Finally, he grew tired of Mrs. Grantham's persistence and joined the group. The first meeting went surprisingly well. Now he was ready for the second, and he would have a lovely visitor with him this time.
Joshua felt his pulse quicken as the hotel came into view and he thought about Augusta. The night didn’t seem nearly as cold when he conjured up the image of her lovely face.
He tied his horse at the hitchrack in front of the shabby building and stepped onto the boardwalk. A nervous lump rose in his throat as he reached for the doorknob. He was behaving like a naive schoolboy courting a girl for the first time, and he told himself sternly to stop it. He had no reason to feel this way. Augusta and he were merely allies in a good cause—friends already, perhaps, but certainly nothing more.
Joshua walked into the hotel, saw Augusta sitting in the lobby, and suddenly had trouble breathing. She had changed her clothes and was wearing a full-skirted green dress with a short woolen jacket of a darker green over it. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.
She rose and came to greet him, a smile on her face. "Good evening, Reverend Markham," she said, her voice tinkling like a cool, clear stream.
Joshua nodded jerkily and quickly offered up a silent prayer that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself. "Good evening, Miss Hall," he replied a bit hoarsely. "You...you certainly look lovely."
A blush colored Augusta's cheeks, making her even more attractive as far as Joshua was concerned. "Thank you, Reverend Markham," she said, sounding genuinely embarrassed.
Joshua heard the tone and berated himself for making her uncomfortable. He had no right to make such personal remarks to her, not when he'd only just met her. Neither of them needed such distractions, considering the serious problem that had brought them together.
"Are you ready for the meeting?" he asked.
Augusta nodded. "I'm looking forward to it. Shall we go?"
Joshua opened the lobby door for her. "Right this way." He made no move to take her arm this time, and she didn’t offer it to him.
Side by side, they strolled down the plank boardwalk toward the courthouse a couple of blocks away. The lanterns affixed to the boardwalk posts had been lit and brightened their passage through the chilly autumn night. After a moment, Augusta asked, "How large is Abilene's temperance group?"
"Oh, we're still fairly small," Joshua replied. "Surely nothing like what you're accustomed to at the meetings of the Christian Ladies. We have perhaps forty members, but they are the leading ladies of the town."
"All the membership is female except for yourself, Reverend?"
Joshua smiled. "Myself and the local schoolmaster, Emery Thornbury. So far, we're the only men, but I'm sure that more will join once they realize that liquor is a problem that affects everyone, not just the ladies."
"Indeed. Although it does seem to be the poor mothers and children who pay the highest price when a man takes to the devil's brew."
"That's true," Joshua agreed. As they approached the brightly lit courthouse, he noticed several buggies and carriages parked in front of it. He led Augusta up the path across the wide lawn that surrounded the stately building, opened the heavy wooden door, and murmured, "Ah, here we are."
They stepped into a large, high-ceilinged room that was warmed by a pair of pot-bellied iron stoves. Quite a few people were gathered there as the vehicles parked outside had already indicated, and Joshua wondered for a moment if Augusta and he were late. Then he saw that the meeting hadn’t yet been called to order; the ladies in the room were busy talking among themselves. Most of the seats on the rows of benches were taken, but Joshua saw some empty places toward the front of the room. He indicated them to Augusta and then started toward them with the attractive young woman at his side.
Emery Thornbury was turned around in his seat, talking to one of the ladies in the row behind him. The schoolmaster glanced up and saw Joshua and Augusta, and a rare look of interest appeared on his usually pinched, disapproving face. He rose and hurried into the aisle. "Well, well, Reverend," observed the little man unctuously. "Whom have we here?"
Joshua paused and drew a deep breath. He didn’t particularly like Thornbury, who had a nasty reputation for using a switch on his students, but he didn’t want to go out of his way to insult the man. "Mr. Thornbury," he said, "this is Miss Augusta Hall. Miss Hall, Emery Thornbury, the master of our local school."
"Indeed, a pleasure, Miss Hall," Thornbury said as he took Augusta's hand and pumped it. He was a short, slender man with lank, dishwater blond hair and a pasty complexion. Most of the time his features were set in a sour scowl, but they twisted into a smile as he greeted Augusta. "What brings you to our fair city?"
"I've been sent here to help your group in its mission, Mr. Thornbury," Augusta replied. "I'm a representative of the Christian Ladies Temperance Society."
Thornbury's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Well! This is quite an honor that such a well-known organization as yours would take note of our humble efforts here in Abilene." He turned and, waving an arm in the air, called, "Mrs. Grantham! There's someone here you simply must meet."
A tall, formidable woman hurried toward Thornbury from the front of the room. Mrs. Beulah Grantham might have been handsome had it not been for the stern expression on her face. Her dark hair was only lightly touched with gray, despite the fact that she was in her fifties. She wore an expensive dress from Abilene's finest ladies' shop, and the scent of her toilet water was strong in the warm, closed room.
Joshua would have preferred to wait until the meeting was underway to introduce Augusta, but he had no choice now. He could see curiosity shining in Mrs. Grantham's eyes and knew that she would have to be told the identity of the visitor.
"Good evening, Reverend," she said to him in her booming voice. Then she turned to Augusta. "Who is this?" she demanded bluntly.
Augusta extended her hand to Mrs. Grantham and saved Joshua the trouble of making the introduction. "I'm Miss Augusta Hall, ma'am. And you must be Mrs. Grantham. I've heard so much about you and the good work you're doing with the temperance society."
Mrs. Grantham beamed, her rouged and powdered cheeks creasing in a deep smile as she shook Augusta's hand. "How nice of you to say so, my dear. But where would you hear about our little group?"
"Why, at the headquarters of the Christian Ladies Temperance Society, we try to keep up with all of our allies in the struggle against Satan and his brew."
That was stretching the truth a bit, Joshua thought.
Augusta had never heard of Mrs. Grantham and her group until Joshua told her about them. But he supposed a little white lie was allowable under the circumstances. Mrs. Grantham was positively glowing, which was quite a change from her usual forbidding expression.
"You're from the Christian Ladies Temperance?" Mrs. Grantham asked, swelling with pride as she did so. "Oh, my goodness, we're so proud that you've come to pay us a visit, Miss Hall." She raised her voice. "Ladies! Ladies! Gather around. I want to introduce a very special visitor to you."
Joshua caught Augusta's eye and was rewarded by an enthusiastic smile as the members of the society began to flock around them. Relief surged through him once he realized she wasn’t upset with him. She did look a bit uncomfortable when Mrs. Grantham introduced her to the other ladies. Obviously, Augusta wasn’t used to being the center of attention in large groups.
Greeting her warmly, the ladies bombarded her with questions about the society she represented. Augusta answered them as best she could. Nevertheless, Joshua could tell that she was grateful when Mrs. Grantham finally said, "I suppose we should officially start our meeting. You will consent to address us, won't you, Miss Hall?"
"Of course," Augusta replied. "That's why I've come tonight, Mrs. Grantham. I thought you might do me the honor of allowing me to say a few words."
"The honor is all ours, my dear."
While Joshua, Augusta, and the others took their seats, Mrs. Grantham swept to the front of the room. Placing herself be
hind the lectern that stood facing the benches, she imperiously drew herself up to her full height and banged a gavel on the wooden surface.
After calling the meeting to order, she quickly disposed of the group's parliamentary matters.
Joshua knew what was coming next. He glanced at Augusta and saw that she was equally aware. She looked a bit apprehensive, but at the same time he could see the eagerness and fervor glowing in her eyes.
"I know you're all anxious to hear what our distinguished visitor has to say to us," Mrs. Grantham was saying. "So, without further ado, ladies—and gentlemen—allow me to present Miss Augusta Hall of the Christian Ladies Temperance Society."
There was polite applause as Augusta rose gracefully and walked to the lectern. She turned to face the audience, and Joshua could see a slight blush coloring her cheeks. But that was the only hint of self-consciousness in her demeanor.
"Good evening again, ladies...and gentlemen," Augusta began, nodding toward Joshua and Emery Thornbury specifically. "I'm very glad to be here with you tonight. As you know, I've been sent to Abilene by the Christian Ladies Temperance Society. The message I bring to you is a simple one." She paused, then leaned forward and said fervently, "Liquor must be destroyed!"
The members applauded Augusta's proclamation vigorously. Joshua joined in.
"We must fight side by side, shoulder to shoulder, in the battle to rid our fair land of the devil's potion!" Augusta continued. She wasn’t shouting; she had raised her voice only enough to be heard throughout the room. But the words carried as much impact as those of any hellfire-shouting preacher Joshua had ever heard. His sermons were not like that; he preferred to appeal to people's hearts and minds rather than their emotions. But he admired any speaker who could reach out and touch his listeners' souls, who could bend and shape them into something finer. Augusta Hall had that ability.
"Together we can drive the liquor peddlers out of our cities and towns and close down for all time the dens of iniquity that poison so many innocent lives." More hearty applause interrupted Augusta's speech. When it died down, she went on, "I have been sent by my organization to join you in this struggle—not to lead you. You have a fine leader in Mrs. Beulah Grantham. But I am here to offer myself to you in whatever fashion you can make use of me. I give you my heart, my courage, my faith in the Lord. I ask you to devote yourselves equally to our sacred cause!"
Despite himself, Joshua found he was caught up in her impassioned plea. She made it seem as though they could accomplish anything as long as they worked together. Her speech continued for another ten minutes as she recounted the evils brought on by drinking, and spoke in ringing tones of the need to combat them. By the time she finished and stepped away from the lectern to the accompaniment of thunderous applause, even Joshua believed she actually might make a difference in Abilene's moral climate.
Mrs. Grantham had enough sense to realize that she couldn’t effectively follow such a stirring address. She thanked Augusta warmly for her words, then adjourned the meeting.
Even though the gathering was officially over, nearly everyone remained to exchange a few words with the visitor. Augusta was breathless after her fiery speech, but she graciously spoke to everyone who approached her. Joshua stood nearby, ready to escort her back to the hotel once all questions had been answered.
As he listened with one ear to the chatter around him, he thought about what Augusta had said and realized that no actual plans to accomplish anything had been advanced during the meeting. An abundance of stirring rhetoric had been uttered but nothing else.
Augusta changed that as she said to Mrs. Grantham and the women gathered around her, "I have an idea for something I'd like to do, but we would need the support of the community for my plan to be successful."
"Then you shall have it, my dear," Mrs. Grantham assured her. "Just tell us what you need."
"Well...I was hoping to recruit some members of the community to stage a morality play that would vividly demonstrate the evils of drinking."
Joshua frowned slightly, paying more attention now.
"I've seen such plays performed back East," Augusta went on. "The Christian Ladies have sponsored many of them. They are very popular with the common people, and they seem to be quite effective. We can draw the citizens in with the promise of entertainment and educate them at the same time."
"What an excellent idea!" Emery Thornbury exclaimed enthusiastically. "I've heard of these morality plays before, Mrs. Grantham. They're a means of getting down to the level of the unwashed masses and showing them their shortcomings."
Joshua thought that was a rather arrogant way of putting it, but he, too, had heard of the morality plays and knew that they were popular. Mrs. Grantham was sold on the idea immediately. "We'll do it!" she told Augusta. "I'm sure we can get all the support and assistance we need from the town. Don't you think so, Reverend?"
Joshua nodded. "I imagine so. Most of the towns out here in the West are hungry for entertainment of any sort."
Augusta gently touched his arm. "You'll help us, won't you, Reverend?" she asked.
"Of course," Joshua heard himself saying. "I'll be glad to do anything I can to help."
Clearly delighted, Augusta smiled warmly at him. Looking into her warm, bright eyes, Joshua knew he had made the right decision.
Shortly after that the group's members began to drift out of the hall, most of them buzzing with the plans they were making. There would be no shortage of volunteers to help with the production of the play, Joshua thought.
When Augusta was ready to go, he opened the door and escorted her into the chilly night. They waved goodbye to Mrs. Grantham as the older woman got into her buggy, then turned to walk back toward the Grand Palace Hotel.
Augusta took a deep breath. "Well, how do you think the meeting went, Reverend?" she asked.
"It seemed to go very well," Joshua replied. "I thought the ladies were quite responsive to your talk, and they were certainly enthusiastic about your suggestion of a morality play."
"What do you think about the play?"
Joshua hesitated for a moment before saying, "I told you that you would be facing a great deal of opposition here in Abilene, Miss Hall, but I think you've hit on the best way to get around some of that. Everyone loves a play, even the cowboys. It should be a wonderful vehicle for your message."
"I'm so glad you think so, Reverend. I...I didn't want to be too bold and seem as if I was trying to take over your group."
Joshua laughed. "Don't worry about that. Mrs. Grantham isn't about to give up the reins. But I think she'll be willing to work with you on anything you propose."
Augusta sighed, a satisfied, contented sound. "I think my visit to Abilene is going to be the best thing I've ever done, Reverend," she murmured.
Joshua glanced at her and saw that her eyes were shining radiantly in the lantern light. She was hugging herself tightly, and he suddenly wondered if she was cold. The night air was quite chilly. It would be the most natural thing in the world if he were to slip his arm around her shoulders.
Joshua told his arm to do just that, but it stayed at his side as if it had a mind of its own. He could feel his heart pounding with the desire to touch her. But the moment passed all top quickly. He looked up and saw they were already in front of the hotel. Joshua grimaced, knowing he had missed his chance. He opened the hotel door and stepped back to let her precede him into the lobby.
"Thank you for taking me to the meeting," Augusta said, turning toward him just inside the doorway. "I'm really looking forward to working with you, Reverend."
"And I'm looking forward to our association as well," he replied.
"After my trip and the excitement of the meeting, I'm certainly tired. Good night, Reverend."
Joshua swallowed. "Good night, Miss Hall," he mumbled, wishing he could say—and do—more. He stood with his hat in his hand, watching as she crossed the lobby and started up the stairs.
"You're letting in a draft, Reverend,"
called the clerk from behind the desk across the lobby.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Joshua told the man. He clapped his hat back on his head. "Good night."
The clerk just grunted as Joshua stepped out onto the boardwalk and closed the door behind him.
He took a deep breath and stood looking up at the stars in the clear night sky for a moment. A great deal had happened today, and he was going to have to ponder long and hard on all of it.
Joshua untied his horse and swung up into the saddle, then rode at a quick trot toward the church and his home.
Across the street from the hotel, a dark figure lounged in the shadows of a doorway. Cully Markham watched his brother mount up and ride away, just as he had watched him stroll down the street with Augusta. Cully had been able to see into the lobby of the hotel as the couple said good night to each other. There was a disgusted look on the young deputy's face as he straightened and shook his head.
Joshua had wanted to put his arm around the girl. Cully could see that from across the street and a block away. But of course, good old straitlaced Joshua had done no such thing. He hadn’t even shaken Augusta's hand before she went upstairs.
Cully grinned suddenly. If he had been the one walking with Augusta Hall, she never would have gotten into the hotel without a goodnight kiss.
3
Alfred Pendleton's funeral had been held that afternoon. It was a grim affair with only Lucas Flint, Cyril Warren, and Warren's two assistants in attendance. The undertaker offered up a quick prayer for Pendleton's soul, and then the four men lowered the plain wooden coffin into the ground at the rear of Boot Hill. A county burial didn’t amount to much.
Still, it was more attention than Pendleton had ever gotten in life, Flint thought as he rode back to his office. Nobody paid much attention to the man while he was around; it wasn’t surprising that so few took notice of his passing.
Rattler's Law, Volume One Page 140