Love Calling

by Janet Lee Barton

  “I know you do. And you’re going to be a great help. There is no doubt in my mind that we have a great group started. You know, if this works as well as I hope it does, maybe we can get something similar started at other orphanages in the city.”

  “Oh Sam, that would be wonderful. I’ll be praying that it works out for us and we can convince others to do the same thing.”

  Her eyes were shining bright, and Sam wanted to keep the happy look in them. “So will I.”

  “I guess I’d better go back in before Mrs. Holloway sends Jones out here looking for me. Or worse. She might send Grace.”

  Sam threw back his head and laughed. “That sister of yours is quite blunt, isn’t she?”

  “Oh, she is that, to be sure.” Emma giggled. “Sometimes I wish I had a little of her outspokenness.”

  “You manage to get your point across quite well, just in a different way,” Sam said. “You’re fine just the way you are.”

  “Thank you, Sam. That is a nice thing to say.”

  “It’s true.” He looked down at her. She was a very special young woman. “You know, your parents would be very proud of you and Grace. Esther’s would be proud of her, too.”

  Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything, but—

  “And that was even nicer. Thank you, Sam,” Emma said. “I’d better go in now.”

  “Yes, I suppose so. I’ll see you before long.”

  “By Saturday anyway. You have a good week.”

  “You, too.” Sam watched her slip back inside, wishing they could have talked a little longer. Only then did he realize he hadn’t asked about how this past week had gone for her. Hopefully he’d see more of her this week and find out how it was going.

  nine

  By Wednesday, Emma found herself counting the days until Saturday, for it seemed she wasn’t going to see Sam until then. And she was frustrated at herself because she wanted to see him.

  She kept telling herself that she just wanted to make sure he was safe—she wasn’t even sure where he lived or whom to ask to make sure he was all right. But she knew there was more to it than that. Sam made her feel. . .special, in a way she’d never felt before.

  She’d never felt quite so confused in her life. All she knew was that she liked seeing him and talking to him very much. But she didn’t like the way her pulse raced when he smiled at her, or the way her heart skittered in her chest when she spotted him waiting for her at the trolley stop. Just like it did now, when she stepped off the trolley and found him smiling up at her.

  Emma couldn’t have contained her smile if she’d tried. She seemed to have no control over her reaction to seeing him again. “Sam, I was beginning to wonder if you’d been transferred to another beat.”

  He laughed and fell into step beside her. “No. I haven’t been, but I did work several evenings I wasn’t expecting to. One of the men on the night shift had to take his wife to the hospital.”

  “I hope she’s all right?”

  “She’s fine. She had a bouncing baby boy—their first child.”

  “Oh, that is a very good reason for him not to come to work. I’m glad the mother and baby are all right.”

  “Yes, so am I.”

  But Sam’s tone sounded wistful to Emma, and she had to remind herself that he’d been married and probably planning to start a family himself not so long ago. She didn’t really know what to say. If she brought it up, it might bring sad memories back to him, and the easiest thing to do seemed to be to not mention it at all.

  “How has your week been going?” he asked. “Any fancy balls coming up this weekend?”

  She laughed. “Oh, I’m sure there are several, but evidently not quite as important as the one last weekend. And certainly none garnering the same kind of interest as that one did.”

  “So, it’s been calm at work?”

  “Fairly.”

  “What’s been going on at home?” he asked.

  “Oh, more planning for Esther’s wedding of course. That never ends. And we have a women’s suffrage meeting at Mrs. Holloway’s tomorrow night. Life is never boring at home.”

  Sam’s brow furrowed. “A women’s suffrage meeting? At Mrs. Holloway’s? You’re involved in all that?”

  From his tone it was obvious he didn’t approve, and Emma turned to him. “Don’t tell me you’re against women having rights, Sam. Surely not!”

  “Did I say I was against any of that?”

  “No, but—”

  “But a lot of people are, Emma, and these meetings are sometimes a dangerous place to be.”

  “We know that. But so far, nothing bad has happened at any of the meetings we’ve been to or held. And the one at Mrs. Holloway’s isn’t a huge group anyway.”

  “Still—”

  Emma sighed and shook her head. “Sam, this is important to us—including Mrs. Holloway. But as for Esther, Grace, and me, you of all people should understand why being able to vote in elections that affect us as much as they do a man is important to us.”

  “I can understand it, Emma. But I don’t want any of you hurt because of it.”

  “Sam, we aren’t in danger. Besides, Andrew is at most of the meetings—and even Mr. Collins has come on occasion. You are welcome to come, too.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Maybe you should,” Emma challenged. By then they stood at the front steps. “Want to come in and ask the others about the meetings?”

  “I’d love to. But I’m still on duty and have to get back to work.”

  “I see.”

  Sam smiled at her and shook his head. “I’m not sure you do.”

  “Are you wanting an argument today, Sam?”

  “No ma’am, I’m not.” He grinned. “Are you?”

  Emma felt disgruntled and wasn’t even sure why. “Of course not! The meeting is at seven tomorrow evening, if you can make it.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Good.”

  “I can’t promise, Emma.”

  “I understand.” But she wasn’t sure she did. He didn’t have anything else to do at night if he wasn’t working. Or did he? That thought didn’t help her mood at all.

  “But I will see you soon, even if I don’t make the meeting. I’d better go now.”

  “Have a good evening, Sam.”

  “You, too.” He tipped his hat and turned to go.

  Emma watched him walk away, and something about his walk and their talk had her wanting to call him back, but he was on duty and she couldn’t get him in trouble.

  Her heart gave a little twinge as she watched him round the corner and walk out of her sight. “Dear Lord, please keep Sam safe in all ways. Please keep him Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  ❧

  When Emma asked him to come to the suffrage meeting at Mrs. Holloway’s, Sam hadn’t been sure he could attend one because of his job. But he talked to his supervising officer and found that he would be allowed to go as long as he did it undercover as a police officer, in case something should come up that he had to take care of in his capacity as a policeman. He’d been warned not to tell anyone that he was undercover.

  “We need to know who regularly attends these meetings so that we can recognize someone trying to disrupt them or bring harm to any of the women there,” the officer had said.

  So when Sam approached the Holloway house, a mixture of emotions washed over him. He was relieved that he was breaking no rules by coming to the meeting, but he didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t tell those he cared about he was actually working.

  Jones opened the door before he could raise his hand to ring the bell, as usual. “Mr. Tucker. Good to see you. Miss Emma said you might be coming tonight.”

  “Thank you, Jones. It’s good to see you, too.”

  “Everyone is meeting in the parlor. We have a few new people tonight, and I’m glad that we have you.” He leaned a bit closer and said. “I always worry about the ladies here w
hen there are meetings. Of course, Mr. Andrew is here tonight and Mr. Collins may show up. But it relieves my mind to know we have a policeman of your caliber in the mix, too.”

  “Thank you, Jones. Have you had any problems before?”

  Jones shook his head. “No sir. But I worry that it is only a matter of time until we do.”

  The doorbell rang, and Jones motioned him to the parlor. “Go right on in, sir.”

  “Yes, I will. Just let me know if you spot anyone who looks suspicious to you. But don’t let anyone else know. No need to worry them needlessly.”

  “Yes sir.” Sam turned away as Jones answered the door.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Ames. Mrs. Holloway will be pleased you were able to make it tonight,” Sam heard him say as he reached the parlor.

  The pocket doors between the front and back parlors had been opened up, and extra seating had been brought in. There were at least thirty people already seated. Emma rushed up to him with a smile that dived into his heart and made him glad he’d come.

  “You did make it,” she said. “I really didn’t think you’d come.”

  “I figured it was about time I found out more about the cause.” Of course he’d read about it in the papers, but most of that was negative. He was curious to know more.

  “I, for one, am glad you came,” Andrew said from behind him as he clapped a hand on his shoulder. “There are other men who come from time to time, but it’s always good to have a friend in the mix.”

  Sam chuckled. “I’m glad to see you, too. I’d be feeling pretty awkward about now if you hadn’t shown up.”

  The only seats left were in the back near the door, and that suited Sam fine. That way if anyone did cause problems, hopefully he’d be able to stop them before they could escape. He and Andrew took seats next to the back wall while Emma hurried forward to a seat saved for her near the front with Mrs. Holloway, Esther, and Grace.

  Mrs. Holloway stepped up to a podium and welcomed everyone before introducing the speaker, a Mrs. Wainwright. Sam thought he’d heard of her before, probably from the newspapers, but he couldn’t be sure.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Holloway. For opening your home once more and for supporting our cause,” Mrs. Wainwright began.

  A round of applause sounded before Mrs. Wainwright held up her hands for it to stop and began speaking. “I know it may not seem so in our little corner of these United States, but our cause is gaining momentum all over our land.”

  She was a very demonstrative speaker, speaking with her hands as well as her voice, and Sam found himself listening to the words coming from her heart.

  “It may take us many more years before we accomplish what we’ve set out to do. It may take a lifetime for some of us. But we will accomplish it. We will have the right to vote right along with our men. We will have a say in who governs this country we love just as much as any man does.”

  What she said made sense to Sam. Emma and the other women here should have that right. Especially those who had to look after themselves, with no man to help.

  “We will have a say in what concerns our daughters and their daughters—our very own granddaughters. More even than ourselves, they are who we are fighting this fight for.”

  Mrs. Wainwright took a sip of water and continued, “Many of us already have daughters, nieces, and daughters of friends fighting the battle along with us. We will do it peacefully, amid all kinds of strife, amid all manner of discrimination. But we will not rest until we have the right to vote.”

  She wound up her speech by saying, “We will fight the battle, but we need more soldiers in this army. Continue to tell your family, your friends, and your acquaintances. Invite them to our meetings. Tell them the newspaper coverage doesn’t tell the truth. Not all suffrage groups are trying to disrupt with their rallies. Our group isn’t trying to fight current social issues as some are. We’ve decided to concentrate on the right to vote—to have a say in who our elected officials are. Only by attending and being involved can they know what we are truly working for. And pray, ladies. The good Lord is listening to us. We will have the right to vote one day.”

  The applause was loud and long, and Sam found himself clapping along with Andrew and everyone else. There was nothing he could find to complain about here. No yelling and fighting to have a say.

  There were refreshments in the dining room, and he and Andrew lagged behind as the women headed that way.

  Emma stopped in front of him on her way out. “What did you think?”

  Her eyes were sparkling, as if she knew what he was going to say.

  “There wasn’t a thing I didn’t agree with.”

  “I knew it!”

  “But—”

  “But?”

  “That doesn’t mean that I like the danger you women put yourselves in at these meetings.”

  “Sam—”

  He held up his hand. “Please let me finish, Emma.”

  “Of course.” Her words came out a little stiff, and he knew she was displeased with him.

  “You can’t blame me for worrying. You do the same thing about my work.”

  She opened her mouth to speak and then quickly shut it.

  Andrew chuckled. “I think he has you there, Emma. All of you worry about Sam’s work.”

  “I—” She broke off, shook her head, and chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. We do.”

  Esther reached them just then. “What is he right about?” Andrew pulled her hand through his arm. “Come on. I’ll tell you over a glass of lemonade.”

  “Would you like some refreshment, Sam?” Emma asked. “You did make an effort to come. Mrs. Holloway would be appalled if I sent you away without a snack of some kind.”

  Sam would rather just talk to her about the dangers of these meetings, how many meetings were broken up by men who did not want their women to have a say in the way government was run—how their families were run or even in their personal lives. But he knew she wouldn’t listen to what he had to say. The way she felt about his being a policeman would only bring on warnings from her to him. Instead, he’d just enjoy her company for a bit. “I’d love some refreshment.”

  He crooked his arm, and this time she didn’t hesitate to take it.

  “Come this way.”

  Many of the women were on their way out the door before he and Emma reached the dining room. Sam supposed they had families they wanted to get home to and was a little relieved that by the time they made it to the buffet that’d been laid out, there were only a few small groups standing around talking with each other.

  Emma handed him a small plate, and as they made their way around the table, she filled his plate with a few small tea cakes, some cookies, and fruit.

  “Why don’t you get us a glass of lemonade and we’ll take these back to the parlor.”

  Somehow the extra seating had been taken away and the pocket doors between the two rooms had been closed. Everything looked normal again, and Sam was sure Jones had overseen getting the room back to the cozy atmosphere Sam enjoyed each time he came into the room.

  Emma motioned for him to take a seat on one of the sofas, and he was a little surprised when she sat down beside him.

  “Tell the truth, Sam. What did you really think of your first suffrage meeting?”

  “I thought it was fine. The speaker was very passionate about the cause, and I admired the way she got her point across.”

  “You did?” Emma sounded surprised.

  “I did. Emma, I don’t have a problem with you wanting to get to vote. I do understand that. But at one time the group was trying to get many other issues included—women’s health concerns, divorce rights, and other such things. The things that stir up everyone and cause riots.”

  “I know. But this group is concentrating on only one thing now and that is getting the right to vote.”

  “Does everyone out there know that? All of those people who’ve been against the movement?”

  “I don’t know, Sam. I would th
ink they do.”

  “You are much too naive, Emma. The people who are against any kind of women’s rights are bound and determined to stop them, to cause trouble for them. And that is what worries me.”

  “I do agree with Sam on this,” Andrew said as he took a seat on the sofa across from them. He and Esther had come into the room unnoticed, and now Sam turned to him.

  “Thank you. I just want everyone to be aware of strangers who show up here and even at the larger meetings you might attend.”

  “That does make sense,” Esther said. “You just want us to be watchful in case there is anyone ready to start trouble.”

  “That is it, exactly. I’ll try to be here when you have a meeting here. And I know there are policemen on duty at the larger public meetings. But. . .”

  “But?” Emma prodded him to go on.

  “There still are pockets of policemen who might have been paid off to stand aside and let—”

  “Are you admitting there is still corruption in the department, Sam?”

  “I’ve never said there wasn’t, Emma. Only that it is getting better. In fact, if you are at a meeting and see anything like that happen, it would be helpful if you tell me so that I can report it. Or if there is a policeman you can trust there, tell him what you saw.”

  “A policeman we trust, Sam? You are the only one who might even come close to fitting that description.”

  Sam didn’t miss that Emma had said “might.” She still wasn’t sure of him. What was it going to take to gain her trust?

  ten

  Sam was working his business district on Friday afternoon and didn’t get to see Emma, but he kept telling himself that he had the next day to look forward to. They’d firmed up their plans on Thursday evening after the meeting, and he met Emma and Grace, who’d changed her mind and decided to join them, along with Esther and Andrew, at the orphanage at dinnertime on Saturday.

  Mrs. Robertson had insisted they eat there with the others. Once they were at the table, Sam realized it was a very good idea on her part. It felt like old times sitting at the long table with her and the older orphans.