Johanna's Bridegroom by Emma Miller

Author:Emma Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2013-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Johanna threw her mother a questioning look, and a lump of emotion rose in Roland’s throat. He was struck by how beautiful Johanna was, with her curling auburn hair tucked modestly beneath her Kapp, her apron crisp and white against the soft blue of her calf-length dress, and the dusting of golden freckles over her nose and cheeks.

“I invited J.J. and Roland,” Hannah said, answering Johanna’s unspoken question and flashing him a genuine smile. “It’s been too long since they broke bread at our table.”

Roland grinned. “She knew we’d be eating cheese-and-bologna sandwiches again tonight and took pity on us.” Seeing Hannah, still so lively and rosy-cheeked in her middle age, made it easy to see why her daughters were all so attractive. When Johanna is Hannah’s age, he thought, she’ll still be the loveliest hausfrau in the county. But whether she would be his frau or not was yet to be seen.

“It’s good to have you, Roland,” Hannah continued. “Samuel tells me that you’ve been offered a contract with Windward Farms.”

Johanna’s eyes widened with interest. “A contract?” she asked. “I hadn’t heard.”

“Ya.” Roland tried not to sound as though he was boasting. “You know Windward Farms? The big horse farm with the white fences on Fox Meadow Road? Their farrier is retiring, and John Hartman recommended me to take his place. I’ve been up there a couple of times, and I guess they liked my work.”

“No reason why they shouldn’t. Everyone says you’re the best farrier in the county.” Johanna smiled warmly at J.J. “Jonah and the big boys are playing croquet. I’m sure they’d like you to join them.” And then to Roland, “I was just going inside to get the ice cream churn. We promised the children strawberry ice cream for dessert. Would you mind carrying it out for me?”

“Of course not.” He lowered his son to the ground. “Go on,” he said to J.J. “But stay out of mischief, and don’t make a pest of yourself.”

“I’m going that way. I’ll go with you.”

Hannah held out her hand and Roland watched them walk away. Raising a child on his own wasn’t easy, and J.J. had been through more than most boys his age. His mother had always babied him, and losing her was a terrible blow. Now, acting as both mother and father, Roland never knew whether he was being too hard on the boy or too easy.

The elders quoted verses from the Bible that instructed a father not to spare the rod, but he was too soft to take a switch to J.J.’s tender skin. Johanna was a loving mother, and her children were well behaved, but spirited. If what he hoped for came to pass, and she did agree to become his wife, he was sure she’d be good for his son.

“Roland? The ice cream churn?”

Johanna had started back toward the house and he quickened his step to catch up. “I would have told you that we were coming, but I didn’t see you after Hannah asked us.

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