A Love Woven True

by Judith Miller

  maintain for the Americus—only those concerning our shipment, of course.’’

  ‘‘Is there a problem?’’ he inquired.

  ‘‘Yes. However, we’re not yet certain who’s responsible. The cotton destined for Lowell did not arrive.’’

  The agent traced his finger down the open page and began running it alongside the entries. ‘‘What? You didn’t receive your shipment? But my ledger reflects it arrived and was shipped to Lowell.’’ The agent peered over the top of his spectacles at Malcolm while tapping his finger alongside an entry.

  ‘‘I misspoke, Mr. Hodde. A shipment arrived in Lowell—a shipment of cotton, defective cotton. Certainly not the cotton purchased and baled for shipment to Lowell.’’

  ‘‘ Take a look,’’ the agent said as he turned the ledger toward Malcolm.

  Samuel thanked the captain and disembarked the Americus. With his head bowed against the ocean breeze, he began to slowly wend his way through the crowds.

  ‘‘Samuel! Samuel Wainwright!’’

  Shading his eyes against the sun with his hand, Samuel turned toward the sound. A short distance away, Taylor and Bella Manning were smiling broadly and waving him forward. John, the youngest of the Manning children, stood on tiptoe while brandishing his hat high in the air. Samuel hastened his step and smiled in return.

  ‘‘What a surprise. I didn’t realize you were due back from Scotland,’’ Samuel greeted while shaking hands with Taylor.

  ‘‘I would have preferred to remain a few more weeks. However, Bella was growing homesick, and we’d accomplished everything we set out to complete on the journey. I believe my sister’s family is well in hand for the present. I take it things are going well in Lowell or you wouldn’t be down here on the docks. Shipment due in?’’ Taylor inquired.

  ‘‘No. I was checking on my last shipment. There are problems.’’ Taylor’s forehead creased beneath the wave of dark blond hair that crossed his brow. ‘‘At the mills or with the shipment?’’

  ‘‘Both,’’ Samuel said. ‘‘I’m on my way back to the agent’s office to meet my father, and then we’ll be returning to Lowell.’’

  ‘‘We’re hoping to board the last train,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘We’ll meet you at the station. You can explain everything during our return to Lowell.’’

  CHAPTER• 26

  ELINOR GAVE ONE final pat to the dough before setting it to rise in a large crock. With a swipe of her hand, she gave the dough a light coating of lard and then covered the bowl with a clean linen cloth before checking the beans with pork she had begun cooking earlier in the morning. Her decision to serve half of the baked beans at supper that evening and the remainder with corn bread for dinner the next day had stretched her food budget for the week. And she had been able to purchase enough plums for two of the moist, fruity cakes the girls had requested for supper. Dipping a cup into the flour sack, she began to measure the required six cups as a knock sounded at the front door. ‘‘Who could that be?’’

  Before she could reach the door, a voice called out, ‘‘It’s me, Elinor. We’ve arrived home from Scotland, and I couldn’t wait any longer before coming to call.’’

  ‘‘Taylor! What a fine surprise.’’

  He took in her flour-smudged apron. ‘‘It appears I’ve come at an inconvenient time. Shall I return later?’’

  ‘‘If you don’t mind joining me in the kitchen, I’d be pleased to have you remain and keep me company. I’m most anxious to hear about your journey to Scotland. How did you find Beatrice’s family? I thought you might bring several of her children home with you,’’ she said as they walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. ‘‘Pull up a chair and sit down. I’ll fix you a cup of tea. When did you and Bella return?’’

  ‘‘Thank you,’’ he said, tugging a chair from under the wooden table. ‘‘We arrived on the final train from Boston last night. Had it not been so late and both of us weary from our travels, I would have stopped to see you then. I must say I’m surprised by your demeanor. I rather expected to be greeted with anger rather than hospitality.’’

  Elinor placed the teacup in front of him. ‘‘Why is that?’’

  ‘‘I understand the boardinghouse may soon be closed.’’

  ‘‘Word does travel quickly in Lowell. How did you receive the information so soon?’’

  Taylor took a swallow of his tea and placed the cup on its saucer. ‘‘We happened upon Samuel and Malcolm Wainwright at the docks in Boston. The five of us traveled from Boston to Lowell.’’

  ‘‘I see. Then it’s likely you know more than I. Mr. Cheever paid me a visit and explained my boardinghouse would close if they didn’t receive the anticipated cotton shipment. A few of my girls will be sent home—others will move to another boardinghouse if they’re needed in any of the other mills. I’ll miss this place and I’ll miss them if the boardinghouse closes.’’

  Her brother was staring at her as though she were a stranger. ‘‘You’ll miss the girls?’’

  ‘‘Strange, isn’t it? After all my complaints about their selfish behavior and my station in life, I find myself longing to remain in my position.’’

  ‘‘You’ve changed, Elinor. You appear to have lost your . . .’’

  ‘‘Anger? Not completely. But I have come to the realization I hold no sway over the situation at the mills. And there is nothing I can do to alter my circumstances here at the boardinghouse. However, I can control my attitude. So I’ve decided to trust God and see what He has in mind for me.’’

  ‘‘May I say I heartily approve of the change?’’

  ‘‘Thank you,’’ she whispered, her cheeks growing warm at his praise.

  ‘‘I came to tell you that Bella and I talked after we arrived home last night. Should the boardinghouse close down, we want you to come and live with us. I know it’s not ideal, but we would truly like to have you join our family.’’

  ‘‘Two women under the same roof is never a good thing, Taylor,’’ she said.

  He met her gaze. ‘‘You find Bella difficult to abide?’’

  ‘‘Oh, no, not at all. I love Bella and I appreciate your kindness.

  I worry having me about would make your lives more complicated. I could help with the house and young John, but I would worry for fear I’d overstep my boundaries.’’

  ‘‘Don’t be silly. You’re creating problems where none exists. Say you’ll agree,’’ he insisted.

  Elinor poured the cake batter into two large pans and set the bowl on the table. ‘‘If the boardinghouse closes and there is no other position available for me, I will come and live with you. However, I want you to know that I would leave as soon as I could find other work to support myself,’’ she added.

  ‘‘Agreed.’’ Taylor stood and kissed her cheek. ‘‘Now I must be off to attend to a few matters or Bella will be unhappy with me.’’

  McKinley entered the office of the Appleton Mill and situated himself behind his small desk. There were accounts and ledgers that required updating, but he’d found concentration difficult of late.

  ‘‘Glad to see you’ve come in early,’’ Matthew Cheever said as he entered the front door. ‘‘I was looking at the ledgers last night. I don’t want you falling any further behind on those accounts— makes calculations much too difficult. Have I assigned you too much work?’’

  ‘‘No,’’ he replied while watching Matthew hang his coat and hat on the ornately carved coatrack that had been a birthday gift from Mrs. Cheever the preceding year.

  ‘‘Then enlighten me, my boy. What’s the difficulty?’’

  ‘‘My level of concentration isn’t what it should be, I suppose,’’ McKinley said, ‘‘what with the problems regarding the cotton shipment.’’

  Matthew nodded. ‘‘Ah—so it’s your family’s troubles with the cotton shipment that’s to blame for your inability to maintain the ledgers.’’

  McKinley’s grip tightened on his pen. ‘‘You’re putting words in my mouth, Mr.
Cheever. The ledgers will be brought to date.’’

  ‘‘From all appearances, those ledgers won’t soon be reflecting any payments to your family for cotton,’’ Matthew said, his comment followed by an exasperated sigh. ‘‘I understand your father talked briefly to Nathan after examining the shipment, but he has yet to give me any explanation. Consequently, I’m assuming the entire debacle remains unresolved. I don’t believe the Corporation has ever experienced a blunder that has the probability of causing so much damage. As you know, we stand to suffer significantly due to this mismanagement.’’

  The hair along McKinley’s collar bristled. ‘‘I believe you are unjustly blaming my family members, Mr. Cheever. Human error is something one must expect from time to time. The cotton had been properly stored awaiting shipment, and Samuel’s paper work is faultless. He did everything possible to ensure your shipment would arrive in a timely fashion.’’

  ‘‘And it did. Time is not the concern, McKinley. Unsuitability of the product we received is the problem. As buyer for the Corporation, Samuel is responsible for guaranteeing our product is received on time and as specified. You say he did everything possible to ensure the shipment arrived properly. But did he? If so, it seems we would not be faced with this problem. Obviously he didn’t watch as the shipment was loaded, or he would have known of the problem, don’t you agree? What has occurred affects many lives. If he’s not accountable, then who?’’

  McKinley combed his fingers through his hair. ‘‘Samuel can’t be expected to oversee loading every bale of cotton placed on a ship. This error is not his doing. It appears that although Samuel has performed his duties with excellence in the past, that fact is now forgotten. Gone are thoughts of those beautiful shipments of perfect cotton; gone are the memories of those new suppliers he signed on one after another; gone is the praise Samuel received for bartering reduced cotton prices on behalf of the Corporation. The Associates forget too quickly what they have gained from the Wainwright family—particularly Samuel. He has been a good and loyal employee who is now being treated as a leper.’’

  Matthew rested his palms on McKinley’s desk and leaned forward until their faces nearly touched. ‘‘I must remind you that you, too, are an employee of the Corporation. If you wish to work as my assistant, your loyalty must remain with me and with the Corporation, McKinley. If I do not believe I can trust you, then I do not want you as an employee of the Corporation.’’

  ‘‘As I’ve told you in the past, Mr. Cheever, my family is of great importance to me. I do not always agree with them, but in this instance I know they are correct. Would you respect a man who did not remain loyal to his family?’’

  ‘‘I’ve told you what I expect, and if you plan to continue in my employ, you’ll think long and hard about where you place your loyalty. Be a man and think for yourself, especially if you have intentions of ever becoming a part of my family.’’

  Matthew grabbed his coat and hat from the rack, slamming the door behind him on his way out.

  McKinley rubbed his forehead. ‘‘So much for bringing the ledgers up to date,’’ he muttered.

  Strolling down Dutton Street, Violet breathed deeply, enjoying the feel of springtime in the air. She stopped to view the merchandise displayed in several store windows along the way but came to an abrupt halt in front of Hatch and Taisey, surprised to see McKinley inside the shop. She entered the door and quietly approached him. ‘‘Whatever are you doing in here? Purchasing some tripe or pigs’ feet? Perhaps placing an order for a butchered hog?’’ she asked with a grin.

  His gaze was clouded, almost as though he didn’t recognize her. ‘‘What?’’ he asked, suddenly coming to his senses and looking about. ‘‘I believe I entered the wrong door,’’ he finally said.

  ‘‘You don’t seem yourself, McKinley. Is something wrong?’’

  ‘‘Yes. I promised Grandmother I would stop at Paxton’s on my way home and purchase some soap—‘fancy soap,’ as she so fondly calls it. I dare not forget or she’ll send me back to retrieve it.’’

  ‘‘You’re just now leaving the mill?’’ Violet asked as McKinley guided her out the door and into the neighboring establishment.

  He nodded. ‘‘The ledgers required updating. My work had fallen behind. All this upheaval over the cotton shipment makes it difficult to concentrate.’’

  ‘‘No doubt. How terrible this entire ordeal has been for your brother and father, but I’m confident it will soon be resolved. I’m certain Father and the Associates will aid them in remedying the situation. After all, there surely is some credible explanation,’’ Violet said while leading him toward a section of shelving containing the toilet and fancy soaps.

  McKinley gave a sardonic laugh. ‘‘Your father and the Associates have expressed nothing but disparagement and anger throughout this ordeal. Only this morning I attempted to explain that Samuel and my father had gone to Boston and talked with the shipping agent and captain in an effort to determine what happened.’’ ‘‘Father wouldn’t listen to you?’’ she asked with a hint of incredulity in her voice.

  McKinley picked up several pieces of soap. ‘‘Oh, he listened, but he doesn’t believe there is any acceptable excuse for what occurred. He says only that Samuel is to blame, no matter what the cause.’’

  Violet placed her hand atop McKinley’s. ‘‘Truly? Father generally listens to reason. It’s difficult for me to hear that he would be so callous.’’

  ‘‘Indeed. He further said that if I intended to continue in his employ or ever become a part of his family, I should determine exactly where I place my loyalties. His warning was clear. If I side with my family, my position with the Corporation will be jeopardized and, more importantly, he may withdraw his approval of our relationship.’’

  Violet’s knees buckled and she grasped McKinley’s arm, feeling as though she might actually faint. ‘‘How could he behave in such a manner? I’ve never known my father to be so ruthless.’’

  ‘‘I must admit his behavior has seemed out of character ever since this mishap. I realize he’s in charge of daily operations, but it’s the Associates who hired Samuel, not your father. When Samuel and Father went to Boston they discovered there may have been an error in the shipment. Although they hold no evidence, they believe the stamps were wrongly affixed to the bales, causing the error in shipment. But your father and the Associates aren’t willing to listen.’’

  ‘‘Why not?’’

  He shrugged. ‘‘Your father said he doesn’t want excuses. The delivery of high-quality cotton is what he requires, and nothing else will suffice.’’

  Violet accompanied him to the counter and waited while McKinley paid Mrs. Paxton for the soap. ‘‘Any word on the cotton shipment?’’ the store owner inquired while wrapping McKinley’s purchase in brown paper.

  ‘‘Nothing that I care to speak of,’’ he replied.

  ‘‘This is going to mean a loss of business for all of us if they close down the Appleton,’’ she remarked.

  ‘‘Yes, so I’ve been told—numerous times,’’ McKinley said as he and Violet exited the store.

  ‘‘I would enjoy nothing more than to keep company with you, but I fear any further tardiness will cause Grandmother distress. She tends to forget I am a grown man.’’

  The apologetic tone of his voice made McKinley even more endearing, and Violet smiled at him as she released her gentle grasp on his arm. ‘‘I understand.’’

  He brushed her fingertips with a kiss, whispered a soft goodbye, and departed. Violet watched until he was no longer in sight and then turned on her heel and marched toward home. Gone was her tender emotion. In its place, her anger began to simmer slowly, like a kettle of water with tiny bubbles circling the edge, waiting for the heat to escalate before bursting into a churning boil.

  She lifted her skirts, ran up the front steps of the house, and burst through the front door. Her father sat reading in the parlor while her mother stitched a piece of decorative needlepoint.

/>   Her father glanced up from his book. ‘‘Back so soon?’’

  Without taking time to remove her cape, she firmly planted herself directly in front of her father. ‘‘What has come over you?’’

  ‘‘I beg your pardon? Whatever are you talking about?’’

  ‘‘McKinley! How dare you say he must choose between his family and me? Your attitude is appalling. What were you thinking? Or were you?’’

  Her father rose from his chair, a tinge of scarlet inching upward from beneath his white-collared shirt. ‘‘Whom do you think you are speaking to, young lady? Have you forgotten proper behavior?’’

  Tears threatened and Violet bit her lower lip, hoping she could maintain control of her emotions. ‘‘I’m no longer an impudent child. Nor am I a chattel you can withhold as a bartering tool in order to maintain control over McKinley’s actions.’’

  ‘‘Although you’re no longer a child, your actions are impudent. You cannot begin to fathom what is at stake in this matter.’’

  ‘‘So you’re telling me manipulation is acceptable if the stakes are high? That is not a principle you taught me when I was growing up. You told me I should live my life in a manner that would be pleasing to God—and I listened. Although I haven’t always been successful, I do attempt to mend my mistakes when I realize I’m incorrect. Will you not do likewise, Father?’’

  Moving in front of the fireplace, her father crossed his arms. His eyes grew dark and somber. ‘‘My responsibilities reach far beyond this family. I’m forced to make decisions at work that impact many lives. Jobs are being jeopardized, and much money will be lost because of Samuel Wainwright’s inattention. I cannot condone such behavior, nor can I tolerate people working for me who do not properly place their priorities.’’

  ‘‘I pray you will rethink your decision, Father. You’re forcing me to choose between the two men whom I love the most in this world. Please realize there is much at stake here at home also.’’