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

by Clara Kincaid

  The maids and cook dressed again, and Johanna promised them they’d receive a bottle of wine to share later for their cooperation. Once everyone had left, Johanna walked up the stairs with Paul. “Are you planning to show me to your chambers now?”

  He laughed. “Something like that.” She was nervous as she made her way up the hall and into Paul’s room. She had imagined hundreds of times about coming in there, but nothing prepared her from the reality. The four-poster bed was along one wall, covered with a burgundy and green quilt, and there was an armoire with rose carvings for handles. She opened it and all of her gorgeous gowns were in there. All along the bottom were shoes and boots she hadn’t seen before. “Did you just order these?”

  “I hope you like them. Natasha insisted to also buy you shoes to match your new dresses.”

  Johanna walked over and gave Paul a hug and tender kiss until he pulled away. “I hope you’ll begin sleeping with me tonight. I promise to not touch you, although I certainly want to. I know you’re still recovering.”

  “It won’t be for long, my sweet.”

  * * *

  Sara helped her into a nightgown that night, and she was in bed long before Paul came in. The mattress sunk down when he laid down next to her, and she was uncertain what to do. Should she stay where she was, or…?

  Paul didn’t move near her, and she tried to get comfortable.

  “It’s not like I don’t want you in my arms right now,” Paul finally said. “I just don’t trust myself. Goodnight, Johanna.”

  She sighed and leaned her cheek against her pillow, but it was a long time before she finally was able to sleep. She wasn’t so sure about Paul since he barely moved, but he soon joined her in slumber.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Johanna woke up and trudged down the stairs, where a bemused Sara stood tapping her foot. “What are you doing? Your husband told us you were packing for your trip.”

  “I was, but I’m not sure what one would take to a lumbering camp.”

  “It’s been two weeks. Surely you could have asked him by now.”

  “I suppose I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Let’s go back upstairs, and I’ll help you,” Sara suggested.

  Johanna sighed as she went back up the stairs where her suitcase was still open on the bed. She was exhausted. Since she began to share the room with her husband, her nights were not restful ones. He insisted they wait until she felt better to be together, but it had been two weeks. Today, they were going to get away from the city and tour a lumber camp. While she was interested in going, all she could think about was falling into her husband’s arms.

  Sara hummed as she pulled out a corset, chemises, and cotton dresses with bell skirts and matching shirts and jackets. Johanna had thought ahead and put on her boots, but she had hoped for some direction from Paul.

  The suitcase was slammed closed just as Paul entered the room. “Great, we’re moving in the right direction.” He didn’t wait around, just picked up the suitcase and out the door he went.

  “You might need a good jacket,” Sara suggested, pulling out a long, green jacket with a hood. “This is a little outdated, but it will keep you warm. It gets cold when you go north.”

  Johanna was gently shown to the door and with jacket in hand, she made her way back to the first floor. Paul smiled and they were out the door. Cecilia was on the porch and waved at them as they left in a wagon. When she raised a brow, Paul said, “The wagon will work better where we’re going.”

  “Oh, I thought we were leaving by train.”

  “The trains that go north are not passenger trains,” he informed her.

  “I see. How long will it take to get where we’re going?”

  “About a day, if we keep at it.”

  Johanna shook her head. “I had no idea it would take so long.”

  “Patience is a virtue, they say.”

  “Who says that?”

  “The pastor during Sunday’s service?” He laughed.

  Johanna had to laugh at that. “Okay, so torture me more then.”

  “How am I torturing you? You’re the one who snuggles up to me when you sleep.” He winked.

  “Perhaps you should take the hint.”

  “I wasn’t about to do that when you were recovering.”

  “I’ve been fine for about a week now.”

  “Which is exactly why we’re getting away from it all. It won’t be long now, my sweet, but I must admit I’ve never met a woman so eager to be bedded before.”

  Johanna laughed. “I’m not sure if eager is the word, but I want to love you in every way possible.”

  “That’s what I like to hear, but before we get to that, we’ll be taking an extensive tour of the lumbering camp. It’s important for you to understand the conditions lumberjacks live under. I’ve done my best to make the sleeping quarters livable.”

  “Meaning what, exactly?”

  “You’ll see when we get there. Enjoy the scenery.”

  Johanna gazed at the landscape. There were patches where nothing stood, which led to areas with trees that were untouched by lumberjacks as of yet. She couldn’t help but feel sad thinking about what would happen when all the trees were cut. Shouldn’t there be some replanted, at the very least?

  * * *

  Johanna was excited when Paul announced they were at the camp. There was a large building in the middle of camp, and she just had to ask, “What’s in that building?”

  “It’s the cook shanty. It has a dining room and kitchen. It’s the most important building in camp.”

  “I imagine so.”

  There was also a barn and corral, a large animal watching them as they passed. “What on earth is that?” Johanna asked, indicating the animal with large horns.

  “It’s an ox. Teams of oxen are used to pull logs. They’re cheaper than horses and can be worked ten hours a day, provided they have an adequate amount of food and water.”

  “But I thought the railroads were built to move the logs.”

  “The nearest railway is nearly two miles away from here.”

  “I see, but I thought everyone in camp was gone. Who is feeding the animals?”

  “Gus. He looks after the camp while we’re gone,” Paul told her

  “Can I meet him?”

  “He’s out hunting, most likely.”

  Just then, a man carrying a shotgun approached, a much older man with white hair. “Hello there, Mr. Worthington.”

  “Gus, this is my wife Johanna. Gus here looks after the place while the lumberjacks are in the city.”

  “Can I get the grand tour?” Johanna asked.

  “Sure, come this way.”

  She followed Gus into a long building. When they went inside, she saw it had bunks positioned along both sides of the walls. “The bunkhouse, I presume.”

  “Yes. It’s gets a little tight sometimes, but it’s comfortable enough.”

  “It doesn’t look like that sound of a structure,” she said as a breeze ruffled her hair.

  “It’s meant to be temporary,” Paul explained. “The lumberjacks move as trees are cut.”

  “I see. What else is there to tour?”

  “Not much else of interest. As you already have seen, we have a barn and corral for the animals, which is another reason I stay behind, to feed them. There is also a blacksmith at hand and a carpenter, but you might find the cook shanty interesting.”

  Gus led them out of the bunkhouse and into the cook shanty. There was a lit oil lamp on a table already, and Gus lit a few others. There were tables lined up and a large black heating stove in the center of the room for warmth in the colder months. Johanna made way into the kitchen where there were two large cook stoves. Pans were stacked on a shelving unit, but the remainder of the shelves was currently empty.

  “This looks bigger than I thought it would.”

  “It serves its purpose. Many of the lumberjacks stay late in the dining room, drinking coffee. Well, those who don’t drop down
from exhaustion.”

  “I see. Is there anything else?”

  “There’s a store that sells tobacco and other items the men might like to have, but supplies for that are only here when the lumberjacks return,” Paul explained.

  “You run a sound camp here, but what trees are being cut down?”

  Paul took Johanna’s hand and led her down a trail. He pointed up, and she was in awe at the huge tree before her. “This is the mighty white pine, the most valuable by far. It grows tall and straight, making for the best boards when cut,” Paul said.

  “It’s a giant.”

  “It is among trees, towering nearly two hundred feet, and five feet around. These trees have been growing like this for hundreds of years.”

  “It seems sad to me that a tree that old would have to be cut down.”

  “It’s our livelihood, dear, and puts food in the mouths of tens of thousands of people. Without this timber, this country would never be what it is today.”

  “You’re right. It was a rude thing to say.”

  “Not rude at all. You have the right to think what you will. I was only trying to explain it.”

  “Nice meeting you, Mrs. Worthington,” Gus said, taking his leave.

  “Where are we going now?” Johanna asked.

  “To my cabin in the woods.” He winked. “But we’ll have to cart our belongings there since it can’t be reached by wagon as of yet.”

  They went back and Paul unhitched the horses, leading them into the corral. He then carried their suitcases and bags up the trail, refusing to allow Johanna to carry any. When a large log cabin came into view, Johanna’s breath caught in her throat. “Is this it?”

  “Yes, and we had better hurry and bring in some wood before nightfall.”

  Johanna was led up the few steps and Paul unlocked the door, ushering her inside. Paul set down the bags and lit an oil lamp while Johanna opened the curtains to bring in the sunlight, fading as it was. The room was quite large with a huge stone fireplace. All of the furniture was made of wood, with cushions on the sofa and chairs. She went through to the opposite side of the house, where there was a tidy kitchen with wood stove and a table on the other side. When she opened the cabinets, they were strangely filled with food. Apparently, Paul had sent word out that they’d be coming soon.

  She joined Paul in the other room then went outside with him, helping gather the wood they’d need for the fireplace. Johanna was exhausted by what little she had done. Her thoughts went out to the lumberjacks and what an extraordinary job they’d done and continued to do.

  Paul chucked wood into the fireplace, and with kindling sticks, he soon had a roaring fire going. He disappeared into another room and came back with a huge bear rug that he put in front of the fireplace. He then went upstairs, coming down with pillows and blankets.

  “What are you doing now?”

  “It will be cozy sleeping in front of the fireplace, don’t you think?”

  Johanna’s hands dropped to her side as her heart swelled with love for Paul. He had made her wait all this time, but it was worth it. She was frozen to where she stood since she wasn’t sure what he expected her to do. She had waited for this moment, but once it was at hand, she was nervous like any woman would be her first time with her husband. It was the first time for her, period.

  Paul walked over to her, a frown marring his face. “If you don’t want me to make love to you, I’ll understand.”

  “No. I mean, yes, I want to, but I’m not sure what I should do. I’ve never done this before.”

  He smiled. “I know, and I promise I’ll be gentle with you. You’ll never have anything to fear in my arms.” Paul pulled her over to the bear rug and knelt with her there. He traced the curve of her face, capturing her lips with his. That time, when his tongue found its way between her lips, she didn’t pull away.

  When the kiss ended, Johanna stared deeply into her husband’s eyes as he gently unbuttoned her dress and she helped him remove it. She closed her eyes nervously as he removed the remainder of her clothes. He encouraged her to lie down then covered her with a blanket as he removed his clothing.

  Once they were both under the blanket, she stared up at Paul as he smiled down at her. “I love you, Johanna.”

  “I love you, too, Paul.”

  She froze when he touched her leg with the hideous scar and kissed it softly. “I still can’t believe you were so worried about me seeing this. It doesn’t take anything away from your beauty. It shows me that you’ve led a hard life, and I promise you’ll be happy from here on out. I’ll protect you always, and I hope we have many, many children in the future.”

  “As in how many?”

  Paul didn’t answer her, just covered her body with his, and it was many hours later before she had time to think.

  She shuddered uncontrollably in the aftermath.

  “Are you okay?”

  Tears dropped and rolled off her cheeks. “I’m great, the best I’ve ever been. Thank you for answering my letter, Paul. I can’t imagine I’d ever be happy if I went anywhere else.”

  “Thank you for sending me that letter, but come back over here and I’ll keep you warm. I promise.” He winked.

  Johanna eagerly accepted his request. Never had she dreamed she’d meet a man like Paul or that she’d find happiness in the far reaches of the north. She might not have expected to be the wife of a lumber baron, but she swore she’d do her best to help better the lives of the wives and children of the lumberjacks when their husbands had to travel far from home. Despite where she came from, she had learned what was truly important, and that love was the only thing that could heal the past.

  If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here, http://www.newwesternromance.com

  About the Author

  Clara Kincaid devoured every historical romance she could get her hands on as a teenager. Every Saturday, she could be found at the library, checking out a ‘too hot for a sixteen-year-old’ romance. At the ripe age of forty-four, she began her writing journey as Madison Johns.

  She went on to write western historical romances that are both clean and sweet as Clara Kincaid. There's something about the Old West that attracted her and with the Nevada Brides series, she's been able to explore places only books have gone for her.

  http://madisonjohns.com

  If you enjoyed reading this book, there are 49 more in the series! Find out about the rest of the American Mail-Order Brides here, http://www.newwesternromance.com

  Western Historical Sweet Romances

  Nevada Brides Series

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  Cadence

  Kayla

  Abigail

  Penelope