Millwright's Daughter

by Zina Abbott

  S unday morning found Eliza in Julie’s and Lydia’s room once again focused on helping Julie look her best for church. She used the curling iron to create the curls that softened the outline of her cousin’s face. “Today you will wear that pretty spring bonnet with the blue and yellow flowers your ma bought you, Julie. If we manage the curls just right, it will work to your advantage.”

  “Do you think so? This tan dress is not my favorite, but the only other nice one I have unless I wear the pink one again.”

  “No, not after you wore the pink last week to both the dance and church. Besides, that tan calico has a blue floral print in it that will emphasize the blue ribbons and flowers in your bonnet. They will look beautiful together.”

  Julie sighed and bit her lip. “If only I had been blessed with the Wells blue eyes.”

  Lydia spoke up from where she stood fastening her petticoats. “I told Mama she should have gotten that bonnet for me. The one with pink and white flowers would have looked just as good on Julie as the one she has.”

  “And when Julie wears her pink dress to church, you two can trade bonnets. I never had a sister to trade clothes with, so look how fortunate you two are.”

  Lydia reached for a lavender calico dress with pink and yellow flowers. “Now there are three of us. Does that mean we all three can share?”

  “Haven’t we been doing that? It seems to me both of you have borrowed my winter bonnets at one time or the other.”

  Eliza felt uncertain of the reason, but Lydia’s comment bothered her. She never resented the times she had traded clothing and accessories with her cousins, although Julie with her wider shoulders and broader hips did not fit into Eliza’s shirtwaists or gowns. It was the comment her uncle had made the day he called her into the mill office. He insisted she lived with them now, and she knew he intended for her to stay. In her heart, she knew except for the clothes on her back, she would leave all her things behind for her cousins if only she could return to Ohio.

  Eliza pushed her worries aside and wrapped her arms around Julie. She gave her a quick squeeze. “Stop fretting, Julie. Both Lydia and I have the Wells blue eyes, but Daniel Irwin only has eyes for you. It will be the same this morning if he joins us in church.”

  Eliza’s comment prompted a smile that lit Julie’s face.

  “He said he plans to be there, especially after Papa invited him to Sunday supper afterwards.” Once again, Julie’s face clouded with worry. “But, Papa made it clear he invited Daniel to call on you, not me.”

  With a harrumph, Eliza stood with her arms akimbo. “That means nothing. You’ll be there, too, Julie.”

  “Perhaps not. What if after supper he only invites you into the parlor with Daniel?”

  “We won’t let him get away with it, will we Lydia?” Eliza turned to her younger cousin. “You’ll help us, won’t you? When Uncle Joseph invites Mr. Irwin into the parlor, all three of us will go in and take our seats as if we assume the invitation extends to all of us.”

  Lydia wrinkled her nose. “I don’t really want to sit in the parlor all afternoon and listen to Papa and Mr. Irwin the whole time. All they talk about is building the new mill.”

  Eliza bit her lip as she considered. “At least come in right at first. There are just enough chairs that if Julie sits on the sofa and you and I take two chairs, that will leave two chairs for your parents. The only place left for Mr. Irwin to sit will be on the sofa with Julie. Hopefully, without too much prompting from us, he’s astute enough to head for the place next to Julie right away. After a little while, Lydia, you can make your excuses and leave. Will you do it?”

  “I’ll do it. We better hope Papa doesn’t order us to stay behind to clear the table and do dishes while you go into the parlor. Is my collar smooth in back?”

  Eliza walked over to Lydia and straightened her collar. “If he does, I’ll insist I need to stay behind and help. Hopefully, Mr. Irwin will unconsciously be our ally in this and insist Julie join the rest of us. Lydia, if you like, as soon as I finish with Julie, I’ll fix your hair in a braided chignon like the models were wearing in the latest Godey’s fashion plates I saw before I left home.”

  Once they arrived at Church, Eliza took care to arrange Julie, Lydia and herself so when Daniel Irwin arrived and Joseph waved him over, in order to sit next to Eliza, he found himself seated between her and Julie. Joseph, a slight frown creasing his forehead, bent forward and leaned across Joey, who sat between his parents. Phoebe looked forward as if unconcerned about the arrangement. Eliza smiled as she shared a hymnal with Lydia, knowing it left Julie to share a hymnal with Daniel.

  On the drive home from the church in Kerr’s Ferry, Daniel rode his horse next to the surrey. Eliza noted with satisfaction although he kept up a running conversation with Joseph, several times he glanced at the three young women sitting in back. His gaze—and his smile—sought out Julie, not Eliza.

  At the dinner table, Joseph seated Eliza next to Daniel. However, since it was Joey’s usual place, her cousin was told to sit between his two sisters. Julie and Lydia maintained their usual places at the table which put Julie across from Daniel. Although most of Daniel’s conversation amounted to polite replies to Joseph, his remarks to Eliza were brief, as were Eliza’s responses. Daniel Irwin’s gaze often wandered across the table to Julie.

  Eliza smiled to herself. She had experienced enough young men showing an interest in her and expressing their undying devotion to know the look. Although Daniel’s actions were tempered by maturity, Eliza felt confident the man was smitten with Julie.

  When the time arrived to move into the parlor after supper, Joseph suggested his daughters should remain behind to clear the dishes. Much to Eliza’s surprise, her Aunt Phoebe spoke up and thus became the trio’s unwitting accomplice. She assured her husband she and the girls could quickly take care of it later after Mr. Irwin left.

  Eliza and her two cousins moved into the appropriate seating in the parlor as if they had rehearsed the maneuver for hours. Daniel, astute man in love that he was, quickly claimed the seat on the sofa next to Julie. As if she was in on the plan, Aunt Phoebe sat in her usual chair. In response to her husband’s chagrined expression at the arrangement, she smiled and patted the arm of his favorite chair.

  Although somewhat stilted, the conversation continued. True to her threat, after a reasonable time passed, Lydia excused herself. Eliza raised an eyebrow when in exchange for the privilege of leaving what she considered a boring affair, her younger cousin offered to check on Joey before she started clearing the table.

  As if sensing when he had stayed long enough to be polite, but did not wish to outwear his welcome, Daniel Irwin rose.

  “A most enjoyable way to spend a Sabbath, Joseph. I could not ask for better company than you and the lovely ladies of your family.”

  Phoebe rose, and with a rare smile lighting her face, she thanked Daniel for coming. In exchange, he praised her cooking abilities. She quickly responded that Julie and Lydia had been a big help in the preparation, and Eliza could be credited with setting a lovely table.

  Eliza smiled at that. She had grown up with a cook and a maid in the house. Since her mother assumed she would marry into the same social class that would provide her servants, there had never been much need for her to learn to cook. However, her mother had insisted she learn to arrange flowers and set a formal table.

  Phoebe excused herself, Julie and Eliza to join Lydia in the kitchen. Eliza, her arm linked with Julie’s, had barely turned towards the parlor door leading to the front entry when Daniel’s voice prompted her to come to a complete stop.

  “Joseph, if you don’t mind, before I leave, I’d like to have a few words with you in private.”

  Eliza desperately wished to hear what Mr. Irwin had to say to her uncle. She suspected Julie did also. However, Phoebe’s hand at hers and Julie’s backs nudged them forward. Reluctantly she walked out the door but stepped to the right side by the doorjamb. Phoebe followed them out and beg
an to close the door. Her eyes pleading, Eliza shook her head. She knew eavesdropping was impolite, but if Daniel wished to speak of something personal instead of the mill, she wished to know. It could affect her future—and Julie’s.

  Phoebe frowned, but after studying the expressions on the faces of both her daughter and Eliza, she left it open a crack. The three women leaned forward, positioning their heads to hear as clearly as possible what was said.

  ~o0o~

  “I am looking forward to this partnership, Joseph. I think it will be beneficial to us both. There is another matter I wish to discuss which, if you agree, I believe will cement it even tighter.”

  Daniel watched the smile of satisfaction on the man’s face. His confidence grew and he continued. “Some partnerships with long-lasting duration have stood the test of time because they were joined through family connections as well. Although I do not advocate a marriage for the purpose of business alone, I find after all these years of being alone I have found someone I can admire and care for deeply enough I wish to pursue a course leading to marriage.”

  Daniel watched Joseph smile wide enough to display his teeth—teeth, he noticed, were still in good shape and seemed to be all there in spite of the man’s age.

  “I agree, Daniel. As well as being beautiful, Eliza is a delightful young woman. I’m sure…”

  A frown on his face, Daniel cut the man off. “Wait, Joseph. I think you misunderstand. While I agree your niece is a delightful girl and as pretty as can be, I find myself more drawn by your daughter Julie. She has a quiet grace and subtle beauty of both body and spirit that has won my heart. I wish to ask for your permission to court Julie.”

  Daniel narrowed his eyes and studied the man before him as he listened to him. For the first time since he had met Joseph Wells, the man stumble over his words.

  “I’m surprised to learn that, Daniel. I assure you, Eliza would be the better choice. My Julie is like her mother, quiet and unassuming. As a businessman, I’m sure you understand the importance of having a wife who can serve as an accomplished hostess when you entertain business associates. I think you need to reconsider…”

  Daniel cut him off. “I was very impressed with how your wife entertained at dinner today. If Julie takes after her mother, I’m sure her skills as a hostess will serve my business interests well. I’m more concerned about the woman with whom I will share a personal relationship. It is Julie I wish to know better.”

  Daniel rarely grew angry, but he felt it threaten to rise within him at Joseph’s continued attitude of reluctance. “Joseph, we are talking about a business relationship involving a considerable sum of money intended to last for decades. We are discussing an equal partnership with me in charge of marketing, sales and distribution while you continue to expand the milling operation. I understand your personality and forward management style, but do not mistake me as being willing to accept a secondary role or to subordinate myself to you. If you don’t consider me a fit candidate for your daughter’s hand, then perhaps we need to reexamine the wisdom of joining together in the venture we have discussed these past several months.”

  Daniel never flinched as Joseph’s gaze bore into him. He knew he needed to hold his ground. The time for pleasantries was over, and the time to establish the proper relationship between the two had arrived. Joseph Wells would accept him as an equal partner, one worthy to marry his daughter, or Daniel would look elsewhere to invest his capital.

  Daniel knew the second Joseph capitulated and accepted his terms.

  “I have always expected our venture to be a partnership of equals, Daniel. And, if it is Julie you prefer, it is an honor to grant you permission to court her.”

  ~o0o~

  Since she first met her uncle, what Eliza just witnessed was the first time she had seen him back down from anything. Wide-eyed, she glanced at her aunt who frantically waved them away from the door. At Julie’s sob of relief which she did her best to suppress by pressing both hands over her mouth, Eliza wrapped her arm around her cousin’s shoulder and squeezed it in support. She spun the two away from the door and guided Julie’s footsteps to the carpet runner in the hallway that lead to the rear entrance to the kitchen.

  After both she and Julie—tears of joy still in her eyes, but more composed—donned aprons to take over for Lydia who had already washed and dried the glassware and silver, Eliza left Julie long enough to join her aunt in the dining room while Julie shared with her sister what had taken place in the parlor.

  Eliza approached the woman who was in the process of gathering up the linens to be washed. Stretching her neck to peek out the front window to be sure her uncle and Daniel Irwin had moved to the front yard where Joey would soon join them with Daniel’s horse, she turned to her aunt with a whisper. “Aunt Phoebe, you must help Julie. She loves Daniel Irwin so much. I don’t know why Uncle is so opposed to them courting. Even though he agreed, I’m afraid he might change his mind and try to stop it later.”

  Eliza caught the look of disapproval on her aunt’s face.

  “You don’t understand all that’s involved, Eliza. He had high hopes Mr. Irwin would fancy you.”

  “But, Mr. Irwin doesn’t fancy me and I don’t fancy him. He’s in love with Julie. Surely you want to do what is best for your own daughter.”

  Eliza felt her aunt’s gaze bore through her for several seconds before she turned to the kitchen where Julie worked, her expression changing to one Eliza interpreted as wistful.

  “Of course, I want what’s best for my daughter. Never question that. I also have an obligation to follow my husband’s lead and to do what is best for all my family.”

  Eliza smirked. “Just one more reason why I have no desire to marry any time soon. I would not want to be in your shoes right now, not with Uncle Joseph being so stubborn about this issue. If I could find someone like Papa, I might consider it. However, there is no one I’ve yet met I would consider marrying, especially here in California.”

  The image of Kit Halsey immediately popped into Eliza’s mind. She shook her head in an effort to push it aside. She did find the man attractive. She had not realized how much until the previous week she had devised a way to get him alone away from her uncle’s supervision. Even though her purpose for pulling him into the closet involved a serious matter that held her tied into knots of worry, she soon fell under the spell of the handsome freighter. Closeted together, he had smelled of a spicy soap and wool instead of mules and oak barrels filled with flour. She had playfully kissed him on the cheek when she demanded he call her by her first name. She had spent the week regretting she had not tipped his face towards her and placed her lips on his.

  Yes, young men with interest in their eyes had kissed the back of her hand. However, even at church, her mother had never allowed her to leave her side long enough for a young man to pull her behind the chapel or a thick shade tree to introduce her to the mysteries of what it felt like to be kissed on the lips. This past week, Eliza’s thoughts at night as she waited to fall asleep had no longer focused on what it would be like to be kissed. She wondered what it would be like to be kissed by Kit Halsey.

  Then again, it was just as well if she did not get too close to the handsome freighter. He lived in California. When she married, she wished it to be with a man from near her home in Ohio.

  Phoebe’s words snapped Eliza back to the present. “I will not have you disparage my husband like that, Eliza. You are chasing a silly dream if you think to wait to return to Ohio to find the right man to marry. I thought Joseph explained to you your grandmother is no longer well enough to serve as your guardian. With you not being of age yet, you need to stay here with us. Even if Mr. Irwin has chosen Julie, I’m sure your uncle will find someone suitable for you.”

  With a look of disgruntlement, Eliza turned to face her aunt. “I’m sorry, Aunt Phoebe. I didn’t mean to criticize Uncle. It’s just I’ve noticed a lot of men think they must run everything, including dictating to the women in their familie
s without even allowing them a voice in the matter. It’s not like I’m a child. I’m capable of making my own choices. My eighteenth birthday has passed. If I was married, I would be considered an adult. I’d be able to make my own decisions and act on my own with no need of a guardian. I see no reason I must stay in California. If anything, I need to get back to Ohio in case I’m needed to care for my grandmother.”

  Once again, Phoebe’s words revealed her impatience with her niece. “A married woman doesn’t act as independently as you might think, Eliza. Even here in California where married women can own property separate from her husband, she still must answer to him. Unless a woman is a widow who is financially independent, during her life she must answer to one man or the other—father, guardian or husband. Now, let’s not leave Julie to finish the dishes alone.”

  .

  .

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  Kerr’s Ferry, California –May, 1882

  Chapter 9

  ~o0o~

  T ense with anticipation, Eliza lay in her bed as still as she could manage. The signal had come that morning. On her walk to the top of the rise closest to the barn, she had seen Kit Halsey’s rig outside the door of the mill warehouse. Wearing a solid red neckerchief, Kit loaded barrels of flour onto his wagon. She waited to see if he would glance her way. He never did. She excused his behavior because she knew she would see him this night as soon as the waning half-moon rose to provide her enough light without needing to use a lantern to climb the hill to the oak trees.

  Eliza hoped he would figure out to meet her then. They had not discussed time, only place. She would clarify that tonight in case they found a need to meet again.

  Or a want.

  Eliza fought back her sense of guilt over how excited she felt about meeting Kit again. She knew her focus should be on learning about her grandmother. As much as she anticipated receiving a message from home, she yearned to meet with the messenger.

  At the first hint of increased light coming through her window, Eliza rose to check. She once again thanked Aunt Phoebe for the gift of a room to herself. Julie and Lydia had shared a room from the time they were little. The room Eliza used was a guest room. The longer she stayed, the more Eliza anticipated her aunt asking her to move to the girls’ room to free up the guest room. So far, she had not. That meant Eliza did not have the added difficulty of sneaking past her cousins as she left the house.