Free Snow Angel by Jamie Carie Page B

gaze wandered to the friend seated in a low wooden chair by the fire. He was a good-looking man, as tall as Noah but not quite as wide in the chest, with his long legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles. Jacko. Hmmm, the name fits him. His voice and mannerisms bordered on boisterous, making wide sweeps with his hands as he talked with Noah. Then Noah told the story of how he had found her barely alive on his doorstep.
    * * *
    NOAH FOUND HIS attention wandering to Elizabeth. He couldn’t seem to concentrate on Jacko’s litany of the boom going on in Juneau. And, confound it, he was usually so glad to see his old friend. They only saw each other once or twice during the winter months. And when Jacko came to stay, he usually stayed at least a couple of weeks.
    Noah returned his gaze to his friend and felt heat steal up his face for only the third time in his life that he could remember, two of them in the last few days. Jacko was looking at him with knowing eyes and a mocking grin. Noah wondered if he looked like the lovesick puppy that he was beginning to believe he was. No doubt he did. Shifting in his chair, he determined to give his friend his full attention when her sweet voice called out, “It’s ready!”
    Jacko laughed heartily as Noah jumped out of his chair. “Looks to me like your bachelor days are numbered, my friend. That is, if she’ll have you. She could certainly do better.”
    Noah would have taken exception to that remark, except for the sparkle in his friend’s light blue eyes. Jacko was going to have a good time teasing him about this, no doubt about that.
    â€œYou wouldn’t be thinking an old scoundrel like you would make a better catch, now would you?” Noah asked, with just a little more aggression than he meant. They were nearly locking horns by the time they made it to the kitchen area, where Elizabeth was standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at both of them.
    â€œWhat makes you two giants think I’d take either of you?”
    She slapped the plates of food on the table with a bang for effect and turned back to the stove, trying to hide a smile. She lifted the heavy bowl of rice and moved it to the table, pulled out her chair, and sat down next to Noah. Folding her hands in her lap, she bowed her head and waited expectantly for Noah to bless the food.
    Jacko cleared his throat and quickly ducked his head.
    Noah said a quicker grace than usual and began to eat.
    â€œSo, Mr. Cherosky, what is the news from Juneau concerning the gold rush?” She darted Noah a look. “Noah may not be interested, but I’d like to hear anything you can tell me about it.”
    â€œWell, ma’am, I was shocked when I got back to this area. It’s a regular boomtown, as you probably know. I’ve been in Seattle, doing a little trading and stocking up on goods. I was barely able to get passage back up here when I did. The ships are loaded, and the price of fares is just plain thievery. But I had to get supplies for the trading post if this crowd is going to weather out the winter in Juneau. Has Noah told you we’re partners?”
    Elizabeth looked at Noah and raised her eyebrows. “No, he seems to have left that out.”
    â€œWell, we and a third man, Will Collins, own the only trading post in Juneau. We arrived before anybody was here but the natives and a few miners from the Juneau strike, which was about ten years ago, and it’s already paid off, hasn’t it, Noah?” He looked briefly at his friend with a wolfish smile.
    Noah only nodded and continued to chew. He thought it best for his own self-preservation if he just kept his mouth shut for a while.
    â€œAnyway, I was elected to go south for a heavy run of supplies, miners’ supplies and food mostly, to hold all of us through the winter.” Turning toward Noah, he exclaimed, “You wouldn’t believe some of the schemes and gadgets