Johanna: Bride of Michigan (American Mail-Order Bride 26) (9 page)

Johanna shook her head sadly. She didn’t want to share how she really felt about Paul. What if Sara told someone? No, she wanted Paul to come to her in his own time and hopefully profess his love for her.

Sara worked the buttons of Johanna's dress and it was gently pulled off. “You can leave after you loosen my corset,” Johanna said. “I can do the rest myself.”

Sara hung up her dress and pulled the strings of Johanna’s corset then left the room quietly. Johanna wiggled out of the corset and took her shoes off. She pulled up her chemise just enough to glance at her reddened scar, wishing it didn’t look as monstrous as she thought. No, she was wrong on that account. It was hideous. When she and Paul finally slept in the same bed, she’d demand the lights be off, if that was at all possible.

Johanna tugged off her chemise and pulled out her nightgown, putting it on. Blowing the oil lamp out, she climbed into bed, hoping Paul would still take her to the mill in the morning. She snuggled against her pillow. She had overreacted to what he said, but he was so right. She
did
enjoy the kiss!

Johanna grumbled when Sara woke her up early the next morning. “I’m sorry, Miss, but your husband told me to tell you if you wanted to head to the mill with him today, you’ll have to hurry. Mornings are the best time for a tour.”

She reluctantly rolled out of bed and Sara was standing in such a way that she saw Johanna’s scar. Her eyes widened and she let out a gasp. “I’m sorry, Miss.”

Johanna sighed noisily. “Why are you sorry? I’m the one with a hideous scar, not you. Promise me you won’t tell my husband. He’ll boot me out, for sure.”

“I hardly think Mr. Worthington would do that. However did you get that scar? It doesn’t look all that old.”

“How would you know?”

“It’s quite red, for one. Older scars are more white in color.”

“Part of the machine I was working on came loose, and even though I jumped out of the way, a piece of metal sliced my leg open. It was a dreadful injury, and I had a horrible infection since the factory owner didn’t get me the proper medical treatment. If it hadn’t been for some of the other women at the factory who had healing hands, I’d have lost my leg or died.”

“I’m so sorry. I’m glad you didn’t die, but I wouldn’t worry about that scar. When you’re in your husband’s bed, he won’t even be looking at that.” She laughed.

Johanna joined her in laughter. “I’m glad you saw it, since it’s been hard concealing it from you. Can I trust you to not breathe a word about this to anyone?”

“Of course, Mrs. Worthington. Part of being a lady’s maid is keeping your secrets private.”

“Also, I demand that when we’re alone, you are to address me as Johanna. You’re my lady’s maid and confidant, I hope.”

Her mouth and eyes widened. “I can’t! It’s just not done.”

“Oh, bother.” Johanna waved her arms grandly and announced, “I proclaim that you shall henceforth call me Johanna when we’re alone.” She giggled.

“Fine, Johanna, but you had better hurry. I know you’ll love the outing to the mill today.”

Johanna slipped on a clean chemise and corset. Sara held up a beige dress with a tapered jacket and bell skirt. “This should fit,” she suggested.

“Where did you get this dress from, Sara?”

“Oh, it was lying around.”

Johanna’s hands slipped to her hips. “Really?” she asked in doubt.

“I took one of your dresses over to Anna so she could determine your size. She’s a friend of mine. She’s married to a lumberjack and works as a seamstress out of her home. Luckily, her sister was your size,” Sara admitted.

“I’d hate to take the dress from her sister.”

“She doesn’t need it. Sadly, she drowned in the river last year.”

“Oh, how terrible.” Johanna gasped. “And she kept her dresses all this time?”

“Just this one, since she was making it at the time of her death. Anna had planned to surprise her sister, but never had the chance.”

“Thank Anna for me. It’s lovely.”

Sara helped Johanna don the dress and fasten the small buttons in the back. “Thank you, Sara.”

“Don’t forget to wear boots today. I’d hate for you to lose your footing at the mill. It can be downright dangerous.”

“I’ll be careful, I promise,” Johanna said as she put on her boots, buttoning them up. “I had better hurry downstairs. I’d hate to be left behind.”

Johanna flew out the door and nearly fell as she skipped down the stairs. Halfway down, Paul stood there, looking up at her disapprovingly. Only then did she slow her pace.

“Good morning, Paul. I’m so excited about visiting the mill today.”

“I can see, but next time, take more care on the stairs. I’d hate for you to take a nasty fall.”

“Do I have time for breakfast?”

He handed her an apple. “I hope this is enough. I have them waiting until we show up to begin for the day. I’d hate to lose half a day by not arriving on time.”

Johanna wanted to apologize for the previous night, but he apparently was unscathed from the slap he received. She only wished she hadn’t acted like she had, as she most certainly enjoyed the kiss.

She took the apple from him. “This will be fine.”

“Not to worry, I planned a nice picnic for lunch.”

The kitchen maid came forward and handed off the picnic basket to Paul, and he led the way to the door. He helped her aboard the buggy and then with a slap of the reins, the horses trotted off and up the cobblestone street.

They passed row after row of businesses, and the smell of moisture and wood clung to the air as they neared the river. A large structure loomed in the distance, and the river was packed with logs.

“Is that the mill?” Johanna asked excitedly.

“Yes.” He then pointed out the cabins behind the mill. “That’s where the men live with their families.”

“The men who work the mill, or the lumberjacks?”

“Both, but the lumberjacks are currently off for a few weeks. They’ve been working all summer with the railroad in place now. We’ll be going out to a lumberjack camp tomorrow.”

Johanna smiled. “Really, a real lumberjack camp. I’m so excited to see that. Is anyone there at this time of year?”

“No. The repairs should be finished by now. I like to keep the buildings maintained. It’s quite cold in the winter.”

Johanna was impressed at how much he cared for his workers, even though he had to fire the bookkeeper only the day before. Men were milling around as the buggy came to a halt, and a man gave Johanna assistance off the buggy. Paul jumped down and the same man hopped up and drove it off, presumably to a nearby corral that Johanna saw on their way in.

She stared up at the mill that was a few stories tall. A water wheel was spinning, and Johanna was amazed at how powerful it looked. “What does that do?” she asked.

“It’s creating all the power we need to run the mill.”

“That water wheel helps run the mill?” she asked in surprise. “I had wondered how you did it.”

Johanna carefully went up the stairs with Paul close behind her, the planks of the floor clattering as they made their way. It was an open area with a roof overhead. The mill was right on the river that was packed with logs. A man stood nearby with a hook and was pulling logs in, staring at the ends and pushing them back out.

“What is he doing?”

“Each of the lumber companies marks the end of their logs, and we process one company together at a time.”

“It must be easier to organize that way. How is the cut lumber sent out?”

“It’s dried and sent by ship.”

“I’d love to see a log cut, if I could.”

“Of course, but watch your step,” Paul said. “If you tumble into the river, the logs will crush you.”

Johanna glanced over at the log-jammed river and knew that to be true, but it looked almost like you could cross the river by way of the logs. Of course, she knew that couldn’t be done without them turning in the water.

She kept close to Paul as they walked into the cutting room. A log was on a set of rollers that moved it along as a circular saw cut through it. She clapped her hands over her ears as the saw made the most irritating metal grinding sound.

“As the water drops down on the water wheel, it moves the spindle that turns the arms of the saw and propelling the log along,” Paul explained. “Another man has to hurry to remove the board before the next rotation.”

They walked over and Paul showed her where the boards were set for drying. In the distance, lumber was loaded onto a ship. All men were hard at work, not one had idle hands.

“This is really interesting,” Johanna said.

As they went back the way they came, the heel of Johanna’s boot caught between the cracks and she flew toward the river.

Paul grabbed Johanna before she hit the water and jerked her up. She jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly as her heart pounded. “It’s okay,” Paul said, pulling her a shoulder’s width apart. “Are you okay?”

“Besides nearly having a heart attack, you mean?”

“I told you it can be dangerous. Let’s get out of here before you really get hurt.”

Johanna waved to the men before she left. They stood red-faced and didn’t brave a response, but most likely they weren’t used to a lumber baron’s wife acknowledging them. She wanted to set herself apart, though. If not for them, business wouldn’t be able to do as well.

They went back down the stairs and Paul took her to a building with the word ‘office’ in bold red lettering. In the door they went, and a young man sat behind the only desk with a pile of paperwork covering it.

“How is it looking?” Paul asked.

“Not sure. It will take a week to go through all the invoices.”

“Do your best, Ashton. I want to be sure we’re being paid properly by the other lumbering companies. I can’t help but wonder if they’ve been giving William monies for cheating me, or if he was cheating us all.”

“I’ll do my best to sort this out, Mr. Worthington.”

There was a warning knock at the door and a man with white hair and long sideburns walked in. “Oh, there you are, Paul. I had hoped to discuss an important matter with you.”

“I don’t have the time right now. I’m giving my wife Johanna a tour of the mill today.”

The man’s bushy eyebrows danced. “Calvin Raybarry, dear, and what a lovely wife you have, Paul. I had no idea you were courting anyone.”

“I’m a man of mystery.” Paul laughed.

“I was wondering how the lumbering is going on your land?”

“Good as far as I know, but I plan to do an inspection tomorrow.”

“Good to know. I can’t help but wonder how long the trees will last before the time of lumbering is at an end.”

“I can’t say, but I have other things going, as well.”

“Such as?”

“I’d rather not discuss my private business matters,” Paul said. “Is that all you came here to say?”

“Well, I did hear you fired your bookkeeper yesterday.”

“I did.”

“I assure you that I paid you fairly, but I have suspected that your accountant was involved in underhanded dealings. He was bragging about his deception at the tavern last night. He didn’t seem upset he’d just lost his job.”

“Like I said, this is a personal business matter, and I’d rather not discuss it.”

“Do you plan on contacting the police about his deception?” Calvin asked.

“Good day, Calvin, and thank you for the information. I’m a fair man, and I hope we can continue to do business with one another.”

He nodded at Johanna. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance, dear lady. You’ve found yourself a good husband in Paul. He’s the most honest man I know of.” Calvin then left with a curt nod and was out the door without further comment.

Johanna glanced curiously at Paul. “Check out Calvin’s account first,” Paul insisted.

The bookkeeper nodded. “Right away, Mr. Worthington.”

“That’s a curious man,” Johanna pointed out. “Although, I hardly think him knowing about William’s deception and contributing to the crime is the same thing.”

“Very true. William will most certainly be the fall person since I believe he was pocketing the difference not paid to the company. He wasn’t only hurting me, but everyone who works for me.”

“It was nice meeting you,” Johanna said to the bookkeeper as she took Paul’s arm.

Once they were outside, he chuckled. “You do know most husbands would be upset if their wives directly spoke with the men who work for them.”

“They’re important. It’s not as though you can do everything yourself.”

“I’m not complaining, merely making a comment.” With that, they left in the direction of the cabins.

Johanna didn’t know what to expect when they reached the rows of cabins, but they appeared quite tidy. Even curtains covered the glass windows! She had read a few books about cabins out west and they didn’t have glass, but were merely openings with a piece of wood they could pull down that would cover the hole.

Paul knocked on a door and it was opened to a young woman with a baby clutched close to her breast. “Hello there, Mr. Worthington. Who is that hiding behind you?”

“Becky, this is my wife, Johanna. I had hoped we could come in so I can show my wife the accommodations you have.”

“Sure. I have a pot of stew on the stove that should be done about now.”

Paul motioned Johanna to precede him through the door, and she noticed the wood floor had been scrubbed clean. In the corner was a black wood stove, with a fireplace on the other side of the cabin with only two rocking chairs near it. There was a curtain hanging over a doorway, and Johanna presumed it was a bedroom. A ladder led upstairs, where two children were glancing curiously down at them.

“Ruby and Ben Junior, you can come down, but mind your manners. This is your father’s boss, Mr. Worthington, and his wife.”

The children climbed down the ladder and stood near their mother. Ruby was the oldest at about nine and took the baby from her mother, who then walked over to a pot and spooned out two bowls that she set on the table. Ben Jr., the younger of the two children, sat on the rocking chair far from them, next to his sister who joined him there.