As I ponder my legacy—what I will leave behind when I soar from this earth—I am aware of how important every word can be. For, when this frail body is no more, my words will live on through these articles. How, then, can I do them justice, knowing that they will be scrutinized once I’ve crossed over to Glory’s golden shore? I must simply trust that they have been penned with the right heart, the right spirit. And I must repent for the overzealous words that have stirred more action than intended. All things in balance, ladies. All things in balance.
—Ellie Cannady, editor of The Modern Suffragette
* * * * *
ALANNA ENJOYED HER TIME WITH Tanner far more than she cared to admit. When the rally came to an end, they wound their way through the crowd to find their family members. Katie and Tessa remained close to the center of the activity, of course, practically clinging to the congresswoman’s skirts. Not that Alanna really blamed them. There seemed to be an amazing energy in the crowd, one she’d never sensed before. It had little to do with the cold weather and everything to do with the zeal exuding from those in attendance.
“Have you seen Mama and Margaret?” Alanna called out to Tessa, to be heard above the crowd.
Her sister pointed to the stage, where Mama and Mrs. Jacobs stood alongside Margaret, chatting with the pastor’s wife. Very interesting, indeed. Surely the pastor and his wife did not agree with the congresswoman’s philosophies, did they? Still, why else would Mrs. Sullivan attend the rally? Perhaps to keep on eye on this. Yes, surely she planned to report back to her husband about the women’s shenanigans.
Katie finished her conversation with Jeanette Rankin and faced Alanna. “Well, this has been a glorious day in every respect. What did you think of the bells?”
“They sounded like a grand cathedral choir singing out God’s praises.”
“Oh, I thought so too.” Katie’s eyes glistened with moisture. “It was a spiritual experience, to be sure. Floating along over the snow with those bells ringing madly…I enjoyed every minute.”
“As did I.” Tessa took hold of Katie’s arm. “How can I ever thank you for including me?”
“Happy to have you.” Katie slipped an arm around Tessa’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “We are soul sisters, are we not? Kindred spirits in every regard.”
“We are.” Tessa’s beaming face left no questions about her feelings on the matter.
The crowd thinned, and Katie gazed up at the now-empty stage. “I do have one regret, and it’s a big one. I’m just so heartbroken that Ellie couldn’t be here. But we’ve done this in her honor. And if, God forbid, she doesn’t linger many more days on this earth, we can rest easy, knowing we’ve given her this special gift.”
“So, the rally was meant to honor Ellie?” Alanna pulled her coat tighter to brace herself against the wind.
“Yes, and to thank Jeanette Rankin for her brave stance on our behalf as the country’s first female congresswoman. One can scarcely imagine the taunting she must receive on Capitol Hill. I shudder to think about it.”
Alanna shuddered too, but not for the same reason. The idea of a woman serving in Congress still felt rather odd to her. She wouldn’t say so, however. Not today, with everyone in such a jovial mood.
“You look troubled, Alanna.” Katie took her arm. “Is everything all right?”
“I suppose.”
“Let me ask you a question.” Katie paused and gave her a pensive look. “You’ve stated that you will challenge this woman’s movement with every ounce of strength in you. Is that right?”
“Well, I…”
“How is your disagreement with those of us who believe in women’s rights any different from our fight to gain equality?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You are willing to go to battle to prove a point—the point that we are wrong. But in marching up to the front of the battle lines to state your case, you are only showing us what a strong woman you are, which proves my point quite clearly. Women are tough…even Southern women. You’re made for bigger things than simply baking bread and washing dishes.”
“Well, I…” Alanna paused, realizing that anything she said from that point on would come across as an argument. And an argument, no matter how she tried to fancy it up, would only make her look like the tough, determined female Katie had just described.
Strange, she certainly didn’t feel tough right now. No, indeed. As she looked between Tanner and Katie, she suddenly felt like a puddle of melted snow. And, just for the record, she’d never baked a loaf of bread in her life.
* * * * *
STANDING IN THE MIDST OF the town square, Tanner found himself surrounded by females. Ordinarily, this would not have frustrated him, but on a day like today—when he only had eyes for one—he longed to spend more time alone with her, not encompassed about by so many zealous suffragettes.
He’d hardly had time to think, though, when Katie drew near. Fine lines formed on her brow. “Tanner, I need to ask a favor.”
“You need more bells?”
“Hardly.” She laughed. “I’m worn out and freezing cold. So is Tessa. Would you mind terribly if we went back home in the car with Mama and Mrs. Lessing? Maybe you and Alanna could go back in the sleigh? The horse is kicking up his heels, ready to go.”
He glanced Alanna’s way, and she threw in her two cents’ worth. “Sounds lovely.”
It did sound like the ideal situation, though he had to wonder if perhaps Mama and Mrs. Lessing had put Katie up to this. Their matchmaking skills were in full swing these days. Not that he minded, of course. After all, spending more time alone with Alanna was exactly what he’d been hoping for.
Minutes later he waved good-bye to his sister and the other ladies then turned to face the woman who’d held his thoughts captive all morning. “You ready to become a Sleigh Belle?”
The rolled eyes clued him in as to her answer. “Hardly.”
“Looks like you have little choice. That sleigh is covered in bells and I don’t have the time or the inclination to remove them right now.”
“Oh, I’m keen on riding in the sleigh, just not keen on being called a Sleigh Belle.” She laughed. “Regardless, please don’t remove the bells. I love the way they sound. They put me in the mood for Christmas. In fact”—she gestured to the snow-packed fields off in the distance—“all of this puts me in the mood for Christmas.”
“Then let me help you aboard.”
They settled in, and the horse kicked up his heels and took off across the snow. Tanner drank in the sites around him, particularly the beautiful woman to his right. Being here with her on this crisp, white day felt incredible, the ideal way to usher in the Christmas season with the perfect gift at his side.
“I can see now why you love Montana so much.” Alanna gave him a winsome smile. “Though, of course, I hate to admit it. This is the most beautiful winter scene I’ve ever witnessed. Truly, we have nothing to compare.”
Tanner thought about her words. “I love it here, Alanna. Always have. It sets my imagination on fire. The landscapes are unlike any you’ll find elsewhere. You can look across vast fields of white that stretch you in every conceivable way.” And stretch your paintbrush too. “Gives you courage to try things you’ve never tried before. I find it so relaxing—and thrilling at the same time.”
“I can see why, though I can’t believe I’m confessing it aloud.” Her cheeks flushed pink—perhaps from the cold.
The sleigh moved with lithe grace across the snow, the jingling sound of the bells ringing out a symphony as the horse pulled them at a leisurely pace. Tanner passed an extra quilt Alanna’s way then gestured with his head to the mountains in the distance. “Did you know that a field of diamonds appears every night at sunset?” And did you know that I plan to paint that scene if I can capture the colors with my brush?
“A field of diamonds?” she echoed.
“Yes. If I took you up in those hills and we gazed down at the town at night, you would see the lights from the houses twinkling like the facets of a diamond. It’s breathtaking, really.” Here, he paused. “But you have to be up high to see it all. I kind of think…” He hesitated, unsure of sharing too much of his heart.
“Think what?” She pulled the quilt up to her shoulders and shivered.
“Think that God, Himself, must’ve arranged it so that He would have something spectacular to view when He looks down on this part of the world. Of course, there are a thousand other things He could look at.” Tanner turned his gaze to Alanna, losing himself in her eyes. Yes, there were certainly plenty of beautiful things to look at around here, especially now that Savannah had come to Montana.
He cleared his throat and focused on the road. “If you look closely, you’ll find mountain goats tucked away in those craggy peaks. Ever seen a mountain goat, Alanna?” Tanner wanted to slap himself silly for saying something so unromantic, but it was too late to take it back. Instead, he just offered what he felt sure came across looking like a goofy grin, and he drummed his fingers on his knee instead.
“Of course not.” The glow of her smile warmed his heart. “How you do go on.”
Tightening his grip on the reins, he tugged and slowed the horse. This, of course, also slowed the jingling of the bells. Not that he minded their softening. It helped to clear his thinking. “How can I not go on about the place I love? I’ve lived in Montana all my life and rarely dreamed of traveling elsewhere. Why would I want to, when everything a man—or woman—could ever need is right here?”
She shook her head. “There are a few things a woman would like to have that cannot be located in Missoula, Montana.”
“Such as?”
Her eyes took on a dreamy look. “Fine restaurants. Lovely department stores with adequately supplied clothing areas. A millinery. Those sorts of things.”
“I just took you inside a wonderful department store.”
“Well, yes, but it falls woefully short compared to the shops back home…”
“…in the South.” He finished the sentence for her. “But I’ll betcha can’t buy minnows and worms in those fancy shops back home like you can in our stores here. Or tackle.”
“I can’t figure out for the life of me why your stores sell such nonsensical things.”
“Because the locals enjoy our rivers and lakes, that’s why. Have you seen the Snake River yet? It stretches for miles and miles, winding this way and that.”
“Hence the name.”
“Exactly, only longer. And as wild as a snake too. Many a man has flipped a canoe in those raging waters. When the snow melts in the spring, the river rushes like nothing you’ve ever seen. It’s thrilling. And the fishing is the best anywhere. I can catch my fill of rainbow and bull trout.”
“Bull trout? That’s a fish?”
“You bet. Some of the best you’ve ever tasted. And cutthroat too.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
He laughed. “It’s a kind of trout. I’m telling you, our rivers are teeming with the best fish in the country, and it’s all there for the taking. So, I’m mighty glad the department store carries bait and tackle. Wouldn’t be caught dead at a store that didn’t.”
She sighed.
With a tug of the reins, he slowed the horse’s pace a bit more. By now, the bells had almost stopped jingling. “I can see that my conversation has not persuaded you to fall in love with our great state, but I’m not willing to give up that fight just yet. How do you feel about flowers?”
She gave him a hopeful look. “From a beau, they’re quite lovely. I’m partial to roses.”
“If I took you up that hill right there, I could show you wildflowers guaranteed to take your breath away. In the springtime, of course.” But you won’t be around in the spring, will you? No, she would be leaving as soon as the winter snows thawed, headed back to a place where men put on airs and walked on the correct side of the sidewalk, shielding their ladies from possible harm. He swallowed hard. “From up there, I could show you alpine views through long, narrow stretches of trees and glorious waterfalls.”
For the first time, he saw the look of interest in her eyes. But it faded quickly as she gave her response. “Brett told me to stay away from the mountains because of coyotes and bears.”
“Ah. Bears.” Tanner grinned. “Seen a few in my day, and not the little carved ones like you found in the store in town. Wolves too, but none like the fellas you probably know from home.”
Her mouth flew open. “I’ll have you know, the fellas from home are perfect gentlemen. I thought I’d already made that clear.”
He snorted. “Then we have nothing to compare.”
“That’s a fact.”
“We make up for it in other things, though. We have the most magnificent bald eagles you’ve ever witnessed take to flight.” He closed his eyes briefly, envisioning it. “I think that’s my favorite part of all.” Tanner opened his eyes and focused on the road.
“The eagles are your favorite part?”
“No, the fact that they have a wide-open sky to soar across. Montana goes on and on.”
“Kind of like its inhabitants.” She snickered.
He chose to ignore her. “No, I mean, in Montana you have room to breathe.”
“Unless some long-winded local draws all the breath out of you by talking so much.”
He clamped his mouth shut, realizing just how long he’d let his glowing descriptions go on. “Well, I guess I know when to quit,” he said, feeling more than a little embarrassed. How could he help himself, though? Montana inspired him, not only as an artist, but also as a man of faith. Where else could one find such majestic evidence of the Lord’s creative powers?
Alanna grew quiet. After a couple of awkward moments, she put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Tanner. That was rude. Your description of Montana was beautiful. And I know every word is true. Just this morning I saw a white-tailed deer, and Brett pointed out a flock of Canadian geese flying overhead.” A pause followed. “I think I’m just tongue-tied because I have nothing to counter with. All the things you’ve said are wonderful. I loved every part of your description.”
“Even the part about the wolves?”
“I’ve only met one, and he’s tamer than I expected.” She gave him a little wink, which set his heart to soaring.
“I hear they can be further tamed with kind words and hot chocolate. What do you say?”
“I say the house is right there.” She pointed to Brett and Margaret’s place, and he sighed. So much for a long, romantic ride. Why had he wasted such a wonderful opportunity talking about the scenery?