Chapter 23
“How can a fisherman afford to live in an area like this?”
Junior grinned and placed a kiss on Joanne’s nose. “I told you before, Princess…” The driver opened the door and pulled out a step for them. Junior stood up and stepped out of the coach and held out his hand to help his fiancée out.
“Young’s fishing is the biggest fishing company around here. Our boats supply fish and seafood to hundreds of towns. We are even looking to invest in new vessels to keep up with the demand,” He explained helping her out of the coach and her brothers follow.
“Fish is a high commodity and most is sold even before it leaves the ship by orders alone.”
“This is why you didn’t mind spending money on me?” She guessed correctly.
“I had no need for my earnings before, so I saved them for my bride and our family.”
He had told her this before, but she never understood as she did now.
As a partner in the company and a family member he was earning more money than the rest of the crew, but if looks were anything to go by, Derek was earning more too.
“Did you enjoy the ride, Annie?” Her father asked with a beaming smile.
“It was incredible.”
“Fun… Maybe, I’ll be a cowboy.”
Mike looked at his twin dumbly. “Yeah, I can just imagine it now… The dumb-ass on his valiant steed saving young women from their virginity.”
“Wats verginatie?” Matthew sent a scolding look to his son who was trying and failing to hold in his laughter.
“It’s a special flower you give to the man you marry,” He reluctantly told her causing his sons to burst out laughing.
“That’s beautiful, daddy,” Joanne complimented.
“Enough of this talking outside,” The snowy-haired captain said gaining their attention. “People are beginning to stare.”
They looked around and sure enough, people were discreetly and some not so discreetly staring.
“Don’t you have many visitors?”
“None as beautiful as you,” Junior whispered and went to lean in but his father stopped him.
“None of that in public. Come on in,” He indicated to the house in front of them. “We’ll sort out your belonging then speak.”
“How big is this house? How many bedrooms? How do you upkeep a house of this size?”
The men chuckled and Andrew indicated to some men to carry the luggage and belonging inside the house. “We have a few Domestic Servants to help with the cleaning and keep up. So it is easy enough.” They stepped inside the large front door. The Harris children were all surprised to see how homely it looked. They expected it to be sparsely furnished and… Well, they expected it to look like something in one of those old period dramas Joanne watched.
“Beautiful,” She whispered and Cookie let out a squeal of excitement at her new ‘castle’ home.
“Thank you,” The captain smiled proudly.
“You have servants?” Luke asked remembering what the older man said.
And as though on cue a burly man in his forties dressed in a smart black uniformed suit stepped into the doorway of a room in front of them.
“Sirs…” He seemed surprised to see them. “We were not expecting you for three days hence.”
“Hello, James. We had a fruitful trip, fish were biting in vast amounts. Now… Have the spare rooms made up and have these…” Andrew pointing to the luggage and stuff being brought in.
“Taken upstairs.”
“I can help.”
The older suited man looked astonished at the fact that the elegantly dressed young lady would even offer. “That will not be necessary, Annie,” The master of the house – Andrew senior – assured her with a professional, but fond expression.
“Mattie, children…” Luke sent him a look as though to say ‘Really?’
“This is James. If you need anything, just ask him.” They silently nodded.
“Hiya ‘Ames. Am Cooki’,” The tiny red-haired little girl said excitedly.
A small smile appeared on the man’s face. “Ha, yes. This is Cookie, her father Mr. Harris and his children, twins – Mike, Luke, the older boy – Adam and finally sweet Joanne. They will be staying with us for the foreseeable future.” The man seemed to recognize the Harris name but say nothing.
“And this is James. He is our butler if you need anything speak to him.” He paused and looked to see the men had finished. They exchanged a greeting and they left having already been paid.
“Is my wife and son at home?”
“No, sir. They are at Mr. Booth’s home,” He indicated to Derek.
“But?” He paused. “I sense a but?” He already knew what was coming because Junior had explained what they found out in the future. But left out the part about the three deaths and what Millie did, simply telling him that Edward broken his leg and got sick from the infection. But they now had the pills to treat him. The older man had asked questions but Junior always skilfully evaded them.
James looked at the others and back to his boss again.
“It’s alright. They are family, speak openly.”
“Master Edward had a fall and broke his leg. But the doctor came and treated the bone.”
“Papa, I pee?” Cookie whispered loudly.
“I’ll take her.” Joanne took the small girl from her father.
“I’ll show you where it is.” Junior led the girls through the house.
“You have an indoor toilet?” She asked in shock expecting to be led outside. She placed the small girl on the toilet and pulled the door too slightly, waiting outside.
“Of course. Only the best for my princess,” He said and drew her into his arms.
“Joanne,” He sighed. “I hate not being able to hold you. We need to get married already,” He whispered holding her to him and placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Am done.” They pulled apart and Junior almost choked on his own saliva.
“Oh, baby girl… I’m sorry,” Her big sister giggled and shook her head, bending down to the small girl’s height. “I told you to to call when you’re done.”
“I ‘id it!”
“Yes, you did,” Joanne giggled pulling her sister dress out of her underwear and straightening her clothes out.
Back in the hall, half of the bags seemed to have moved and their fathers and uncle were sat in the grand lounge room just off the hall.
“Where’s the others?” Joanne asked gaining the men’s attention.
“Oh, they wanted to explore the house. So they are helping James take the luggage up.”
She narrowed her eyes at her soon-to-be father-in-law.
“Do not give me that look. You know why you can’t.”
“Fine,” She pouted. “But I’m not unless little flower…”
“Am a ninya!” Cookie squealed, head-butting the captains knee and ran from the room giggling.
“I’m going to kill Luke.” Her older sister followed her and Junior went to follow her, but his father stopped him. On her way out she heard them speaking and her father apologizing to his friend.
“I’m sorry, Andy.”
“Ha. It’s nothing,” His old friend laughed. “I really want to go see…” His voice faded away as she got to the front door where the little one had somehow slipped out.
“Cookie, go out that gate and I’ll spank your bum,” She warned rushing outside.
The little girl stopped mid-step and turned around. “Am soie,” She whimpered, her bottom lip trembling and her eyes brimming with tears.
“Don’t cry.” Joanne rushed over picked the little one up. “I’m not mad at you, Cookie,” She whispered brushing a couple of loose strands out of the girl’s face. “I just didn’t want you to run on the road and get hurt. Promise me you’ll never leave the house again without me or one of the others holding your hand?”
“I pomiss, Annie,” Cookie said sniffling and clinging to her sister’s neck.
“I bi good girl.”
“Good girl,” Her big sister whispered and kissed the top of her head.
“What are you doing in my garden?” They turned their heads and saw a young teenage boy with wooden crutches standing in the gate.
“Oh, Hello. You must be Edward.” He was the spitting image of Junior only a younger, smaller version.
“Sorry, miss, do I know you?” He looked confused but was polite.
“Not exactly.” She smiled. “I am Joanne and this is my sister Cookie.”
“Hiya Edwood. Am Cookie.” She wiggled out of her sister’s arms. “Oh no. You is injared,” She said with a frown and reached out, touching his plaster cast leg softly.
He watched her curiously but didn’t stop her.
She leaned down and kissed the plaster before looking up at him and smiling.
“It gets betta now.”
He raised his brows but smiled. “Thank you very much. That was very kind of you.”
“Sorry,” Her older sister mouthed knowing it was a little too forward of the girl in this time.
“So what are you doing wandering around alone? Shouldn’t you be resting your leg?”
“I escaped,” He grinned mischievously. “My mother had her friend’s daughter watching me. I don’t like her. Neither does my brother.” He scrunched up his nose at the thought.
“But never told me why you were in my garden?” He said sitting on a wooden bench under a tree in the garden. Joanne joined him, placing Cookie on her lap.
“Junior and Papa…” She shook her head remembering no one calls them that here.
“I mean your father and your brother, Andy brought us here.”
“They are home?” His eyes widened and his voice hopeful.
“Yes. Why don’t we go inside and you can surprise them.”
“Yes!” He didn’t question why they were with his family or anything. He was too excited to see his father and brother.
After lifting her sister from her lap, she helped the younger boy stand.
“Thank you, Miss. You didn’t have too.”
“Nonsense, we are as good as family and call me Annie.” She held the toddler’s hand as they walked into the house.
“Family? How so?”
“Andy and I are going to be married.”
He had paused before they entered the house.
“I don’t want to upset you, but a lot of girls like him, but he doesn’t like them. Millie, that’s the girl who was meant to be watching me…” He grinned again. “She likes him a lot and thinks they are going to get married too. But they won’t.”
Not surprised, Joanne continued to smile, she had expected this sort of reaction when she told him. After all, Junior wasn’t here to confirm her words.
“But don’t worry, you are pretty and nicer than most of them. I’ll marry you instead.”
“Well…” She was unable to hide a grin. “Maybe we should speak to your brother and father first.”
He smiled and nodded, he made a move to hold the door open for her, but she stopped him.
They made a silent exchange and he mouthed thank you.
“We’ll explain. They’ll understand.” They heard the men talking still.
“Can I go now?” Joanne silently giggled hearing her fiancé all but whine.
“Saprise!” Cookie ran into the room slowly.
