you and half for me. Suddenly we have the grand idea to get ourselves a bride, and the division becomes a third for each of us.”

  “You agreed to that!” cried Samantha. “Joel didn’t even want to give me a share.”

  “Truly? Or just as an act, to keep me from knowing you two were in cahoots to cheat me of my share?” He smirked as he looked at Joel’s grim face. “You fool! Didn’t you think I would become suspicious when you wouldn’t risk my reading Samantha’s letters?”

  Forcing his voice to be calm, controlling his rage, Joel said, “What she wrote was personal. I didn’t think our neighbors needed to be shown the private dreams she shared with us.”

  “Lies! You burned them before I could read them. You didn’t want me to discover that you two were plotting to steal from me!”

  Samantha cried, “That’s insane, Kevin! We would never defraud you. You are our friend.”

  His mouth worked furiously, but he said nothing. More than once his finger reached for the gun hammer as if to shoot one or both of them, but did not pull back on it.

  When Samantha started to speak, Joel squeezed her waist in a silent command not to infuriate the other man further, his blue eyes offering her strength to deal with this irrational confrontation. He hoped Kevin would come to his senses.

  When she looked back at Kevin, she saw that this would never be solved with reasonable arguments. Enraged, he accused her with his eyes of things far worse than he had just uttered. Somehow she knew that he might be able to forgive Joel. She would never be granted the same.

  Glaring, Kevin snarled at Joel, “Look, I paid for half her fare. I want what is due me.” He motioned with the gun. “Stand up, woman.”

  “Kevin, we’ll give you half,” said Joel hurriedly.

  “It’s not gold I want. Come on, woman. Stand up, or I’ll bring every NWMP in the city when I fire a bullet through Gilchrist.”

  She shook off Joel’s hand and did as he ordered.

  Her face blanched as she heard his next command. She had considered Kevin her friend. The gentle, charming man who wanted only to make her happy in the isolated cabin could not be speaking to her like this!

  Following his instructions, she removed her cranberry velvet jacket. She struggled to push it along her arm and tried to keep her blouse closed. Rage burned in her cheeks as he ordered her to remove it, too.

  “Kevin Houseman, you must be crazy! Put that gun away!” She cried out in horror as he raised the pistol toward Joel and pulled back on the trigger. “Stop this!”

  “Have you been his lover?”

  Unable to speak, she nodded. As dangerous as telling the truth was now, she feared lying would be worse.

  “How long?” he snarled. “When was the first time you gave yourself to him?”

  “The first time,” she whispered, nearly overcome with fear at his cruelty, “the first time was when you went to Dawson to see the doctor.”

  His mouth twisted as he shouted abuse at her. She cringed, moving away from him. While he raved on, she bent to redo the pearl buttons on the front of her silk shirt. Suddenly he stopped and commanded, “Come here.”

  Joel rose slowly to his feet. “Kevin, don’t—”

  “This partnership is over, Gilchrist!” He pointed the gun toward Samantha, laughing. He knew he could control them easily in this manner. “You’ve had your share of Samantha’s company. Now will be my turn. I suggest you stay in Dawson. I’ll bring in your share of our assets in a few days. Half, not two thirds.” He took Samantha by the arm and jerked her close to him. “Until then, I’ll be enjoying this harlot.”

  “Joel!” she screamed as she felt the pistol against her. A jab in her ribs silenced her.

  “Listen to her,” urged the dark-haired man. “Kevin, you’re her friend. You were my partner. If—”

  Houseman ignored them both. Stepping toward the door, he forced her with him. “Follow us, and I’ll kill her. I mean it.”

  Thinking longingly of his own pistol in their cabin, Joel stood, teeth clenched in anger. He despised the impotence which forced him to watch as Houseman dragged her out of the room. Samantha opened her mouth to scream. Kevin bent to whisper in her ear. Her face paled, and she nodded.

  Joel wondered what she had promised. Of one thing he was sure. It was to protect him. Hurrying onto the balcony overlooking the main room, he espied Houseman and the reluctant woman crossing the saloon.

  As they reached the door, Kevin glanced up and saw Joel. The temptation to pull the gun from his thick coat sleeve and fire proved almost too strong to be ignored. Noticing a NWMP uniform, he stifled his urge to kill Samantha’s lover before her beautiful, lying eyes.

  Not yet.

  “Kevin, please, stop this,” she murmured at his side.

  Kevin smiled coldly, enjoying the moment. She didn’t dare raise her voice. He could manipulate her completely. A pulse of power raced through him. Finally, he ruled a woman he wanted. She would suffer for all the insults he had taken docilely for too many years.

  When he pulled her out of the Monte Carlo, the cold slapped at her viciously. Shivering, she heard his victorious laugh, she did not look at him as he hurried her along the boardwalk.

  “Cold, Samantha? Or do you prefer to be called Sam by all your lovers?”

  Quietly she answered his first question, trying to ignore the threat of his second. Perhaps she could convince him yet to come to his senses. “It’s cold without a coat, Kevin.”

  “You didn’t act as if you were cold when Gilchrist was undressing you.”

  “Please, Kevin, don’t do this. I—”

  “Shut up!” he snapped. “I don’t want to hear more lies from you, woman.”

  “Kevin—” Her words faded into a groan as his hand lashed against her cheek. She had never dreamed this gentle man would hit her. Tears scorched her eyes.

  He jerked her through a door, into the lobby of the Aurora Hotel, and hurried her up the stairs. Again the gun pressed into her side, so she did not dare cry out for help.

  The room was different from the one where she and Joel had spent the afternoon. Personal items were scattered across the top of what was undeniably a dressing table. Cosmetics and a lacquered box for jewelry glittered in the gleam from the lantern by the door. She did not ask the questions which came to mind.

  “Over there,” he ordered, motioning with his gun. He smiled as she backed away from him. “On the bed.”

  Samantha sat gingerly on the very edge. When he smiled maliciously, she folded her fingers in her lap. She could not believe this man she had trusted was treating her like this.

  With a laugh, Kevin regarded her pale face. “Make yourself comfortable, honey. It’s going to be a very, very long night.” Behind his glasses, his eyes glittered with lust. He walked toward the bed. “When I saw you the first time, I wanted you as I never wanted a woman. You knew I loved you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I knew you cared for me from the day we met.”

  He put the gun under his coat as he paused in front of her. “Instead of taking you as I desired, I let Gilchrist talk me into courting, and letting you choose, as we had planned before we sent for you.”

  “I did choose,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t love y
ou, Kevin. Why I chose as I did, I can’t explain. You are my dear friend.”

  “Friend?” he growled, seizing her shoulders and pressing her into the thin mattress. When she shrieked for him to release her, he laughed. Silenced, she stared at his transformed face. Staring at her, he said, “For more than a year I wait, looking at your lovely picture, wanting you so bad I ached worse than with the burn of the coldest winter wind. Then you arrive and smile at me. But that’s all. You smile. You tease me. You let me touch you and kiss you, only as a brother. At the same time, you’re letting Gilchrist into your bed.”

  “Kevin, I—” Her words disappeared into a scream as his fingers reached for her blouse. He did not rip it from her, as she feared, but slowly undid the top button on her collar. His fingers stroked her skin. Noticing her terror and disgust, his eyes slitted in rage. He laughed again and rose, motioning for her to do the same. Her hands trembled as she stood to face him.

  “I thought you were a lady, but you’re no different from the rest of the whores in Dawson. Let’s see how you compare with them.” Chortling with malicious glee, he ordered, “Take it off.”

  The color drained from her face. “Kevin, please. Stop this. I did only as you wanted.”

  “But you didn’t choose the right one. Don’t you understand? You didn’t select me! No one has ever chosen me. My mother even sided with that bastard she forced me to acknowledge as my stepfather. You were supposed to be different. You’re the woman from my dreams. You are mine!” He loosened another button. “Take it off.”

  “Your mother?” she asked, using any excuse to delay.

  His mouth twisted. Taking her by the shoulders, he shook her viciously. “He stole her love from me. He thought he could be my father. That was impossible. He charmed my mother. He charmed my sisters and brothers, but he couldn’t fool me. I knew him for the bastard he was. He was one of them.”

  “One of them?” She stood very still, not wanting to let him see any sign of weakness.