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

  Johanna

  Bride of Michigan

  Clara Kincaid

  Copyright © 2015 Clara Kincaid

  Johanna Clara Kincaid

  All rights reserved.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Johanna

  When Johanna Huff arrived in Saginaw, Michigan, as a mail-order bride, she expected to meet Paul, the lumberjack who sent for her. Instead, she found herself ushered to church by a lumber baron accompanied by his mother!

  Lumber baron Paul Worthington sent for a mail-order bride on the prodding of his mother, since it was hard to find a woman in Saginaw who wasn’t interested in his money. The only problem was that once he was wed to the lovely Johanna, his mother seemed less pleased than ever.

  Will the newly married couple be able to fall in love, or will Paul’s mother make it impossible?

  Chapter One

  September 1890

  Johanna Huff crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it into the trash, pulling out another one. She gripped the fountain pen firmly, although her hand was shaking. How could she do it, marry a man she never met?

  Things were hard enough in Lawrence, Massachusetts, but she was lucky enough to have found a factory job, although the hours were long and the conditions bad. She had known many women who had been injured, including her, but she was able to make enough to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. That was before the factory she worked in had burned to the ground, of course, and the owner had no plans to rebuild it. At least the manager, Roberta McDaniel, was trying to look out for them by suggesting they consider being mail-order brides.

  She massaged her leg absently, sighing. Johanna wasn’t sure what she should write or the details about herself she should include. Should I say I’m pretty? No, that wasn’t something Johanna considered herself. She had dark hair, her skin pale. Nothing interesting about that. Should I tell the man I have a horrendous scar on my leg? No, absolutely, not! She’d have to be far more inventive than that. She needed out of Lawrence, and fast since she wasn’t sure how long she’d remain welcome at her sister’s home.

  Johanna made another attempt, penning a letter to the man she picked out of the Grooms’ Gazette, a lumberjack by all accounts.

  Dear Paul,

  From your ad in the Grooms’ Gazette, I understand you’re looking for a bride. My name is Johanna Huff, and I’m of small stature with dark hair, twenty years of age.

  Since you’re a lumberjack, you might be interested to know that I’m skilled at cooking and cleaning. I also can sew and have a great sense of humor. Life can be dreadfully hard enough without laughter. I’m also educated and love to read. My favorite book at the moment is The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

  I hope to receive a letter back from you to confirm our match. I’ve never been to Michigan, but it sounds wonderful, and I’d love to start a new life with you as your wife. I’ll be waiting for your reply.

  Sincerely,

  Johanna Huff

  She sighed. It didn’t sound half bad, even if she was making herself seem more interesting than she actually was.

  Janna walked into the room and frowned. “How many pieces of paper do you need to write a letter? You have more paper on the floor than you do in the trash can.”

  Johanna folded her letter and placed it into an envelope. Once it was sealed, she hurried over and picked the paper up, making sure it was all in the trash can. “I’m sorry. I’m very nervous about sending a letter to a man I’ve never met.”

  “A woman in your predicament has little choice in the matter. Now, run along and send that letter before it gets much later. I have dinner guests tonight, and you need to help the cook.”

  Johanna didn’t need to be reminded of what was expected of her. She was grateful her sister had taken her in until she found herself a husband, even though she treated her no better than a servant. The other women from the factory doubled up to share expenses until they heard back from the men they sent letters to. Johanna left the library and headed into the kitchen, picking up a basket filled with bread, strawberry preserves, roast beef, and cake she’d drop off where Beth, Judith, Lessie, Lottie and her sister, Leora, were staying, as they were rooming together. While Johanna stayed with her sister, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to help them out if she could. Her sister would hardly miss a little food, since her husband left her quite the sum when he died the year before.

  Johanna rushed out the door, gathering her skirts so as not to trip. She was accident-prone enough and had more bumps and scrapes as a child than most. The scar on her leg, though, happened at the factory. Fortunately, her skirts covered it, but it bothered her to no end. She couldn’t bring herself to tell the man she was interested in about her deformity. No, she had to get married and away from Lawrence.

  She crossed the street and dodged away from where two men lingered on the corner. Johanna knew if any woman went too close to them, she’d be snatched from the streets to never be seen again. It was another danger of this city. She could have attempted to put in for employment at another mill, but she couldn’t bear to endure the heavy smoke and the insufferable heat of a factory, or another accident.

  “Move it!” a man shouted, and Johanna dodged out of the way as the man proceeded to carry a large box, placing it in the back of a wagon.

  Johanna continued on her way and into a store, handing her letter to a woman who promised to send it out immediately. She browsed for a moment and glanced down when she spotted an older woman she knew, but stopped in her tracks when the woman called out. “Johanna Huff. Don’t you dare walk away from me,” she demanded.

  She practically had to drag her feet all the way over to Mrs. Keeting, the woman her mother worked before her death. “Sorry. I didn’t see you here.”

  Mrs. Keeting shook her head. “I certainly would hope not. It was me who talked your sister into allowing you to stay with her until you can secure employment.”

  “I know, and I’m grateful for that. I’m hoping I’ll only have to be there for a month.”

  Mrs. Keeting began to fan herself with her lacy fan. “I’m so very sorry, dear. I can’t imagine how frightened you are, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find a position soon. It was just dreadful that factory burned to the ground. We’re fortunate the fire didn’t spread.”

  “Yes. It’s nice seeing you again, Mrs. Keeting, but I’m late for an appointment.”

  Mrs. Ketting eyes shifted to the basket Johanna held. “Giving to the poor, dear?”

  “Yes. My mother told me it’s better to give than receive.”

  “I can’t say I agree with that entirely. If you don’t have anything, you can’t give anything, dear.”

  “Good day, Mrs. Keeting.”

  Johanna left without another word. She was perfectly aware that charity and Mrs. Ketting didn’t belong together. Walking down a few blocks, she made a turn and knocked on a green door of the brick boarding house where
many women lived who worked at the mills.

  Beth opened the door and squealed, “I was hoping you’d make it here today!”

  Johanna entered and nodded at Lottie who was tipping her teacup while Lenore set the book down she was reading. Johanna took out the food and said, “This is all I was able to get this time.”

  Judith rushed across the room and sliced the bread, spreading it with the strawberry preserves. She took a bite and smiled. “This is great,” she exclaimed between bites.

  “It’s getting harder to sneak food out of the kitchen. Janna watches me like a hawk.”

  “I don’t understand why you don’t stay here with us,” Beth exclaimed. “I can’t understand how you can put up with her shrewish ways.”

  “If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to get you food.”

  Lenore cut into the cake. “Tell me you’ve sent a letter off to the man you selected.”

  “I dropped it off to Margaret at the shop. She promised she’d send it out right away.”

  “I’m happy to know you finally wrote it. I know I was scared, too, but what other choice do we have?”

  “It has to be better than working at a factory again,” Lottie pointed out.

  “Yes. I only hope this month goes by fast.”

  “Where does the groom you selected live?”

  “Michigan. He’s a lumberjack.”

  ‘That sounds interesting,” Beth said with a laugh. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry until you find out what the man you selected does.”

  They had a good laugh before Johanna gathered up the basket. “I better get back. I’m expected to help the cook with dinner.”

  She hugged her friends and hurried back to her sister’s house, entering the kitchen where she set down the basket. Johanna barely had time to turn around when a voice behind her asked, “Where have you been?”

  Fretfully, she whirled with a hand clutched to her chest. Only then did she sigh when it wasn’t Janna but the cook Edna. “You gave me such a fright.”

  “You’re lucky it was me here in the kitchen and not your sister.”

  “I never knew she ever came in here.”

  “She did when she was looking for you.”

  Johanna picked up an apron, tying it around her waist. “I don’t know why she’d be looking for me at all. She knew I was sending a letter off.”

  “Apparently, a Mrs. Keeting dropped by for a visit, claiming you were carrying a basket full of food. Of course, I told your sister I was in the kitchen when you left and you weren’t carrying anything.”

  “You shouldn’t have done that, Edna. Mrs. Keeting saw me with a basket, but I don’t see how she’d known it had food in it.”

  Janna rushed into the kitchen with a rustling of her skirt, tapping a slippered foot. “Oh, there you are. That snoopy Mrs. Keeting is here, and I’d like you to make an appearance. Now, hurry and take that apron off and meet me in the parlor.”

  Johanna begrudgingly removed the apron and walked into the parlor, sitting on an overstuffed chair.

  “Hello again,” Mrs. Keeting said. “I was just telling your sister how concerned I was about you losing your factory job.”

  “I told Mrs. Keeting that you just sent out a letter to a man in Michigan who is in need of a mail-order bride.”

  “I don’t see why you’d go all that way when there are plenty of men right here in Lawrence. Since this is known as the ‘Immigrant City,’ I’m sure you’d be able to find a husband, but I have a proposal I’d like you to consider.”

  Johanna sighed. She could only imagine any proposal coming from Mrs. Keeting couldn’t be good.

  “As you know, I have a single brother. Herman owns a mill and is quite well to do. You could do worse moving clear to Michigan to marry a man who you’ve never met. I could bring him by for you to meet.”

  “Thank you, but I already made up my mind.”

  “I see. Well, I did try to retrieve your letter before it went out, but the woman who owns the shop sent it out right away. But you could always change your mind.”

  Johanna gasped, but before she could utter a word, her sister said, “It took her long enough to decide this time,” Janna said.

  Mrs. Keeting stood and smiled. “I was only trying to help. I promised your mother I’d look after you girls.”

  “I appreciate your kind offer, but I really feel leaving Lawrence is for the best.”

  “How old is your brother?” Janna asked.

  “Sixty-five, but he’s very spry for his age, I assure you. Perhaps you would like to meet him, Janna.”

  “Actually, I’m still getting over the loss of my husband, and I daresay I might never marry again.”

  “Perhaps in time, you’ll change your mind, when you run out of money.”

  Johanna waited while her sister walked Mrs. Keeting out. Once the door closed and Janna glided back to her, she said, “I know you think I’m a shrew, but I’d never sell you off to some crotchety old man.”

  “I can’t believe she tried to get my letter back. She had no right to even try. She didn’t even know where I was sending it.”

  “You know that woman is snoopy as the day is long, and you’re right, she didn’t have a right to try and take it before it was sent out. Even if I had not a dime left to my name, I’d never marry anyone Mrs. Keeting suggested.” Johanna stepped toward the kitchen when Janna stopped her. “I won’t ask you what you had in that basket, but I hope you know that if I gave food away to every person in need, I’d be in the same position you’re in.”

  Johanna merely nodded instead of responding. Next time, she’d have to be more careful. She vowed to continue to help her friends, though, even if it meant making Janna angry.

  She sailed into the kitchen and, with a smile, put the apron back on. Johanna picked up a paring knife and began to peel potatoes. “Apparently, I had better be more careful taking food from the kitchen.”

  “Is it worth angering your sister?”

  “Yes. Not all of the other women displaced by the factory have funds enough for food to last them a month.”

  “I understand, but if Janna finds out, you might be asked to leave.”

  Johanna sighed as she picked up another potato. “I don’t think she’d do that. Janna even stuck up for me when Mrs. Keeting was here. Of course, she suggested Janna might want to think about marrying her brother, too.”

  Edna laughed as she chucked wood into the stove. “I can’t imagine she liked that very much.”

  “No. I think she rather enjoys living alone. What was Frank like?”

  “It’s not my place to speak of the dead.”

  “I wasn’t asking you to, but I barely knew Frank.”

  “He wasn’t a kind man is all I’ll say.”

  Johanna continued to peel the potatoes and placed them into a pan with water, moving it to the stovetop. “How else can I help?”

  “I’d say make more bread to replace the loaf you took, but you can do that tomorrow. I hope your friends liked the preserves.”

  “They did.” Johanna sat and watched Edna put corn muffins into the oven and rolled pieces of thin steak in seasoned flour.

  “Well, maybe I can teach you how to make it.”

  “In a month’s time, I won’t even be here.”

  “You’ll have to keep yourself busy somehow until then.”

  “I know, but I’m sure Janna will find something for me to do.”

  “Why, yes,” Janna said from the doorway. “I hoped you could serve dinner tonight. Edna will have enough work cleaning up.”

  “I don’t mind, ma’am.”

  Janna looked Johanna over. “You’ll need something more suitable to wear.”

  Johanna was led up the stairs and into the servants’ quarters. Janna moved into a room at the end of the hallway. Johanna’s belongings had been moved in there and on the bed, there was a black dress with wide, white cuffs and an apron next to it.

  She tried to remain calm as she asked,
“How have I wronged you so, sister, that you’d expect me to dress like a maid?”

  “I need to cut back on expenses, and you’ll be here a month. As it is, I’ll have to let Edna go at month’s end.”

  “So, you plan on treating me like the help the entire time I’m here, and sleep in this room?”

  “Look, I took you in, Johanna, and even protected you from Mrs. Keeting’s vile suggestion of you marrying her brother. The least you can do is wear this uniform and behave accordingly.”

  “As a maid,” Johanna hissed.

  “Unless you have another place you’d rather go? But from my understanding, all the other women are having quite a time keeping a roof over their heads. It would be a shame if you burdened them with trying to support you, too. Where would you get the extra food to take to them then?”

  Janna had her exactly where she wanted her. Was it worth staying there and being treated no better than a servant by her own sister, or should she leave, facing an even more difficult challenge and uncertain danger?

  Chapter Two

  Johanna changed into the maid’s uniform, vowing to keep a stiff upper lip. She carried a silver teapot out, her hands shaking as she poured the tea into the cups for her sister and her three guests—the German sisters, Mary and Emma Schultz, and Edgar Rinehold, Janna's late husband's brother. It was a strange mix, but Johanna wasn't about to comment on it.

  “Do be careful. You almost scalded me with the tea,” Mary spat. “Can’t you get better help than this, Janna?”

  “Yes, what happened to the last maid?” Emma asked.

  “Give the girl a chance.” Edgar winked.

  It was apparent none of them knew who she even was. Did she really look so different dressed as a maid? Then again, she hadn’t been around them since she came to stay with her sister. Sure, Johanna had peered at them from the top of the stairs, but that was much different than being introduced to them properly. She had met Edgar once, but that was five years before, after Janna married Frank. She wasn’t sure how long Edgar had visited, but it was hardly appropriate to visit the widow of his brother, surely.