She really had no idea of a building he knew so well? His surprise must have shown on his face, because she leveled him with a look. “Where I grew up, seeing a two-story house was a sight. And the nearest town was barely a third the size of The Hollows. I reckon the town didn't have enough people in it to justify a mill, so there wasn't one to be seen, unless you count a saw or gristmill.”
“It's very different than those types of mills.” He hesitated, glancing up at the house. Most women who didn't work in the mill weren't overly interested in touring one. But despite his brother's larger portion of it, Noah was proud of his father's work and the jobs they provided for those in the community. “Would you like to see it?”
Her attention rushed to his face. “Could we?”
She even looked excited. “It's truly nothing spectacular, but if you're curious …”
“I sure am. Taking the opportunity to learn more about my new home and the people who live and work here is worthwhile. ’Specially as I continue to grow in my business learning at Carters.”
“Well, you're starting off well with Mrs. Carter, I believe. When I collected you from the store, she couldn't stop singing your praises. Your organization and resourcefulness.” He tipped a brow. “Both excellent qualities for a businesswoman.”
“A businesswoman?” Her light laugh warmed the space between them. “That makes me sound like I own my own business.” She looked over at him, her raised brow challenging him a little, but the playful light in her eyes softened the edge. “You reckon it's silly to think I could own my own business someday?”
“Do you think it silly for me to want to own mine?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Not the same at all.”
“True.” He chuckled. “I think you are quite capable of doing a great many things, Miss McAdams. Why not own a business?”
He drew the carriage up to the front of the house. “If you truly want to see the mill, we could leave Charlie with Mother while we tour. She'd love the opportunity to tend to him, and if you feel the need of a chaperone, we could ask Mother's lady's maid to join us.”
“I'm not worried about going alone with you, but I don't want to cause any trouble.”
“You'd delight Mother beyond words. I didn't realize how much she missed the joys of children until I saw her that first day with Charlie. She had such high hopes for my child … .”
“Well then, let's cheer her heart with some sweet Charlie dimples.” Kizzie gave the baby a little bounce, and he showed off those dimples with a grin.
Victoria happily took Charlie and, with a smile, shooed Kizzie and Noah off toward the mill. Kizzie hadn't thought much about needing an escort, since she wasn't likely to draw attention from such a fine man as Noah Lewis anyway, but as Noah sat so close on the carriage seat and his warm scent of soap and some sort of leathery spice squeezed into the small space between them, she started to wonder if a chaperone might have been a good idea.
Not for safety.
Heavens, no. She trusted Noah Lewis.
But maybe for her own mind and the way his kindness and nearness spiraled her good intentions into daydreaming about sweeter things. She decided to breathe through her mouth and keep her focus forward.
Maybe that would help.
Because the last thing she wanted to do was appear like she was the kind of woman who threw herself at men. Going right from thinking she loved one man and bearing his child to sparkin’ another within a month of leaving the first didn't look too good for her reputation at all.
Or her desire to do God's will.
So she focused forward. At the large, square-shaped building standing quiet in the middle of a field with the backdrop of mountains and a river snaking past it on the far side. The brick building stretched long with tall windows everywhere. Rows and rows of them, twelve or more on each of the three floors with a tower on either side of the structure, like bookends to all those rows of windows.
“I thought your house had a lot of windows, or the bank downtown, but I ain't never seen so many of them in all my life.”
His warm chuckle jumped across the space between them with as much sneakiness as his smell.
“The windows provide some ventilation and additional light, though we are not as up to date as more modern mills. Which is one of the reasons we are losing our workers at such a rate, despite the security a mill job provides over agriculture.”
“What do you mean?”
“Places in nearby Mount Airy or White Plains provide more up-to-date facilities, better pay, and housing. It makes sense the men and women want a safer workplace and better pay.” He waved toward a small collection of buildings near the mill. “And those other mills built successful mill villages, unlike the few buildings Father erected before he died.”
“Mill villages? The workers live there?”
He nodded. “They create community among the workers, all these families living side by side together. The villages make it easier for their workers to get to work, provide education for their children, and save money. Father wasn't in a hurry to build one because it cost so much money and The Hollows wasn't too far from the mill, but I believe it has been to our detriment long term. That sort of security and provision is a real draw to young families, in particular. Though Father had secured Dr. Palmer's weekly visits to offer some sort of health care. Working in an environment with machines and the fiber-filled air of the main floor can lead to all sorts of medical needs.”
“At least he wanted to offer them health visits.”
