Ladies, I cannot stress the importance of coming together as one. Far too many times I have seen well-meaning women pitted as foes, each determined that she is more right than the other. May it never be! We learn from one another, in good times and in bad. We grow as a result of studying our differences, not our similarities. When faced with someone who seems to oppose your point of view, I would encourage you to respond graciously. Truly, there’s nothing more unseemly than a female cat ready to use her claws on a sister or a friend.
—Ellie Cannady, editor of The Modern Suffragette
* * * * *
THE MEN MADE QUICK WORK of retrieving the bags from the car and delivering them to the house, the dog following back and forth on their heels. Katie kept chattering like a baby bird in need of feeding. “You’re just going to love Montana,” she trilled. “Everything about it.”
Oh, dear. Not another Montana enthusiast. Still, it would be easier to play along than to engage a total stranger in an argument. Besides, Alanna could scarcely disagree, what with her new surroundings being so breathtaking and all.
“Thank you. It’s certainly lovelier than I expected.” Alanna paused and took another sweeping glance at her surroundings. Truly, it did surpass anything she might have imagined. “Actually, I’m not sure what I had anticipated, but it wasn’t this.”
Katie’s face lit in a smile, her blue eyes now twinkling. “Well, you’ve landed in the closest spot to heaven, and we’re happy to have you. Just call me Saint Peter. I will usher you through the pearly gates.”
“She’s hardly a saint,” Tanner quipped as he drew near. As he moved in the direction of the house, he sang out in rousing chorus, “‘Oh, when the saints go marching in, oh, when the saints go marching in, Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in!’” His voice faded as he disappeared inside the house.
Katie rolled her eyes. “Brothers. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.”
“I wouldn’t know. The Lord only ever blessed me with sisters.” Alanna shifted her overnight bag to the other arm, relieved when Tanner reappeared on the porch and offered to take it from her. “Thank you kindly. I’m in your debt.” She gave him a warm smile. “I was fixin’ to drop that.”
“Fixin’ to?” Katie doubled over, her giggles ringing out. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard!”
Alanna paused, unsure of what to say next. “You think I’m cute?”
Katie got control of herself and stood aright. “The quaint way you speak.”
“Quaint?” Alanna shrugged. “What are you referring to?”
“You said you were fixin’ to drop it.”
“Well, I was. Only now I’m not.” Whatever was this girl up to? Making fun of her, perhaps?
“Yes.” Katie clasped her hands together at her chest. “But I’ve never heard it put quite that way before. Simply charming.”
“Your brother was kind enough to take it from me before calamity befell me.”
“Yes, but when he did, you told him that you would be in his debt.” Katie’s giggles morphed into an unladylike snort. “Honestly? Are you just saying that to make me laugh, or did you really mean it?”
“Mean it?” Alanna couldn’t quite figure out why this girl found it all so irritatingly humorous.
“Yes. If you’re in his debt, then we must discuss the interest rate. You need to get the best possible deal.” Katie slapped her knee and cackled.
“See?” Tanner rolled his eyes. “I told you she was no saint.” Alanna watched as he flashed a warning look his sister’s way, but the girl didn’t seem to notice. Only when he cleared his throat did she calm herself.
“Y’all just go right on with all that silliness.” Alanna offered a wave of the hand. “I need to get inside. Mama didn’t fare well during the final leg of the trip. She’s tuckered out and likely needs my assistance.”
“Tuckered out?”
From the sound of Katie’s voice, she still poked fun, though Alanna couldn’t figure out why. “Well, yes. Mama has a weak constitution.”
Katie looked perplexed. “Weak constitution? Is she ill?”
“No. She’s just…fragile.”
With a shake of her head, Katie appeared to dismiss the idea. “Must be a Southern expression.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Katie shrugged then reached for a couple of the larger bags. “Up here, women aren’t delicate flowers. They don’t take to their beds with a headache or swoonings. They work from sunup till sundown. Never heard a one of ’em use the words weak constitution before. Just a new phrase to me, I suppose. I can only imagine it’s something you folks say in the South. Up here women are tougher than a ten-cent steak.”
Heat rose to Alanna’s cheeks as she contemplated the young woman’s harsh words. Not to mention her poor manners. Who would greet a total stranger—a visitor, no less—with such unkindness? And how dare she imply that Mama wasn’t weak in constitution? Why, she didn’t even know Mama! Alanna glanced toward the house, wishing Tessa or Margaret had stayed here to lend their support. Surely they could attest to the fact that Mama needed extra tending to at times.
Tanner flashed his sister another look. “Katie…”
“What?” Katie’s eyes widened. “I’m not trying to be offensive, Tanner.” The young woman turned her attention back to Alanna, squaring her shoulders as she manhandled one of Alanna’s bags. “In Montana, women are hearty oaks, strong and deeply rooted. Not much topples us. We’ll fight to the finish.”
“Hmm. So I see.” And what I see makes me not care for you one whit. So…there.
“Yep, women up here are different.” Katie struggled to take a couple of steps toward the house, nearly dropping the bag in the process. Tanner reached down with a grunt to grab it and strode up the steps to the porch.
“Clearly.” Alanna bit her lip to keep from saying more, though her anger nearly got the best of her.
“After all, this is the twentieth century.” Now Katie’s eyes narrowed as if in warning.
What in the world had this girl wound up tighter than Papa’s gold watch? Alanna took a deep breath before responding. “Well, of course.”
“It’s just that so many women across this great nation haven’t made the jump to the new century as our Montana sisters have done. I’m praying you’re not one of those who’s lagging behind.” As she said the word “behind,” Katie popped Alanna on the backside.
Alanna jumped and hollered, “I beg your pardon!”
“Just teasing.” Katie’s brows arched. “Seeing what you’re made of.”
Trying not to look too wounded, Alanna rubbed her bottom to ease the pain of the smack. “I’m made of pretty strong stuff, thank you, but I have no clue what you mean when you say ‘lagging behind.’ Doesn’t sound terribly flattering.”
“Your customs and manners and such. I’m hoping you’re not one of those antiquated thinkers.” Katie took a few brusque steps toward the large ranch house. “We’re awfully progressive here in Montana.”
With awfully being the key word.
Alanna felt her cheeks grow hot. How dare this girl—this rugged, unladylike girl—challenge her on things she knew nothing about?
Still, a proper Southern woman would never respond with ugly words. Best to choose her next few sentences carefully. Alanna spoke evenly as she followed in Katie’s footsteps toward the house. “Social graces are very much a part of who we are in the South and will, I hope, stand the test of time. Let the rest of the country choose their own paths; we in the South will remain chivalrous and genteel no matter the century.”
Katie erupted into laughter. She dropped the bag she carried then slung her arm around Alanna’s shoulders. “I adore you, Alanna Lessing. I truly do. You’re the best entertainment I’ve had in ages!”
Alanna shrugged out of Katie’s embrace, her mood veering south. “If you mean to tease me, I’ll go inside now.”
Katie’s eyes widened and her lashes dampened. “No, please don’t. I’m sorry if I upset you. It’s going to take me awhile to figure you out, that’s all. I hope you won’t take my silly comments personally.”
“How can I avoid it?”
“Just ignore me. That’s what Tanner does.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Katie rolled her eyes. “My brother doesn’t listen to half of what I say, particularly when I get to talking about women’s rights. Well, that and my stance on the war. I’m an adamant pacifist, you see.”
“You could have fooled me.” Alanna clamped a hand over her mouth, realizing she’d spoken her thoughts aloud. “Oops.”
Katie laughed again. “Point well-taken, point well-taken. I claim to be a pacifist but do tend to get riled up on occasion. Perhaps I should have been more specific: I am opposed to war in its usual fashions. This belief doesn’t sit well with Tanner.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He volunteers at Fort Missoula, you know. No doubt he will be the first to enlist, should our country…” Katie’s words faded away and her eyes misted over. “Anyway, he’s not keen on my ideas.”
Alanna felt the breath go out of her as she contemplated the fact that Tanner might end up going to battle. She watched him from a distance as he worked. “Does he have his heart set on going, should the need arise?”
“He does.” Katie shook her head. “But I’m praying and believing that the Lord will change his mind.”
“The Lord’s mind or Tanner’s mind?”
A ripple of laughter rose from Katie as she reached for the remaining bag once again. “Well, I’m pretty sure where the Lord stands on this. He longs for all men to live in peace, as the Bible says. It’s my brother who needs to change.”
“I see.”
Only, she didn’t. Not really. And what did Katie mean about the Lord being on her side? Why, one could cite dozens—no, hundreds—of Scriptures about folks going to war. Even God got upset once in a while. At least in the pages of her very Southern Bible.
Katie gave Alanna a pensive look. “Just promise me one thing: don’t go trying to change Margaret back to that namby-pamby she was when she arrived in Montana.”
A chill ran down Alanna’s spine, but it had nothing to do with the weather. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve spent nearly two years enlightening her to our ways. I fear all my work could unravel in a few days if she’s persuaded otherwise.”
Alanna’s cheeks heated up again. “My sister is strong, to be sure. And she’s opinionated, though not as vocal as some.” Here, she paused and gave Katie a pensive look. “But I can assure you, she still carries the heart of a Southerner even though she’s miles from home. You can take the girl out of Savannah, but you cannot—and I repeat, cannot—take Savannah out of the girl.”
Alanna pivoted on her heel, away from the ghastly young woman, and took quick steps toward the house. Just yards away, her anger in full bloom, she tripped over her bag and fell flat on her face, exposing both her temper and her backside to the state of Montana.
* * * * *
AS TANNER RUSHED TO ALANNA’S side to extend a hand, he could almost read the thoughts tumbling through her head. She looked as intimidated by his sister as most folks were—even the locals—when they first encountered her.
He helped the beautiful Southern belle to her feet, observing the rosy glow in her cheeks. They were the color of hollyhocks blooming in the springtime. If tumbling turned her face that magnificent color, he’d have to trip her more often.
Thank goodness, Katie decided to go inside the house to visit with the others. Tanner lingered behind to make sure Alanna wasn’t bruised—mentally or otherwise.
“You all right?”
“Yay–us.” She brushed the dirt from her skirt and sighed. “Just hum–il–iated, is all. First you make fun of my speech, and now this.”
He gathered his wits about him to respond. “Please don’t let Katie bother you.”
“Too late.”
Tanner offered Alanna his arm, and she took it. He took advantage of the opportunity to share his thoughts. “To be honest, I’m grateful to finally find someone who agrees with me.”
“Agrees with you?” A hopeful flicker lit her face.
“Yes. I have a feeling we’re both of the same opinion where the suffrage movement is concerned.”
“Are we now?” A beautiful smile turned up the edges of her mouth. “Well, I dare–say that’s a mighty fine thing. Perhaps once I’ve rested we can compare notes. I know why I’m opposed, but it would be good to hear from other like-minded souls.”
He paused before answering. “I’ve stated my opinion on this before and almost lost my head over it. Just don’t let Katie know I’ve told you this.”
“Never, as long as I live.”
He paused and gave her a thoughtful look. “I’ve long felt that a man’s place was to lead his family. The Bible is clear on this, in fact. With women rising up in such militant fashion, a man could get pushed to the rear and lose all sense of authority in the home and the workplace.”
“So, your only re–al concern about the suffrage movement is that men will lose some sort of respect in the process?”
“Ah. Well, this is a genuine concern. But, as I said, it’s one I rarely voice, because so many in these parts feel differently.” He thought of changing the direction of the conversation but decided to get one more thought in prior to doing so. “I’m not saying women are less than men. Let’s make that clear.”
“Yes, let’s.” Her eyes sparked with mischief as she drew so near, he could smell her perfume.
“I, um…” For whatever reason, as he gazed into this belle’s beautiful green eyes, he couldn’t seem to collect his thoughts. She’d cast some sort of spell on him, perhaps a sprinkling of Southern fairy dust and genteel charm combined.
One thing was for sure—he couldn’t seem to resist it. He would fight for his country, if need be, but he couldn’t seem to fight the weakness in his knees as he gazed upon the face of the loveliest belle ever to grace the town of Missoula.