Suffrage and Suitors

by Noelle, Jo

  “I heard about the bonfire,” he said. “I’m sorry that happened.”

  Millie’s hands were laced so tightly that her fingertips were red and her nails white. “I think it was me.” She nodded toward him. “They were burning me.” Her voice broke on the last two words, and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears back. “All I want is more freedom for women. I don’t understand their anger.”

  Edwin’s hand moved slowly, carefully to Millie’s face, his finger brushing her skin. “Aye, but lassie, that’s like it is.” Edwin’s arm swung behind Millie to rest on the back of the seat. “Power. Everyone wants it. Anyone with it wants to keep it and to keep it away from others. Your voice is power, lassie. They’re scared of you, of what women will want for their country. They’d rather keep you from voting than try to understand your opinions.”

  “So, they’re going to try to frighten us into silence?”

  “You’re already silent. It’s the men they hope to silence. Maybe to protect their women. It wasn’t so different in the old country. My father and I didn’t have a right to vote in Scotland. I might never have been a landowner there. I moved to America for that and other freedoms. I can vote my conscience. This land is my land because I help determine its future.”

  “That’s all I want.” Millie felt bone tired. Would the men really cast their votes in favor? After all, what did they have to gain? Or the ones against—do they think they’d lose power? Her head dropped over to the side and rested on Edwin’s shoulder. She scooted closer until they were hip to hip. She felt safe tucked in close to him.

  Edwin’s face turned close to hers. “You deserve that right too.” His voice was mellow, like a song that soothed her, and she basked in its firm tone.

  “Am I inviting my friends to risk their lives?” She tipped her chin upwards. “Should I cancel the rally? Do you think it’s safe?”

  “I don’t know if it will be safe, but I do know God is in charge of when we die. Our choices are our own. We’re Scots. We fight bravely, but we nearly never win. Time passes, and we fight for freedom again. Standing for what is right might be in our blood.” His hand cupped her shoulder and pulled her a closer. “This isn’t Scotland, and miracles take place in America.”

  He was right, and it strengthened her. This was a time to have faith.

  “Millie, if you want to continue with your rally, I’ll stand beside you and walk every step of the path you’ve chosen. Should trouble come, and I pray it doesn’t, I’ll protect you with my last breath.”

  Millie wasn’t sure, but she thought she felt Edwin’s lips press against her forehead. She looked into his rugged, somber face. His voice had been deceptively calm, but she heard a fierce protection in it. He was her warrior.

  She understood now what Mama M meant when she told her that her heart would choose. She realized now that it had chosen Edwin a long time ago, and those feelings were roaring back to life. Her heart felt like it was stampeding tonight.

  Mr. McCormick was an exceptional man and a truly kind person. He might be a good match for her, and they could have a happy life together. Still, he had wanted her to quit and hide for her own safety, but he didn’t understand her zeal. She would have to give up a part of who she was for that future. Although her feelings for him were sweet, she knew they’d never be what she felt nestled against Edwin.

  Edwin would walk the road beside her. Her feelings for him had been vibrant, then hidden, and were now becoming bright again. Would he act on it? She hoped so. And if she felt stronger about him than he did about her, would she be happy? She tucked her thoughts away.

  Callum came out of the door.

  “Time’s up, Edwin. I believe you have some meals to serve.” He stood in a wide stance, his arms folded across his chest, his face stoic.

  Edwin must have understood the expression because he jumped up from the seat. “You’re right. I’ll have to hurry to get the next meal out.”

  Had he jeopardized his business coming to her? “Do you need some help?” Millie asked. She would love nothing more than to share a kitchen with him. Well, maybe one or two things a little more, but that would have to wait.

  “No,” Callum answered.

  “Thank you, Millie. I’ll be fine.” Edwin nodded to Callum and headed to his horse.

  Callum followed him and stood, talking to him for a minute. Millie could see both men in profile. She wondered what they had to say and wished she could hear them. She concentrated in their direction. Nothing. Not one word. Now and again, one or the other glanced her way. She was obviously part of it. The exchange was rapid, but they didn’t seem at odds. At the end of it, they shook hands, and Edwin mounted his horse and rode away.

  She waited on the porch to talk with Callum. When it looked like he was determined to walk into the house instead, she stepped to the side and blocked his way.

  “I was hoping for some advice,” she said.

  His big arms wrapped around her. He was a giant of a man, and although she was a woman, because she was so small, she always felt like she was still the baby sister. Today it felt good to be hugged by him.

  When he let her go, he said, “You have two big questions on your mind, and I doubt I could really help you with either one.”

  “You’re also my spiritual leader, so lead.” She teased him lovingly. She suspected that what she’d really like was for him to make the decision, tell her what was right, and take the weight of her actions off her shoulders.

  “Sorry, little sis. I’ve never been married, never been in love. I can’t advise you on that. And as for your other question, whether or not to march, that’s going to be a personal decision for every person who has received a flyer. You may have started that stone rolling down the mountain, but every person will make it their own—to fight it, ignore it, or join it. They’re going to weigh their own courage and their hearts to decide.”

  “You’re right. I guess I just needed to hear it out loud.”

  “I can’t decide that for you or anyone else.” He began to walk away but turned back before disappearing through the door. “But I can tell you that I’ll be marching that day.” He winked and walked inside, leaving the door open for her.

  It made her feel better to know her brother would be there. She’d always thought he was wise and good. He wouldn’t do anything unless his convictions lay in that direction. As she began walking into the house, she considered Edwin’s words too. While Sterling had encouraged her to back away, Edwin offered to stand beside her. Perhaps they were both good pieces of advice, but she had to choose her own way to go.

  Edwin

  “All stand. The Mineral County Circuit Court is now in session, Judge Milton presiding,” the bailiff called out to the small room as if barking the words down the Royal Mile.

  The judge walked in wearing black robes and sat behind a scratched wooden table.

  “Be seated.”

  Judge Milton surveyed both sides of the room. His eyes landed on Archie’s lawyer for a long moment, then he held up a paper. “Before we took a recess a month ago, I heard testimony on the case of McRae versus Grady.”

  Archie’s lawyer stood. “Permission to approach the bench?” His voice was higher than expected, and Edwin thought the man still had peach fuzz on his cheeks.

  The judge paused for quite a while. His face looked like the request had annoyed him, but then he waved him forward. “Both counselors will approach.”

  Edwin had never been to court before this suit, but it seemed to him that his lawyer was surprised by that request. They stood a mere four feet from him, and Edwin found it easy to listen in as Grady’s lawyer spoke. That’s when he saw his mother. She appeared sitting in the air right next to the judge. Edwin looked around, but it seemed that no one besides him knew of her presence.

  He also noticed Ab Helm had slipped in the door and stood in the back. Why was this of interest to him? The minute he’d come to town, he’d been nearly inseparable from Grady. There was something up th
ere. But what?

  His attention was drawn back to the lawyer, whose words sounded like his cheeks were full of cotton and he drew out his vowels. “My client requests more time. Since I am replacing his previous lawyer—”

  “Who replaced the replacement of his previous lawyer,” the judge added.

  “Yes, well, we need some time to adequately prepare our case.”

  The judge was silent. Mama McRae turned to watch him. When Archie’s lawyer opened his mouth to speak again, the judge held up one finger to stop him. “From back-east?” he asked.

  “Yes, Your Honor. Boston. That’s in Massachusetts.”

  The judge’s eyes rounded like there was a fire behind them. He directed his next question to Archie. “There something wrong with your Colorado lawyers? It seems like you could use some of your Colorado silver to buy a decent home-grown one.” Then he addressed the new lawyer. “Well, I don’t care for you or your eastern version of the law. I’ve already taken testimony, and I’m set to rule on this case. We won’t be drawing this out any longer. Denied. Be seated.”

  When the men returned to their clients, the judge read from the paper he was holding. “Let’s get this done.” He cleared his throat. “I find in favor of Mr. Edwin McRae.”

  Mama McRae pumped her hands in the air and whooped as the judge continued.

  “Archibald Grady is liable for destroying the property called Edwin’s Restaurant. He is financially liable for the destruction of property, for the loss of equipment, and the loss of income resulting from the disruption of daily business. He is ordered by this court to pay ten thousand dollars.”

  Edwin’s mam dropped her jaw open, then looked at her son. “These are pennies from heaven for you, laddie.”

  Edwin’s breath caught. That was a very generous amount. A family could live on that much for a decade. He could easily pay back every cent to Hugh for the new construction. It would even leave over enough to renovate his home into a respectable residence.

  The judge lifted his gavel, but before he brought it down, Archie jumped to his feet. “That’s a ridiculous amount for his ramshackle building,” he yelled. “If it hadn’t blown up, it would have fallen in the next storm.

  The bailiff stepped forward, placing his hands on guns at his side.

  The judge cleared his throat. “Oh. Well, I mean, Archibald Grady is ordered to pay ten thousand dollars for the price of the building and an additional ten thousand dollars for the loss of business revenue.” The judge turned to look at a man taking notes. “You get that down?”

  Mama McRae clapped her hands, and Edwin felt as if he was in some kind of dream. Was this really happening?

  “You bet your kilt it’s happening,” his mother answered with a chuckle. “I do love it when the wicked get caught in the web of their own making—love of money. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

  Grady’s face turned red and then nearly purple before he spat out the next words. “I won’t pay, and I’ll make sure you’re removed from that bench, you ignorant crook. I own this town, and I’ll own you.”

  Mama McRae barked out a laugh. “That man might have haggis for brains.” She laughed and laughed and then sighed.

  “Sit down,” his lawyer hissed, pulling Grady’s coat from behind.

  The judge stared across the short space. “That’s good advice but too late. The gavel hasn’t dropped, and I see that I’ve missed the order to pay for the equipment lost as well in the amount of—that’s right—ten thousand dollars.”

  Mama McRae wiped tears from her face, but her smile was wider and happier than Edwin ever recalled seeing it.

  He was in shock. He would be a rich man. Then his heart turned cold. Archie’ll never pay it. The judge will leave, and Grady will burn down my new business, too, out of spite.

  Mama McRae said, “You might be right, Edwin. That Little Grady is a snake for sure.” She slid closer to the judge and whispered in his ear.

  The judge hesitated a moment, then said, “The entire amount is due and payable in one month’s time.”

  “What?” Archie roared.

  “One month’s time from our last meeting, meaning it’s due in one week.” The judge pointed at Grady. “Do yourself a favor and shut your mouth.”

  Edwin’s mother laughed and slapped her knee. “I do hope that man loses his temper again. It turns out well for you, Edwin.”

  Then she whispered to the judge again, and he said, “I will require proof of payment in a week—that’s seven days from today—that the money has been deposited in the Creede bank in Edwin McRae’s name.”

  One last time, she spoke to the judge.

  “Should anything that even appears to be retaliation occur, the monetary penalties will be increased—substantially. In case I’m not making myself clear, you will lose every penny before I have you thrown in jail for contempt. Is that understood?”

  “Just say yes and shut up,” Archie’s lawyer hissed.

  Grady seemed frozen for a long minute like a statue that could burst into flames any second. “Yes,” he finally spat out.

  “The total amount is thirty thousand dollars. You are dismissed.”

  Ab Helm left and slammed the door behind him, at the same time as Edwin’s lawyer approached the court recorder.

  Edwin waited for him, almost stunned by the outcome. It was a fortune. The kind that would have taken years and years to amass. “I can bring my sisters here if they’ll come,” Edwin said to himself. He hadn’t seen them in over five years. He was sorry he didn’t know what had become of them. Two were older than he and one younger. “Have they married?” he asked.

  His mam shook her head. “They’re not settled yet.”

  They had no dowry or property to take into a marriage, only pretty faces. What kind of life might they have had? Hard work most likely. “They’ll have a good life here. I promise it, Mam.”

  Mama McRae appeared beside him and threw her arms around him. “Thank you, son. They’ll need you soon—very soon.” Then she disappeared.

  His lawyer, Mr. Newell, pulled him out of the room as another group of people entered. He noticed that Archibald Grady didn’t move away from the table. It appeared that he might be the defendant in the next case being heard as well.

  It was mid-morning, and Edwin had to rush back to the restaurant. He was beginning to think about the last hour. The judge’s decision just changed his life, but how much? What, if anything, would he do differently? Maybe he could afford to hire someone to help out, giving him time for a wife and family. His heart thudded against his ribs, strong and content.

  Edwin stopped himself. It was only a decision. Archie had yet to make good on it. Still, the judge seemed determined to see the fulfillment before he left again.

  Instead of walking back to the restaurant, Edwin turned south, heading for the telegraph office. He was going to send for his family now. If the money came through, all would be well. If it didn’t, things would be tight, but they’d make it, and they’d have each other. He knew it was the right decision.

  Edwin entered the office. No one was there. A bell rang behind him as the door swung open.

  “Edwin, how was court?” Arthur Jameson asked. “Did Archibald get his?”

  Probably most people in town had some interest in the goings-on of the most notorious person in Creede.

  “It sounds like I won, but the settlement hasn’t been paid yet.”

  “Well, it’s good to know that he’s being held accountable. What can I do for you today?” Arthur asked.

  “I’m sending for my family to move to Creede with me.”

  Arthur thrust his hand out and shook Edwin’s. “Great news, that. Great news indeed. We need more good folks to move in. Let’s get that sent. Can’t wait to meet them.”

  Arthur handed Edwin a piece of paper to write the address and message on. What would he say to them? Would they come?

  “Business profitable. Need help. Please come. Love you. Miss you.”

  ***

&
nbsp; Later that evening, after Edwin cleaned up from the last rush of customers, he heard a knock on the front door. The sun was just setting, and the street was covered with long black shadows from the buildings. As he got closer to the window, he recognized Waylon Morgan.

  “Come in. What brings you to town?” Edwin asked.

  Waylon stepped inside and set down a portmanteau from each hand. “The rally tomorrow. Hugh offered us rooms to stay the night to be ready for the march in the morning.”

  Edwin was surprised, and he guessed he looked it.

  “Julianne visited Vivian today and extended the invitation.”

  Another knock sounded behind Waylon. This time, Willie Meeks stood there.

  “I have a telegram for you, Mr. McRae,” he said, holding out the paper.

  Edwin read it. It was from Hugh and sent from Topaz. “Friends staying for the rally. Be there soon.” He laughed. “You got to town before this made it over. Glad to have you. We haven’t opened up yet, so you’re our first guests. Follow the stairs up. Take any room except the first one. That’s Hugh’s.”

  Soon after the Morgans arrived, so did the Clarks with a passel of children in tow. Reverend and Mrs. Hensley and their two daughters and several other families came. Within an hour, they had a full house when Hugh and Julianne arrived as well.

  The march was shaping up to be a joyful event by the looks and sounds of the guests. It made his heart leap to see the people who would also stand beside Millie tomorrow. Everyone traveling from South Fork had spent most of the afternoon just getting to Creede. He figured they might be hungry.

  After helping Hugh get everyone settled in, he walked back to his kitchen. Spitz howled, and Edwin looked out the window. Millie had tied up her horse and was walking his way. Spitz didn’t leave the back stoop but continued to howl, his tail thumping the ground wildly. Edwin watched the dog stand and prance in place. Millie was calling to the dog in a high-pitch voice, driving the dog mad that he couldn’t run out and jump on her. He was obedient to a fault—Edwin would give him that.