Johanna watched her father, waiting for a moment to speak to him, but he was never alone. One of his younger servants, a boy she recognized from the kitchens at the hotel, ran up the road and directly to Johanna’s father, then whispered in his ear. Her father’s mouth tightened, his lips thin and straight. He raised a hand and eventually everyone silenced.
“One final act and then I will cast my vote. Edmund? In caring for my daughter’s physical needs—a home, shelter, a bed to sleep in, clothes to wear—what do you have to show me that is evidence of your ability to care for her?”
Edmund grinned his sly grin, then walked forward to the table where Mr. McDonough sat. Mr. Berkeley extended his arms and two men ran to him, carrying large, cloth bags and placed them in his hands. Edmund leaned forward and dropped them on the table with a loud clinking sound. One of the bags ties unloosed and coins and golden nuggets rolled out. Everyone at the tables sat speechless, a few of them gasping at the effect of so much gold in their presence.
“I don’t need to make anything. I buy it. What else is money for?” He backed away, not even trying to hide his smirk.
Johanna’s father didn’t seem impressed. He turned to Benjamin. “And what do you have to show that you are capable of caring for my daughter?”
Benjamin rose and signaled to his brothers. “Just a minute sir, and I’ll show you.”
They jogged to the barn, then one of them cried out. After several long moments, then came out of the barn carrying several stripped and carved logs with obvious cuts across the carvings. It made her sick. The brought it in front of Father and set it up anyway. Benjamin stood tall, though his cheeks were flushed. “An hour ago, this bed frame was whole and beautiful, not marked and scarred. I know you said no cheating or sabotage, sir, but I have seen nothing but from the moment we began.”
Mr. McDonough stood. “What?” He roared, glaring at Edmund.
“That’s ridiculous!” Mr. Berkeley snatched his bags of gold off the table. “Why would I need to sabotage when my money so clearly wins in every contest?” His answer was arrogant, and it was obvious even he didn’t entirely believe it.
“Who here has seen cheating on behalf of Benjamin Jarrett?”
No one moved.
“And who has seen cheating or sabotage on behalf of Edmund Berkeley?”
Johanna was stunned by how many people raised their hands. People who were supposedly in his own group. Others in father’s group. Nearly every member of Benjamin’s family. “Not heard of it—seen it,” her father amended. Quite a few hands went down.
“You,” Mr. McDonough said, pointing to one of the men in Edmund’s group. “Come here and speak with me.” The man came, though his legs were visibly shaking. Whatever he said was quiet enough that no one could hear.
He went through the groups, picking people randomly to tell their stories. At the end, he called up Benjamin and Johanna together. She picked up her injured pup and went to her father, taking Benjamin’s hand half way there, the pup cradled in other arm. When they reached her father, he looked at both of them, concerned, not angry. “You really love each other, don’t you.” It wasn’t a question.
They looked into each other’s eyes. For a moment she was lost in Benjamin's crystalline blue eyes, then she smiled and turned back to her father. They answered simply and as one. “Yes.”
He put a hand on each of their shoulders and actually smiled. “You have no idea how happy that makes me.” He sobered, and dropped his hands. “Now. Tell me about the sabotage.”
Benjamin started, pointing at the bed, then spoke of the traps he’d found sprung, the animals let into his crops, and the fish traps.
Then it was Johanna’s turn. “Father, I didn’t see anything, but the food. I don’t have to see it to know it’s a lie. It’s purchased. He bought it from our very own kitchens and brought it here, somehow warming it and serving it as his own.”
Father’s brows drew down with his mouth. “How do you know?”
“It started with the cherry cobbler. Mother created that recipe. I’d know it anywhere, and no one cooks it like Chef Bird. Even served cold it is delicious. And another thing, all of his food is warm, but not hot. The outside has been warmed, but inside it is chilled, almost as if on ice. Once I realized the cobbler was ours, I recognized the other dishes. Don’t you?”
Father looked over her head, his eyes squinting. “Hmm,” was all he said, before letting them go back to Benjamin's family.
Father didn’t need to do anything special to get their attention. All eyes were riveted on him.
“I have made my decision,” he said loudly.
Johanna waited with bated breath.
Chapter Twenty
Mr. McDonough spoke. “This contest was about more than just proving you could take care of my daughter. It was also about showing the kind of man you are. Whether you have integrity and kindness. And most importantly, if you truly love Johanna. That being said, there is no question as to who I will choose, as he has shown himself more than capable in every category.” He turned toward the Jarretts and met Benjamin’s eyes. “Benjamin Jarrett, I know this is the opposite of the norm, but would you do me the honor of marrying my daughter?”
Benjamin thought his heart would explode out of his chest, he was so happy. “Absolutely, sir! With great pleasure!” Despite his sore ribs and the wiggling pup Johanna held, he picked her up and swung her around, then kissed her soundly in front of everyone. A cheer went up from the Jarrett family, McDonough's men, and some of Edmund’s staff.
Edmund glared around him. “Mr. Berkeley,” Johanna’s father continued. “You have shown yourself the opposite of everything Johanna needs in a husband. You have no integrity. You are a prideful, mean-spirited, cheater who thinks he can buy his way through life, and to put it plainly, I don’t like you. Please leave.”
Benjamin almost felt sorry for the man with the lost look on his face, but then the anger returned and he strode to his horse, most of his people following behind. “You’ll regret this, McDonough. I swear it on my life.” He rode away and Benjamin breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn’t like the man either, and if that’s what he had saved Johanna from, then all the better. He was happy enough to be with her, but it made him feel more manly somehow to know he’d saved her from that.
He kissed Johanna again, then let her go. It was becoming a very noisy party, but what better reason to celebrate? He just had his wife’s father ask him to be her husband. That never happened. How could it? The whole situation was strange, but he didn't care. Johanna would be his forever.
And speaking of Mr. McDonough, he wound his way through the crowd and put his arms around the two of them. “I know you said you already got married, but since we can’t find the paperwork, would you mind terribly coming back to the hotel and having a wedding there so your family and ours can be a part of it?”
Benjamin looked at Johanna, who shrugged. He smiled and took his father-in-law’s hand. “Thank you, sir. That would be wonderful.” The only thing that would have made their wedding better was having family be a part of it.
Mr. McDonough put his arm around Benjamin and walked toward the barn where it was a bit quieter. “That beautiful piece of furniture you were crafting . . . do you think it’s fixable?”
Now it was Benjamin’s turn to shrug. “I don’t know. I certainly hope so. I’ll have to finish making it, of course. Only a feather tick would be good enough for Johanna. I can make anything she needs.” He looked back over his shoulder at his sweet bride, seeing her standing talking to his mother and sisters-in-law, getting along with them as if she'd been born into the family, made him know his decision to marry her had been the right one.
His father-in-law slapped him on the back. “That’s the spirit, my boy. I believe a man should be able to provide his wife with everything she needs, and out here, there's not much choice. I only wish you'd be living a bit closer with my daughter.”
Benjamin’s heart
melted a bit toward this man. “We'll make certain we visit you often.”
He smiled. “I'd greatly appreciate that. Welcome to the family.”
Smiling, Benjamin turned to his father-in-law. “Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.”
“And enough of this ‘sir’ business. We’re to be family. You may call me Father, Da, Pop, whatever you wish, but no more ‘sir’s’ or ‘Mr. McDonough, understood?”
“Yes, s—” he stopped himself. “Yes, Father.”
“That’s the spirit!” The old man turned to the man next to him, and Benjamin snuck away to the barn to see the damage again. He prayed it wasn’t as bad as he’d seen. When he walked in, the barn was almost as bright as day with candles. The open flames made him nervous with all the hay, but he forgot about it when he saw what his brothers and nephews had been up to. All but the deepest cuts had been rasped or sanded away and the decorative carving had been touched up. It looked almost as if it had never been harmed.
Benjamin was so touched, he almost cried, but refused to let the tears fall. Instead, he sneezed and blew his nose on his handkerchief, swiping at his eyes at the same time. He shoved it back into his pocket and walked around the furniture. His family stood aside and let him inspect it without a word. He finally stopped and looked up. “This wasn’t what I expected to find. You’ve done a marvelous job, all of you, and I owe you a huge debt.”
William grinned. “Wasn’t nothing, brother. You’ve been through enough today. It was one small thing we could do to make things better. Besides, we like Johanna and want her to be happy. Even more than you.” He shrugged. "Of course, we like everyone more than you."
Benjamin knew his brother was teasing. That was just his way, but he could tell that he was serious about liking Johanna, and that made him happy. Better than anything else aside from winning Johanna as his wife. Again.
“I’m blessed to call you family. Thank you.”
He heard a gasp behind him and turned with a smile. Johanna had chosen that moment to enter the barn and saw the beautiful frame he’d designed for her. She walked up to it, injured wolf pup still cradled in her arm, and ran her fingers across the carvings of the woods and howling wolves. “Oh, my,” she whispered, then turned to him with brimming eyes. “You made this?”
“My brothers and I,” he said his hand indicating all of them, “but my nephews helped to repair the damage as well.”
“It’s our gift to you, Johanna,” Matthew said, ducking his chin. “I know we didn’t make you feel very welcome in the beginning, and I’m sorry. It’s just our way—but that doesn’t make it right.”
He looked at William, who nodded. “Welcome to the family,” William said, then grinned so hard, his dimples showed.
Johanna went to the brothers and hugged them in turn with one arm, then hugged each of the nephews who had stuck around to help. “Thank you. All of you. Knowing I can sleep in this every night will make me feel bound to your family so much more. I already feel like I’m one of you.” Her eyes twinkled. “It will be fun getting to know you men a little better. I already feel like I know your wives.”
William spoke this time. “It looks like you’ll fit with our family better than we’d ever thought. I’m glad for that.” He walked over to Benjamin. “Congratulations, little brother. You caught a good one.”
Benjamin put his arm around her and pulled her close. “That I did.” He kissed her soundly, all the young boys whistling. Benjamin didn’t care. He loved this woman, and nothing would take that from him. “I’m tired and heading to bed. Thanks again, boys.” He looked around the room at all the candles. “Do me a favor, would you?”
“Sure,” Matthew said.
“Put out those fires before you burn the barn down.”
William and Matthew laughed. “Sure thing.”
Benjamin turned, his arm around Johanna and walked her toward their nest, the light behind him dimming bit by bit, until it was completely dark and he could breathe again. The threat of fire was an ever present reality in his life, and though he appreciated the gift his family had given him and Johanna, it drove him insane thinking they could have caught the barn on fire doing it with candles. Lanterns would have been better.
Once they reached the nest, they both climbed onto the hammock bed, fully clothed, the injured wolf crawling from Johanna’s arms to curl into the small of her back. Benjamin smiled and put his arm around his love, then fell promptly asleep.
Chapter Twenty-One
Johanna awoke with the sun, her eyelids creeping upward until her blurry vision focused on Benjamin’s face. He was so incredibly handsome. And even better, he was kind, and funny, and strong, and he loved her fiercely. She didn’t know what she would have done if her father had voted for Edmund. Her heart had already been stolen by Benjamin, and she had no desire to take it back.
He must have been exhausted, as she had close to an hour to examine his features and dream of their future together before he opened his eyes and smiled. She leaned forward, kissing him softly, loving knowing it was all right to wake up with him against her.
His hand immediately stretched out, fingertips brushing her hair back from her face. “Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?”
She couldn’t help the smile that crept across her face. “Wonderful. Between you and little Fuzzy here, I was comfortably warm, though you must have slept better. You never sleep this late.” She cupped his cheek with her hand, kissing him once more.
He sank into the kiss for a moment, before looking around and seeming to realize what time it was. He sat up in a bit of a panic and threw his legs over the side of the hammock. When his weight left, the hammock swayed to her side and flipped over, throwing, Fuzzy, and all the blankets onto the ground along with Johanna. He was there almost immediately, pulling her up from her hands and knees and tugging at her dress that was wrapped around her head.
Fuzzy danced around their legs, snarling and barking, biting at Benjamin’s pant legs, from the sound of it, and finally Johanna couldn’t help herself. She began to laugh. She laughed so hard, she put her hands on her knees to breathe, then fell backward onto the hammock, which promptly dumped her on to the ground once again. She finally got herself together enough to disentangle her dress from her hair, sit up, and put her hair up in a quick bun.
When she looked up, Benjamin’s face was flaming red and the corner of his mouth kept twitching. All straightened out, she picked Fuzzy up in her arms, cuddling him against her and cooing to him. His leg looked better, but he was still limping. It had only been a day, after all. He burrowed close to her stomach, then curled into a ball and went to sleep in her arms. She thought it was funny how protective and attached he’d become in just one day.
She cradled Fuzzy to just one arm and took Benjamin's proffered hand, and they began to walk toward his parents’ home. Even from the distance they could see the busyness of everyone, the horses hitched to the wagons, which were filling up fast. The nieces and nephews ran about with their arms full, reminding Johanna of ants when they found food. Organized chaos. “What are they doing?” She asked with a frown
Benjamin shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s obvious they plan on going somewhere, though I’m not sure where.”
A memory tugged at Johanna. “Perhaps Father persuaded them to come to Whispering Springs for the wedding? It would be just like him to put your entire family up in the hotel for a few days. He seems to like them.” She loved the idea of having her new family with her as she married Benjamin again. She was certain her mother would get along well with her new mother-in-law.
He squeezed her hand. “I think you may be right. Let’s go and see, shall we?”
They broke into a run, Johanna trying to soften the jarring of Fuzzy as much as possible, though he still complained with his whines. Finally they arrived in the yard near the wagons, only two, thankfully, and they sought out Benjamin’s father, Gideon
He stood near the paddock with a young woman about Johanna’s a
ge. As they approached, Pa turned and smiled. “So, I guess we’ll get to see your wedding after all, son. Mr. McDonough has invited us to the hotel for a couple of days. If we leave soon we should get there tonight and the wedding will be tomorrow or the next day.” He looked from Johanna to the dark haired young woman standing nearby. “Johanna, have you met Lydia James? Her father and three sisters are our neighbors across the way. They’re going to watch over things while we’re gone.” He turned back to Lydia. “I’m sorry you’re pa’s not feeling well. Give him my regards, would you??”
“I’ll tell him,” the girl answered, her voice melodious. She looked at Benjamin. “I hear congratulations are in order, Mr. Jarrett.”
Benjamin grinned and patted Johanna’s hand. “You could say that. I'm the luckiest man alive to have found such a wonderful woman for my wife.”
She looked at Johanna with a warm smile. “I can't wait to get to know you better. Feel free to come over for tea sometime when you get back,” she said to Johanna.
Surprised, Johanna smiled, feeling a bit shy. “I shall. Thank you.” It hit her then that she'd be living here with Benjamin. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder, thankful that she felt so comfortable with him.
The girl nodded, then turned back to Pa Jarrett. They continued their conversation, and Benjamin turned to her. “Let’s see if there’s anything we need to do to help so we can get on our way. I’m just as anxious to make this official in everyone else’s minds as they are.” His eyes went shy. “I hope you feel as ready for all this nonsense to be over as I do."
Johanna (Dakota Bound Book 1) Page 11