Page 44 of Taming Lady Temperance

Mama caught Noreen’s hand before it could slip away and squeezed it tightly. Tears shimmered in her eyes as her shoulders actually straightened, and her chin lifted.

“I am so proud of you, Noreen. You’re making a difference. Making this community safer. Better. If I could, I’d be marching at your side. I want you to know that I will be . . . in my heart.”

Noreen was so stunned it took her a moment to react. Mama must have misinterpreted her silence as disapproval, for she released her hand and dropped her head back into its cowed position. This sight broke Noreen’s heart even as it broke her out of her stupor. She lunged for her mother and embraced her in a fierce hug.

“Thank you, Mama.”

Her mother’s arms circled her back. “I love you, sweet girl. Always and forever. Never doubt that for a moment.”

“I love you, too.”

A hand touched Noreen’s shoulder, bringing her head up. Martha’s face greeted her.

“It’s time.”

Noreen nodded and stepped away from her mother, giving a little sniff to clear away the residual emotion as her mother hurried back to where Arthur waited. James met Noreen’s gaze for a heartbeat, a question lingering in his eyes. She answered with a smile so wide her cheeks pinched from the effort. Then she turned to her supporters and gave the call.

“Ladies and gentlemen . . . here we go!”

She looked to Connor Reed. “Let’s jump into the first song right away, shall we?”

He nodded, and she signaled the drummer with a point of a finger. The cadence rang out through the air. Noreen faced forward, waited for a count of four so everyone could feel the beat, then stepped off with her left foot.

Within eight counts, the tune of “Yankee Doodle” began, and Noreen lifted her voice in the first temperance hymn of the day.

“Now don’t you know the reason why

The temperance cause is winning?

Our Bands of Hope resolve to try

The pledge when life’s beginning.”

Her stepfather scowled as the group marched past, and for once, Noreen sought his gaze instead of avoiding it. The words of the chorus took on a double meaning as numerous voices swelled behind her.

“That’s the way to win the day,

Wait a little longer;

Drink shall fall with tyrants all,

When Bands of Hope are stronger.”

Chapter

21

James had trouble keeping his eyes on the spectators instead of Noreen as the parade wound through town. Never had he seen her so vibrant or confident. When he did manage to tear his gaze away from her, he remained attuned to her voice. Strange how he could pick out her alto from among all the other voices. Or maybe not so strange, considering how dear she’d become to him of late.

A good number of townsfolk had come out to see the temperance brigade and hear the band. A pair of ladies trailing the parade handed out pledge forms to anyone who would take one, targeting not only men but women and older children as well.

As they rounded the courthouse, pledge forms waving in the breeze, a new temperance song began, this one to the tune of a song he’d sung in church many times—“Happy Day.”

“All you that would be sober here,

Come join our cause with hearts sincere;

Forsake strong drink without delay,