Jenna Kernan by Gold Rush Groom Read Free Book Online

Jack saw the circle of spectators, gawking at him as if he were a madman.
    Lily spoke first. “They tried to steal my dog.”
    A short, stocky man stepped forward. His face bristled with gray whiskers and tobacco juice glistened on his chin. “Jonathan, get some rope to tie these two.” Next he pointed to a man who stoodstoop-shouldered in muddy boots. “Bobby, get that horsewhip of yours.”
    Jack suddenly realized what was happening. Vigilante justice—his stomach cramped at the thought. Disapproval filled him. Men could not simply take the law into their own hands. Then his mind flashed to an image of Lily struggling vainly for escape. The fury overtook him again and he decided they deserved far worse.
    “Call the authorities!” someone shouted.
    There was a moment’s silence and then men guffawed.
    “Authorities?” said the stocky man. “There ain’t no law ’til you reach the Canadian border.”
    Lily had told him as much. But he hadn’t really understood it until now. He’d never lived in a place where people made up the rules as they went along.
    This tent town was an illusion. All these men were gathered only to ready themselves for the push to Dawson. Then the entire town would vanish and remake itself inland. They were like ants, scurrying in the mud.
    “What will you do with them?” Jack asked, longing to bloody his fists on the men’s faces again.
    “Whip ’em. Then we’ll run them out of Dyea.”
    Jack glanced down to see Lily’s strained, brave little face and pulled her even closer, shaken at the realization that he would have killed for her.
    Lily still clung to his middle, staring up at him inastonishment. Was that horror or a kind of newfound respect? The need to protect her warred with the desire to claim her as his. Jack slipped one hand up to tangle in her hair, taking possession of her.
    She pushed off him like a swimmer from the side of a pool and stepped back.
    Her words came to him again. We’re not that kind of partners.
    “Damn,” he muttered and let her go.
    The two men were dragged off, feet-first. Jack looked at the distance he had thrown the first man and could not quite believe it.
    Nala jumped up on Lily, muddying her fine crimson coat. But she hugged the dog, resting her head against the thick scruff of the mongrel’s neck.
    “Good girl, Nala. That’s my girl.” Her hound dropped to all fours. But Lily just followed her, squatting in the street before him. She straightened at last, coming close enough for him to breathe in her fragrance of cinnamon and musk again. She placed one hand flat on his chest, reminding him of her earlier caress.
    The small action nearly stopped his heart and made it surprisingly difficult to draw a full breath.
    “That was very brave,” she whispered. She stepped back and laced her fingers together then wrung her hands. “Thank you.”
    He blinked. “You’re welcome.”
    “Who’s your man, Lil?” asked a ruddy-faced gent with a fine crop of hair sprouting from each nostril.
    She lifted a hand, presenting him to the group of curiosity seekers.
    “Boys, meet Jack Snow, my new partner.”
    Jack braced, waiting for someone to recognize his surname.
    A ripple went through the crowd, but after a moment he realized it was not for the reason he feared. Perhaps he had finally found a place where he could be who he was now instead of who he had been.
    Some of the male bystanders looked amused, while others simply stared, slack-jawed. A few stepped forward to shake his hand or clap him on the shoulder. He breathed again when he realized they did not know him or his family. The scandal that had blanketed the pages of the papers in New York meant nothing to these men. No one knew. No one cared—no one but him.
    Lily’s smile was bright and her laughter contagious. She seemed the darling of the street with many admirers already. It took a long while for the men to return to their tents.
    At last, Nala had had enough and ducked between the