South of Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 2) (32 page)

Chapter Seventy

    
 
T
imothy
Elgerson looked at the first quarter profits in his completed ledger and blew out his breath. The number was staggering, and he was certain that Benjamin Neilson was going to be equally pleased when he heard the amount. He expected him to arrive the following morning and had already arranged for the best room at the hotel for the man.

      Their business venture in full swing, Timothy was certain that he now had the mill running well enough that he could consider retiring a bit. He had put in long and exhausting hours for nearly a year, as had Roland and Mark. Now their holdings were substantial, and would continue to be such as long as the mill continued to operate efficiently. He would call both of the men together, he thought, over dinner and let them see what his ledgers had just shown him.

      Neilson was coming into town to check the number himself, but on the next quarter it would be Timothy’s turn to travel south again.

     He didn’t care much for traveling. The big man liked being at home. He enjoyed seeing his wife’s face beside him every morning when he slipped from the big bed. He loved the way she would curl into a tiny ball as soon as his warmth left her side. He’d tuck the blanket around her and she would smile so sweetly in her sleep.

      He liked that at any time during the day he could steal away and take a quick walk back to the house and see his children frolicking in the yard. Sometimes he never even said a word and just headed back to the mill. He relished his evenings, all together in the parlor, each sharing stories of their day.

      Before the next quarterly meeting Timothy considered that he would hire a courier, an employee he could count on to travel to Missouri so he could stay close to home. He decided he would discuss it with Benjamin Neilson. He might not care to travel either, Timothy thought.

      Emma and Rebecca fussed over Louisa, as she stood on the heavy hassock in the sewing room on the second floor of Stavewood. Rebecca pinned the hem of her daughter’s dress while Emma snipped out tiny threads from another frock.

      “Why do you have to do this, Mama?” The child fussed.

      “Because you are growing so quickly,” Rebecca scooted a bit more to one side and pushed in another pin.

      “Why can’t you just buy me a new dress?” Louisa pouted.

      “Because this one is perfectly fine, it only needs to be let down a bit. Hold still or it will take even longer.”

      When the woman finished with her pinning she slipped the dress carefully from the child and her curls bounced onto her shoulders.

      “Arms up,” Rebecca instructed and she slid on the next dress. “Last one!” she announced brightly.

      Louisa scowled and folded her arms.

      “Wow!” Roland sat back in his chair in shock.

      Timothy slid the ledger across the table to his son who picked up the book and examined the numbers.

      The young man set the book down and looked at both men in turn.

      “These are the actual numbers?” His face was wrinkled in surprise.

      “They are.” Timothy smiled and leaned back in his chair.

      “‘Wow’ is right,” Mark checked the numbers again.

      “I couldn’t have done it all alone. Both of you have been living this, putting in the hours for over a year now, but it has certainly paid off. With a little more organization we should be able to maintain this level of profit and get back to a regular schedule.

       “Emma would sure be glad to hear that,” Roland said. “She hasn’t said a word, but I know she’s been shouldering all the responsibilities at the house alone.”

      Timothy had to agree. “Rebecca hasn’t said anything either, I’ve been trying to get in lunches when I can. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear it.”

      Mark thought about how Bernadette had complained he was too busy to notice her and once again thought she was not the right girl for him. He pushed thoughts of her aside and tried to consider what his father was telling them.

      Timothy faced his friend and shook his hand. “Roland, you’re the best foreman I have ever had. I don’t know if I have to say it, but when I gave you the meadow land I never expected you to work at the mills forever. I still want you at the mill, and you know that, but if you want to leave, you have my blessing to do so.”

      “Thank you, Tim,” Roland smiled. “But, I like what I do. I don’t want to do it seven days a week forever, but I’ll stick around.”

      Elgerson nodded in appreciation.

      Timothy faced his son and offered his hand to him as well. Mark took the big man’s hand. He couldn’t recall him shaking his hand since he was a kid, when Timothy had first shown him how to shake hands like a man.

      “You’ve been working hard. I’ve seen it. I know you’ve had some issues going on. I want you to know that I appreciate it. You’ve done a good job and I recognize that. And I’m pretty proud to boot.”

      The young man watched Timothy and Roland head for the parlor and then walked out onto the front porch. He looked out across the lawns and thought about his life over the past year. He felt like he was just a kid when his father took him on their business venture. It was only a year ago, but he wasn’t the same person. He didn’t feel much like a kid anymore.

      Things at the mills would calm down a bit now and Mark felt as if it were time for a change. There would be another dance in the fall and he considered that he might meet someone there. Maybe he’d get a few dance pointers from Roland. He smiled to himself and joined the family inside.

Chapter Seventy-One

    
 
B
ernadette Shofield closed the office door behind her and stepped outside. The bright daylight assaulted her momentarily and she swallowed and held onto the door jamb. She strained her eyes and looked up and down the street making sure no one saw her and she hurried out onto the walkway and tried to act as if she were window shopping.  She looked behind her and saw Samuel Evens watching her from across the street, his
hands folded across his chest.

      She rushed up the avenue, terrified he had seen her exiting the physician’s office. Until she spoke to Jude she wanted no one to know about her situation.

      Jude Thomas rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “This could be even better,” he said aloud.

      “Better?” she choked. “Jude I don’t understand what you are saying. Don’t you appreciate what’s happening? The doctor said I am going to have a baby. Your baby!”

      “I understand perfectly,” he glared into her face. “But you are wrong about one thing. This is Elgerson’s baby. You’re going to head right over there, right in the middle of their damn mill and you are going to announce it to the world!”

      She fell back onto the bed and gasped. “What?” Her hand flew to her face and the color drained from her face.

      “You heard me,” he hissed. “That brat is not mine. That kid is Mark Elgerson’s and you are never to tell anyone anything different.”

      “Oh, Jude. No!” She shook her head violently. “It’s not even possible. I never was with him that way.”

      “What?” He spun to face her, infuriated.

      “I was only ever with you. Mark never touched me, not like that.”

      The back of his hand stung hard as it met her cheek.

      He paced the room, agitated, and then spun to face her suddenly. “It doesn’t matter. You tell them he’s lying. That he doesn’t want to admit it because you’re just trash. You tell them that he threw you away when he found out.” He rubbed his hand across his face and cleared his throat.

      “No, don’t tell the whole mill. You go right to his father. You tell him alone first. Tell him his son forced you and now is trying to get rid of you
and
the baby. Yes, tell him the boy offered you money to see a doctor to get rid of it, but it’s Mark’s. And it’s his grandchild. Do this and you’ll never want for another thing as long as you live.”

      Bernadette began to pant heavily and she felt the room closing in around her. “I can’t,” she murmured.

      “You can and you will!” Jude threatened.

      “But, you said if I did what you wanted that you would take care of me,” she cried.

      “You just don’t get it do you? You have got to be the stupidest woman I have ever had. This was never about you!”

      The girl sobbed uncontrollably. Her hands began to shake and she crawled up into the corner of the bed. “I can’t,” she whispered again.

      “You will, Bernadette. You will because if you don’t things will get very bad for you. You wouldn’t want something to happen to your father one night when he’s had a few too many, would you? And what about your kid? Imagine what kind of life that baby will have with no father around, because I guarantee you, you will not see me again after this. I got the information I want anyway without you. But, this is just too perfect. If you don’t tell the Elgersons that this is their grandchild you’re carrying, your life will be completely worthless.

      “You think you had it bad as a kid, with your drunk father at you all the time and no money for anything? What’s it going to be like for a bastard child? Think about that, Bernadette. Now, you’re going to get up and go wash your face. You’re going to change into a clean dress and you are going to ride out to that damned mill and tell Timothy Elgerson just what that boy has been up to. You’re going to tell him he’s about to become a grandfather.”

      Jude chuckled and walked out of the room.

      Bernadette’s chest heaved hard as she struggled to catch her breath. She couldn’t imagine how she could do it. How could she tell such a monstrous lie? Would they even believe her? Mark knew the truth. His family really loved him and they would never believe her over him. Even if they were to take care of her, what would they do? They certainly wouldn’t just give her money. They would want Mark to marry her. If she were married to Mark he would be even angrier than he was now and for much longer. And what about Sam? If she married Mark she would never be able to tell Sam how she really felt about him.

      She swallowed hard, trying to come up with some solution that would not make Jude angry and still fix the situation.

      Maybe if she did get Mark to give her money to get rid of the baby, then she could just go away. Or, what if she just asked him for money so she could go away? She could tell him that she would never tell a soul and just leave and have her baby somewhere else. Somewhere where she could say she was a widow. Maybe Mark would even keep sending her money.

      He’d never do that, she reasoned. He would never do that because he knew the truth. And, because he knew the truth, he was going to ask her whose baby it really was. What would she say then? Mark would think she had been with both Sam
and
Jude.

      Mark would be so hurt, she thought. He would never hit her way Jude did. Jude was like her father. Neither of them ever seemed hurt by what she said or did. But Mark would be hurt. She began to feel worse.

      She couldn’t tell Mark, she decided. Mr. Elgerson was big, but he was always gentle to her and very professional. He would never hurt her at the mill. She could go to his office there, tell him and leave. She would not have to face Mark at all and then she’d figure out what to do.

      Jude wouldn’t just leave. He was saying that because he was angry, she thought. Once she did what he wanted and told Mr. Elgerson, he’d stay. She just knew he would.

    By the time Jude returned, Bernadette had washed her face and changed into a clean dress. Choosing something simple was better, she thought. She checked her face in the mirror and decided not to put on her lipstick. It was probably best if she looked plain. Mr. Elgerson might feel sorry for her and be kind to her like he was that day he discovered she was good with numbers. She liked Mr. Elgerson she thought.

      “I’m ready.” She took a deep breath.

      Jude rode beside her in the carriage coaching her every inch of the journey on how she ought to behave. He told her over and over again what she should say, how she should act, and asked twice if she had a handkerchief because she ought to cry.

      “Think of something sad and show lots of tears. Elgerson is probably a real sucker for a crying woman,” he said.

      Bernadette thought that this was sad enough.

      He climbed from the carriage at the junction to the mill road and told her he’d wait for her. Bernadette considered riding off as far as she could and never coming back. If she had had any money at all she would have considered it more seriously.

      She pulled her vehicle into a space beside the mill and stepped down from the carriage carefully. She felt lightheaded and strange, like nothing around her was real. It was as if it was all some kind of a play and she was just an actor. If she remembered her lines it would all be okay. Nothing she was doing was wrong, it was all just a bad dream and she had to get through it.

      Timothy Elgerson let her into his office, closed the door behind them and sat down behind his desk. He could see the girl had been crying sometime earlier. She appeared oddly composed and she sat with her spine straight and her hands folded on her lap.

      “What can I do for you, Bernadette?”

      She looked at him blankly for a moment and then opened her mouth, but did not speak.

      She swallowed and looked down at her hands then back up to the man and he saw an expression of extreme sadness flash across her face. Then it was gone and she looked very unyielding again.

      “Bernadette?”

      “I have come here to tell you…” her voice trailed off. She gasped, took a very deep breath and tried again.

      “I’ve come to tell you that I am expecting a baby and that Mark is the father.” She looked down to her hands in her lap and waited for his response.