Johanna: Bride of Michigan (American Mail-Order Bride 26) Read Online Free PDF

he approached, she was able to survey him much better. He wore a white shirt beneath a gray vest, with a red puff tie. His jacket was open and ruffled in the wind. She demurely cast her eyes back to Gretchen. He certainly couldn’t be her intended, as he was dressed too fancy. “It looks like my husband-to-be hasn’t arrived,” she said, trying her best not to stare back at the handsome man. She tried to control her shuddering, but it was impossible as men’s cologne wafted over to her.
    She felt dizzy suddenly before a male voice asked, “Are you Johanna?”
    Her eyes met the man from the buggy and she stared deeply into his inquisitive gray eyes. “Why, y-yes, I am. Are you Paul?”
    “Paul Worthington,” the woman next to him said. “I’m Paul’s mother, Cecilia.”

Chapter Four
    “I’m pleased to meet you both.” She fidgeted as she stared at Cecilia’s gray, elegant silk dress. It was exactly what one would wear to a wedding! Surely he didn’t intend to marry her right then. It was nerve-wracking enough meeting Paul, but his mother, too?
    “Well, don’t just stand there, let’s get going. I don’t want to be the talk of the town.” Cecilia took ahold of Johanna’s arm. “People can be such gossips.”
    “This is Gretchen,” Johanna said. “She’s been so nice to me on the train.”
    “Oh, yes, Gretchen, from a mail-order agency in Boston, if my recollection is correct. Is she one of your girls?” Cecilia asked.
    “No, apparently the matchmaker who sent her didn’t even send a chaperone. I was glad to be of service. Will Paul be marrying Johanna today?”
    “Of course, he will.”
    “Would you like to come to the wedding?” Paul asked. “It’s the least we can do for you, looking after my fiancée on the train and all.”
    “I’d be delighted, Mr. Worthington.”
    They all walked back to the buggy and Paul took Johanna’s hand, sending shivers up her spine. She almost felt sad when his hand left her to help his mother up. Gretchen sat in the front and Paul sat in the back on the other side of his mother. This was very disconcerting to Johanna. Would his mother also be standing between them when they were married?
    The buggy moved along the bumpy road, and it wasn’t long before they came up on a white church with a large steeple. She wished she had a real wedding gown to wear, but at least the one she wore was white.
    They left the buggy, walking into the church where a man walked forward with a smile. “I’m delighted to see you both. Would you like a wedding march played on the organ, or would you prefer to just come up to the altar?”
    “What would you prefer, Johanna?” Paul asked politely.
    She swallowed hard. “At the altar would be fine.” What would it really matter when she had nobody there to give her away?
    Walking to the front of the church, Gretchen stood beside Johanna and Cecilia beside Paul. They were asked to join hands, and Johanna shivered as she took his warm hand into hers. She stared up at the cross behind the altar, praying for God to help her get through this.
    The pastor began the ceremony, and it was both quick and subtle. She was to honor, cherish and obey this man, who she had only met ten minutes before. When it was her turn, she said “I do” somberly. Back in Lawrence, she had a life of her own when she worked at the factory before it burned to the ground. But she just knew her life would never be her own again.
    A ring was slipped on her finger and they were pronounced man and wife. Johanna stared deeply into her new husband’s eyes, not sure what to do. Would he kiss her or— She didn’t have to wonder for long as Paul bent his head and gently brushed his lips against hers, sealing them as man and wife.
    Johanna nervously turned, a shiver running through her as Paul held her hand. His mother smiled, her lips pressed together. It was one of those smiles you knew was forced. How happy was she really that her son had married a mail-order