The Ranch Girls and Their Heart's Desire

by Margaret Vandercook

  CHAPTER XI

  A DECISION

  Jack, however, did not reach a decision that night, although many hoursshe lay awake continuing to revolve the subject in her mind.

  The next day the opposition she again encountered was even keener thanany that had gone before.

  Not long after breakfast Frieda made the first family appearance,bringing her little girl with her.

  Seeing her sister approach, Jack, who had stepped out of doors for amoment for a breath of fresh air, feeling more fatigued than shescarcely ever recalled being at this hour of the morning, gave a quicklysuppressed sigh and then held out her arms to Peace.

  Thoroughly she and Frieda had gone over this question of her possiblenomination when the matter simply had been under discussion. Frieda hadthen aired her views as fully as it seemed possible that any expressionof opinion could be aired. Not for a single instant was Jack even toallow her mind to rest upon the idea. "A woman politician in thefamily!" Personally Frieda felt and announced that she could not endurethe disgrace.

  From the first had she not warned her sister that public speech makingwould lead to something more disastrous?

  Now as Jack greeted her sister she was painfully aware that Frieda'sface wore the familiar expression it was wont to wear when she hadappointed herself both judge and jury in a case and allowed no counselfor the defendant.

  Pretending to ignore the expression, nevertheless, Jack felt a littleominous sinking of the heart. She was not prepared to allow Frieda tomake this decision for her, and had so informed her, as gently andfirmly as possible, in their previous talks together upon the self-sametopic.

  And Jack did not wish to be drawn into any further argument thismorning, and certainly not with her sister. All her life she had hatedargument more than any one of the four Ranch girls, and in the old daysused often to run away for a ride or a long walk, leaving the matter tobe settled by the other three, who discussed the point to exhaustion.

  "Glad to see you, Frieda dear, it is nice to see you so early in themorning and with the baby, especially when I am tired, which does nothappen often to me. Will you come indoors or shall we walk about amongyour old violet beds? They are blooming in special abundance. Perhaps itmay amuse Peace to gather some and take them home to the big house. Ialways feel as if I were selfish having so much more enjoyment from yourflower beds than the rest of the family. Remember, Frieda dear, when youplanned to be a florist and to rescue the family by selling violets? Itwas sweet of you."

  "I'll stay outdoors and Peace can gather the violets if she wishes, butI did not come down to the lodge at this hour to discuss violets. Inever do anything early in the morning, as you know, unless it seems tome excessively important. I know those people appeared here yesterdayafternoon, Jacqueline Ralston Kent, to offer you the nomination forCongress; they want you to become a Congressman, or Congresswoman. Whoever heard of such a foolish title? Now I wish to know precisely whatanswer you gave them. I would have walked down to the lodge last nightwith Henry, except that both Henry and Jim Colter insisted I shouldleave you alone and give you time to think the matter over for yourselfbefore I spoke to you again."

  "But you haven't anything _different_ to say, have you, Frieda, so whylet us talk of it at all?"

  "To that I will agree only upon _one_ condition, Jacqueline Kent. Youmust promise me to refuse this nomination once and for all time andnever so long as you live have anything to do with politics either inthis country or in England."

  "That is rather a tall order, don't you think, Frieda?" Jack answered,purposely looking in another direction rather than toward her sister'sface.

  Frieda always would appear to her a grown up and glorified baby, solong, when they were little girls together, had she looked upon Friedaalmost more as a mother than as an older sister.

  "Yet unless you do promise, Jack, it can never be the same between usagain. So please listen carefully before you reply.

  "I know at other times I have objected to small things that you wishedto do and sometimes you went ahead and did them without regard to myfeelings or my judgment and I never said anything much afterwards evenif they did not turn out successfully. But this is a _big_ thing and a_different_ thing, and if you act against my wish I told Henry lastnight I should never really forgive you, even if for the sake ofappearances we pretended that things were the same. I have been muchembarrassed recently at your becoming a prominent person in theneighborhood; of course I wished you to be prominent socially and tobecome a leader, like Mrs. Senator Marshall. She would then be obligedto take second place, in spite of her husband's distinguished position.But the idea that you, my sister, could actually become interested inpolitics!" Frieda pronounced the word as if it were a deadly poison."Why, it simply never dawned upon me, not for the longest time! When wewent about to parties together after you had been in Wyoming a year Ibegan to hear people say laughingly that Wyoming needed a young andcharming woman to represent her in political life so that she should notfall behind the other states. So why were you not the person, as LadyAstor was in England? The cases were a little alike, you had married anEnglishman and had the title of Lady Kent, but after your husband'sdeath had preferred to return to your own country, renounce your titleand resume your American citizenship. You had gone through all thenecessary legal formalities to attain that end, you were clever andgood-looking and your actions had proved you were a thoroughly patrioticAmerican. The fact that you said you did not belong to any party wasperhaps best of all, as women needed to be independent in politics. Theywere the new voters and should not be slaves to parties as so manyAmerican men were.

  "This is as nearly as I can remember what was said about you, Jack.There were other things, not so flattering, but I presume most personswould not like to mention them before me. However, I paid littleattention at first, as I thought it was all just talk, because mostpeople have so little to talk about really. Even when you began makingspeeches about the things you wish to have accomplished in the state ofWyoming (as if your opinion was of any value), why, I did not troublespecially! It all seemed so absurd! Indeed, when you spoke to me a fewdays ago of what might occur and declared that the nomination for theCongress of the United States might actually be given to you, though Isaid everything against it I could at the time, I did not really believeit. Then yesterday afternoon actually it happened! But perhaps yourefused to consider the suggestion, Jack. Indeed, I feel sure after whatI have said to you and knowing Jim Colter's attitude, even if he hassaid but little, you must have refused. If so, I am sorry to have tiredyou by talking so much; I am sure I hate talking at any length unless Ifeel it my duty."

  "And you do feel it your duty this time, don't you, Frieda?" Jackanswered, slipping her arm through her younger sister's.

  "Still, having done your duty, don't you think that after all I may beallowed to use my own judgment in this decision? Suppose I happen tothink that life just now is offering me a great and surprisingopportunity! It is surprising for me to have been chosen for thisdistinction; I feel this as keenly as any one of my family or friends,knowing my deficiencies, can feel it! Now don't you think it's unfair tothreaten me, Frieda, to threaten in the one way which you know hurtsmost, the loss of any part of your affection, if I cannot make up mymind to do what you think best for me, not what I may think best formyself? I have never in all our lives, Frieda, suggested that any act ofyours could possibly make me care for you less."

  Frieda's voice wavered a little.

  "Yes, I know, Jack, but then I would never do anything so rash and sofoolish as what you contemplate. To see your name in the newspapers, toknow that people are everywhere discussing your private affairs, makingup disagreeable stories about you if they wish, for you know you areunconventional, Jack, and sometimes do give people opportunities tomisjudge you, well, I simply can't bear it. So come on, baby, let us goback home, I see we are in the way here. I apologize, Jack, for wastingyour time and mine. I had some socks of Henry's I wished to darn, and Ishould have bee
n much better employed, as I see you already have reachedyour decision. Well, Jack, I am sure something very unfortunate willcome of any such decision; when you become a public character you willcertainly never be the same person to me."

  Frieda had slipped her hand inside her little girl's and was about tomove away when Jack's arms went round her and her gray eyes, filled withtears, gazed into Frieda's implacable blue ones.

  "Frieda, in spite of all your sweetness, don't you realize that you arerather hard sometimes? I wonder if life will ever teach you to bedifferent?"

  Frieda's eyes wavered an instant.

  "I see nothing to be gained by discussing my weaknesses of character. Solong as I satisfy my husband and child I can manage without your goodopinion, especially now I know that my interest and my wishes have notthe slightest effect upon you." Frieda walked resolutely away.

  Several minutes after her departure Jack continued standing in the samespot. Frieda had opened her eyes. She had been thinking that she wasstill uncertain of her decision and now knew that unconsciously her mindwas made up. She intended to accept the nomination which had beenoffered her and to do everything in her power honestly to win theelection.

  Returning to Wyoming where she had lived as a child and young girl, shehad confided to Jim Colter that she must look for some new andabsorbing task to fill her life now that her married life was over. Whatthis interest would be she had not then conceived. What it might be inthe future was still uncertain. Yet the next step lay straight ahead.

  Never in all their lives had she and Frieda had so serious a differenceof opinion, and Frieda's words and manner had hurt more than anythingthat had happened since her return to the security of her former home.She could only hope that Frieda would relent, that Professor Russellwould use his influence in her favor. Nevertheless, although frequentlyled by Frieda in small matters, on this occasion she had not been in theslightest degree affected. This was a big decision which she faced, adecision in which Frieda had but scant right to interfere. Of course shemust allow for prejudice, certain suggestions which her sister had putforward had made her wince more than she cared to show. But over andagainst the small things was there not the one big opportunity that shemight serve both her country and other women if she did not fail toocompletely in the work which might or might not lie ahead?

  Then in a boyish fashion wiping the tears from her eyes with the back ofher hand, Jack laughed. "Oh, Frieda will probably forgive me if I make asuccess, never if I am a failure! People forgive nearly everything tosuccess."

  "Jimmie," she called a little later, running around the side of thelodge where her small son was engaged in playing with a magnificent St.Bernard dog which had been a recent gift from Jim Colter, "won't you goup into the woods behind the Rainbow creek with me and spend the day? Wewill take our lunch and I'll take my rifle. I don't believe there aremany animals left in our woods these days, but there used to be yearsago and at least we can play at being pioneers."

  But Jack and Jimmie were not to escape so easily.

  Opening the gate which led from the front yard half an hour later, theycame face to face with Jean Merritt and Olive MacDonnell.

  "Trying to run away into your beloved outdoors in the usual fashion,Jack?" Olive said, smiling. "Well, you may go after a while, but Jeanand I wish to talk to you first."

  "Please don't," Jack murmured, slipping a hand into the hand of the twoother original Rainbow ranch girls. "Frieda has already reduced me totears by overmuch conversation this morning. One could scarcely describethe conversation as argument, as I was allowed to say nothing. Oh, Iknow, Olive, that you and Jean will not be so obdurate as Frieda andwill allow me a point of view on the subject, but just the same, spareme, because I have made up my mind, provided Jim Colter does notpositively refuse his consent. I shall not go against Jim's command,although I may against his wish. Otherwise I mean to accept thenomination, poor, uneducated, inefficient, stupid female person that Iam and ever must remain."

  "Jack, you have _one_ member of your family who will stand by youwhatever comes, as you have stood by me in the past year," Jean Merrittannounced. "I have not said a great deal while the rest of the familyhas been doing so much talking and yet I believe I am glad of yourdecision. I know one is prejudiced against the idea, not so much ofwomen in politics as of a young woman like you, Jack, who is sobeautiful and charming and sincere and one who happens to be so nearone's own affections. I suppose disagreeable things will be said of you,yet I know of few women so brave and so straightforward, or better ableto bear calumny. And I don't see why people think that marriage alwaysprotects a woman from unhappiness; it has not protected me."

  Jean rarely spoke of her own sorrow and only in moments of the deepestemotion, so that Olive and Jack both flinched at the close of her littlespeech, and temporarily at least Jack's problem took second place.

  In more than a year, since Ralph Merritt's departure to act as miningengineer in a gold mine in New Mexico, no human being who had ever knownhim before had laid eyes upon him. In all the time since, no word hadarrived of his mysterious disappearance from the mine, and no word hadever been received from him addressed either to Jean or to any one ofhis family or friends. Utterly and completely he had vanished. Monthshad been spent by Professor Russell in investigating his whereabouts,every clue had been followed, yet from the moment Ralph was known tohave gone into his own tent to lie down until the present, no othernews of him had been unearthed.

  "I still have faith that things will adjust themselves for you some day,Jean, I don't know exactly why. I appreciate I have no possible evidenceto support the idea, but I have always believed and do still believethat Ralph will come back some day and be able to explain the mystery ofhis disappearance."

  Jack gave Jean's hand a tight squeeze.

  "Jean, it does help a lot to have you say you will stand by me. I may bebrave to-day, but to-morrow I shall probably turn coward. Olive, whatabout you and Bryan?"

  Olive let go her friend's hand and did not answer for a moment. She wasalways quieter and more reserved in her manner than the other Rainbowranch girls.

  "Bryan and I talked over your possible decision until after midnight,Jack. Bryan argued you would accept, I argued you would not. Bryan seemsto have known you best. He says you are made of the right material forwhat you are to undertake. Yet he dreads it all for you as much as I do,the fatigue, the misunderstanding. It seems impossible to me, Jack, asyou must appreciate, and yet you and I are wholly unlike. But I believeyou are the most courageous woman I have ever known, just as you werethe most courageous girl. One thing Bryan wanted me to say both for himand for me. He believes you will not care for the notoriety, not evenfor the fame, if it should come to you, but only for the opportunity.And he and I both want you to understand that we will do _everything_ inour power to help you, whatever course you may pursue. You see, dear,Bryan insists I feel toward you like the old axiom, 'My country, rightor wrong, but still my country.' However, I told him the old axiom wasnot only stupid but wrong. One's country must be right, and so must yourchoice be."

  "Hero worship, or rather heroine worship," Jean remonstrated. "Olive hadthat same absurd attitude toward you as a girl, didn't she, Jack? Sosmall wonder you think you are a sufficiently important person to benominated for the Congress of the United States! But don't let us keepyou any longer from your beloved woods. Jimmie evidently does not knowthe poem about the small boy: 'Who was never bad, but always good, whonever wriggled, but always stood.' So good-by and a happy day."

  "You'll tell Jim to come in to speak to me before he goes to bed," Jackcalled back over her shoulder, as she and Jimmie started off together."I must send word in the morning what my decision is and so I must seeJim first."

  After a day in the woods Jack was undressing for bed, having decidedthat it was too late to expect Jim Colter, so she must try to get holdof him before he left home next morning, when she heard a familiarwhistle.

  "I'll be down in a minute, Jim," she called, th
rusting her head out theopen window. "Will you come in? The door is open."

  "No, I'll wait out here," came the answer back. "Don't dress, I shallonly stay a moment. Some business detained me."

  A little later, with her hair in two gold braids and holding a violetdressing gown close about her, Jack faced the real test of the long day.

  "May I, or may I not, Jim?" she demanded.

  Jim Colter shook his head.

  "You are a full grown woman, Jacqueline Kent, not a child, not even avery young girl. Not that I remember having reached decisions for youeven in those days."

  "Which means I was always obstinate, Jim."

  "Always a bit obstinate, Jack."

  "But I am not obstinate to-night, Jim Colter, and I won't if you sayno."

  Jim shook his iron-gray head.

  "I shall not say no, Jack; you must decide as you think best."

  "And if I go wrong you'll help me meet the consequences, even though youwould rather I chose the other way?"

  "So help me, yes, Jack Kent."

  "All right, Jim, unless you forbid me, I have decided. If I am elected,and in ninety-nine chances in a hundred I won't be, do you suppose Iwill have to spend the greater part of my time away from the oldranch?"