Page 22 of Taming Lady Temperance

Noreen sighed, and her chest deflated as her friend’s words defused some of her indignation.

Jane reached for her hand and gave it a sisterly squeeze. “Perhaps this ejection hurt more than it should because it followed so closely on the heels of what happened with your stepfather.”

“I . . .” Noreen peered into Jane’s gentle eyes and saw a truth she probably never would have seen on her own. “I hadn’t considered that.”

Perhaps James wasn’t the complete villain she was making him out to be. Perhaps her lingering hurt over her mother’s silence had colored her perceptions. Time would tell, she supposed.

Linking her arm through Jane’s, she started the two of them walking again, this time at a more sedate pace. “How did you get to be so wise?”

Jane grinned up at her. “By reading books, of course.”

Noreen chuckled. “Of course.”

If only there were a book on how to earn a man’s esteem and gain his willing assistance without endangering one’s heart in the process. Such a manual would prove exceedingly instructive.

Chapter

11

“All right, ladies. Let’s come to order.” Hortense Lockwood clapped her hands to capture the attention of the women who had gathered in the schoolhouse on Thursday evening for the first official meeting of the Shackelford County Secret Society of Spinsters.

Noreen frowned at the heading on the charter she’d been handed at the door. There were far too many S’s being employed in their group’s name. It made her think of hissing snakes. Jane had been delighted with the alliteration, but Noreen would have preferred some rearranging. Perhaps Secret Albany Spinster Society. Then they could be known as SASS. A much more feisty and determined acronym. SCSSS sounded like someone had just let the air out of a pneumatic bicycle tire.

“I’m gratified to see that so many chose to accept the invitation to join our society,” Miss Lockwood said after the room quieted.

Noreen counted fourteen ladies in attendance, in addition to Miss Lockwood and Martha at the front of the room. Sixteen secret spinsters. She fought against the urge to roll her eyes. These S’s were really getting out of hand.

“Miss Evans and I have drafted a charter for our organization. Each of you should have a copy.” Miss Lockwood held up a sample sheet.

Noreen dipped her chin to examine the charter. It had been written out by hand instead of produced by the local printer. A necessary precaution for a secretive organization. The handwriting didn’t look like Martha’s, however, and it differed from the more flourished style used on the original invitations. Perhaps Martha had enlisted Luella’s assistance. If so, the girl had done an excellent job of keeping the details to herself. She’d not said a word at work this week. Though even if she had, there was no guarantee Noreen would have remembered. She’d been rather distracted by family issues and her schemes to win Deputy Paxton’s cooperation. Schemes that had come to naught, thanks to the untimely chicken crisis.

“. . . few basic tenets.” Miss Lockwood’s voice pulled Noreen from her thoughts. “Membership shall be open to any unmarried woman aged twenty-four or older living in Shackelford County.”

Noreen smiled to herself as she recalled Luella’s despair over the minimum age requirement.

“Members shall be women of good character who will support their society sisters and serve the larger community. Should a member harm one of her society sisters with slander or malice, her membership will be revoked. Should a member act in such a way as to bring disgrace upon herself, and by association, her society sisters, her membership will be revoked. Should a member choose to marry, her membership will be retired in good standing.”

Noreen leaned close to Jane and whispered in her ear, “What? No tar and feathers? We can’t let the traitors off that easy.”

Jane smiled, her eyes lighting with amusement even as she gave Noreen’s shoulder a gentle nudge to discourage any further discourse. Always the parson’s daughter on her best behavior. It would be annoying if she weren’t such a sweetheart.

“The society will select one project each month as our service to the community. We encourage all members to engage at some level with each project, but the requirement is to participate in at least four per year to maintain active membership status.”

Noreen’s heart rate picked up speed. This was why she’d joined. To harness the power of numbers in her quest to rid the town of its saloon. Energy thrummed through her limbs as she readied herself to nominate her project. The fingers on her right hand tingled, eager to shoot into the air as soon as Miss Lockwood opened the floor. But their founding mother seemed more interested in spending time on boring details like meeting dates and introductions. Having sixteen people stand and talk about themselves took forever.

Noreen tried to hurry things along by making her own introduction as short as possible. “Noreen O’Sullivan, age twenty-seven. I live at Mrs. Barker’s boardinghouse and am employed at the Albany Hotel.” She started to sit, then remembered one other pertinent piece of information. “I’m also a member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.”

Jane kept her introduction brief as well. Or tried to. She spoke softly, leading an older member sitting near the front of the classroom to interrupt and request that Jane speak up. Face aflame, Jane apologized and began again, her voice louder, but trembling this time. She offered only her name, age, and relationship to her parents before ducking back into her seat.

Noreen immediately reached over and clasped her friend’s hand, hoping to lend her strength in the same way Jane had lent her own to Noreen last night when Sheriff Adair had shown up unexpectedly. Had Jane not been there to smooth things over with the obstinate lawman, Noreen might have found herself keeping Mrs. Hanover company behind bars.

When the interminable introductions finally concluded, Noreen once again readied her arm for flagpole duty. She intended to be the first to nominate a project idea. The sooner she could rally her new troops, the better. Her hopes lifted when Miss Lockwood yielded the podium to Martha, then shriveled when her friend opened a small wooden box and announced she had a gift for everyone.

Patience, Noreen. You’ll get your chance.

Despite the internal reminder, Noreen still fidgeted in her seat and struggled to focus on what was being said. Until Martha mentioned her by name. Like a naughty child caught in the act of misbehaving, Noreen immediately straightened her posture and focused all her attention on the speaker.

“My good friend Noreen O’Sullivan sparked the idea.” Martha caught Noreen’s gaze and smiled. “Some of you might have noticed the white ribbon she wears pinned to her bodice.”