Savannah smothered a laugh as she beheld Zylphia’s disgruntled look. “I see. Why don’t you ask Jeremy to show you to a room so you can rest from your travels?” Lottie backed from the room, giving another half curtsy as she left. Savannah bit back a chuckle as Zylphia collapsed into a comfortable, tufted chair across from her. “Why must she curtsy me?”
“She thinks it’s proper to curtsy everyone.” Zylphia sighed and reached a hand out to Savannah. “Thank you for welcoming her.”
Savannah shrugged. “Please forgive me for not traveling to the station. Rissa and I had work to do this morning, canvassing for the vote, and we lost track of time.”
“How are Rissa and Gabe?” Zylphia asked, absently noting Jeremy passing by the sitting room door with one of her trunks.
“Much better. Clarissa is ecstatic you are joining us here to help us earn the right to vote.” Savannah beamed at her.
“It was Sophie’s idea.”
“Most outrageous ideas are Sophie’s,” Jeremy said, poking his head into the room.
“I wouldn’t call having your cousin visit us in Montana as outrageous,” Savannah protested.
“No, but, if I know anything about that woman, there’s more to this story than we’ve been told.” He winked at them before moving toward the back door for her second trunk.
“I’m afraid I won’t be here long, Sav. I was advised I had to travel to Butte to discuss my role with the women leading the campaign.”
“Never fear, Rissa and I will travel with you. Rissa likes any excuse she can find to travel to Butte to see her brother Patrick. Besides, I’d like a few new clothes. We’ll have fun.” Savannah smiled. “Besides, there’s no chance I’m letting them convince you to canvass in another part of the state. You must work with Rissa and me here in Missoula and the valley.”
Zylphia sighed her agreement. “Thank goodness. I was afraid all Sophie’s planning would be for nothing, and I’d be relegated to the backwaters of the state.”
“Well, I’m sure we’ll visit some rather rural areas, but we’ll be together.” Savannah’s expression became determined. “I promised your father in a recent letter that you would always be with family while here.”
“My father is very protective,” Zylphia grumbled.
“He might be protective, but he’s earned that right. You’re his only daughter, and you’re precious to him.”
“I was shocked when he forced poor Charlotte to leave Boston and travel with me,” Zylphia said.
“I’m sure it was better to travel with her than alone,” Savannah said.
“Then you’d be wrong. From the minute the train departed Minneapolis, all she discussed was the possibility of an Indian raid and how we’d survive, and what would we do if they attacked a group of unarmed women.” She speared Savannah with a glare as Savannah giggled. “As though that could possibly occur in 1914!”
“It appears she has an overactive imagination,” Savannah murmured.
“And no sense of current affairs,” Zylphia said, her glower transforming into giggles. “Oh, it was awful. I think I feigned sleep for a thousand miles so as not to listen to her.”
Savannah smiled as she caught Melinda hiding in the doorway. “Come here, Melly. You should be a part of this discussion as you will most likely travel with us.”
“Will I?” Melinda asked, unable to hide her glee.
“Yes, school’s about to end, and I think it’s important you realize what women, citizens of this country, must do to obtain their proposed objectives.”
A door opened and slammed shut, with heels clicking rapidly on the wooden floors. “Zee!” Clarissa exclaimed, rushing forward to clasp her cousin in an exuberant hug. “You’re finally here.”
“Sit, Rissa,” Savannah said. “Zee needs to travel to Butte.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I haven’t seen Patrick in too long.” She frowned as she beheld Zylphia. “You’re not working with the others, Zee. You’ll be assigned to Sav and me.”
Zylphia laughed. “I know. I feel badly for whatever group would dare to deny the two of you what you wanted.”
Three days later Zylphia found herself on another train, this one heading east toward Butte. Lottie had remained in Missoula to help Araminta with her duties. Upon their arrival, the women checked into their rooms at the Finlen but decided to postpone their meeting with the leaders of the women’s suffrage committee for another day. “Let’s explore,” Rissa said.
“What could we possibly find here?” Zylphia asked, glancing out a window at the smokestacks spewing ash into the sky and the mountains barren of vegetation.
“You haven’t been to Hennessy’s,” Savannah said with glee. She grabbed her purse, tilted her hat at a jaunty angle and grabbed Zylphia’s arm. “We have the right to one afternoon of shopping before spending the next months going door-to-door, convincing the males of this state that we are worthy of the right to vote.”
They walked down Broadway to Main Street before turning up the hill. Zylphia glanced around with avid interest. “They’re dressed as well here as in Boston,” she whispered to Clarissa, who walked arm in arm with her.
Clarissa nodded with a broad smile, paused outside the large glass doors on the corner of Granite Street, waiting for Savannah and Melinda to catch up to them. They entered the front doors, the floor sparkling from the prism glass over the doors, lit by the afternoon sun.
Zylphia stopped, glancing around the large store.
“Everything you could ever imagine wanting is here,” Savannah said as she led them to the second floor and the dress department.
They sat in comfortable chairs, perusing the latest women’s fashion plates before Savannah decided on a teal dress for her. Clarissa chose a sky-blue dress with matching jacket. Zylphia demurred, her trunks filled to bursting with clothes from Boston. They then descended to the accessories department to purchase gloves, hats and handkerchiefs to match their new dresses.
“Come. I’m exhausted from all this shopping,” Clarissa said.
They departed to a nearby café that advertised booths for ladies. They settled in for a cup of tea.
“Don’t eat much, if anything. We’re meeting Patrick for dinner tonight, and they like to serve large portions in Butte.”
“I never realized you had another brother,” Zylphia said as she sipped her tea.
“He left home precipitously around the time Gabriel left Boston.” Clarissa shared a long look with Savannah.
“I imagine that was quite difficult for you,” Zylphia murmured, frowning at the unspoken undercurrents.
“It was. I thought he had died, since we never heard from him after that. However, he’s alive and well, and, even if we can’t—yet—convince him to move to Missoula, I couldn’t be more delighted he’s returned to us,” Clarissa said.
“As am I,” Savannah murmured. “He’s my cousin too.”
“And my brother!” Melly said with glee before frowning. “Although he doesn’t like me much.”
“He likes you just fine,” Clarissa said on a rush. “I think he’s simply adjusting to being part of a large family again after so many years of estrangement.”
As Savannah stroked an arm down Melinda’s arm to soothe her, Zylphia adroitly changed the subject. “Could you tell me a little more about the people we’ll meet with tomorrow?”
“I’m not certain who you’ll see. I doubt Miss Rankin will be here,” Clarissa said. “She’s the head of the committee and of the movement for women to obtain the vote. We’ve yet to meet her, although she’s from Missoula. She’s always away canvassing.”
“We read about her in the paper frequently,” Savannah said, raising her eyebrows.
“She encourages all of us to travel to each homestead, each farm, to speak with the women and the men about the reasons for voting for enfranchisement,” Clarissa said before taking a sip of tea. “That’s raised quite a furor among some of the women in Missoula, who’d rather not expend such energy.”
She shared an amused glance with Savannah as she thought about the meddling sisters in Missoula.
“That must take a tremendous amount of time in a state so large,” Zylphia said. “I can’t imagine such an endeavor.”
“Well, if we’re successful, it will be because of actions like the ones Miss Rankin has encouraged us to take. It’s shown the residents of Montana that all are important, not just the ones in the big cities like Butte.”
“I’d like to meet her,” Zylphia said. “I’m sure she’d have ideas for the Massachusetts campaign.”
“Whether you meet her or not, you’ll learn plenty,” Savannah said with a wry smile.
Clarissa sat at the reserved table at one of the best restaurants in Butte, tapping her fingers in agitation. “He told me that he’d come,” she said in a low voice to Savannah, Zylphia and Melinda. Her frown lifted as Patrick burst through the doors, but her frown reappeared when she saw a woman on his arm. “I didn’t realize he’d bring her.”
Patrick scanned the room until it settled on them in the corner, and he smiled. He slipped past the waiters, guiding Fiona as they neared the tabled toward the rear of the restaurant.
Clarissa rose, pulling him close for a quick embrace. “It’s wonderful to see you,” she whispered into his ear. He gave her a squeeze before releasing her.
Savannah and Melinda did the same, Melinda throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her arms around his waist.
He chuckled, caressing her golden curls a moment before kissing her on her head and releasing her. “Hi, Sav, Melly,” he murmured. “You look wonderful.”
Savannah beamed at him and included Fiona in her smile. “Thanks, we’ve had a fun afternoon shopping at Hennessy’s.” Savannah looked to Fiona. “I’m Savannah. This is my daughter Melinda, and Clarissa is Patrick’s sister.” Savannah nodded to Clarissa, a teasing smile on her face. “The black-haired beauty is Zylphia, our cousin from Boston.”
Fiona met their curious gazes but did not smile. “I’m Fiona O’Leary. I’m a friend of Patrick’s.”
“You’re more than that if what I hear is true,” Clarissa muttered, earning a glare from Savannah.
Melinda, oblivious to the tension between the adults, tugged on Patrick’s hand and dragged him into a chair next to her. “Mama bought a new dress today, as did Rissa.”
“Did you get one too?” Patrick asked, his gaze taking in Melly’s evolving features, less girllike and more like a young woman every day. He brushed a golden curl away from her cheek. He smiled up at Fiona as she sat between Savannah and Zylphia.
“No, I have plenty of clothes. And I can buy whatever I need at the Merc. That’s what Papa tells me, and he’s always right.”
Patrick laughed. “Yes, your father is always right.” He turned his focus to the remaining member at their table. “I beg your pardon. I’m Patrick.” He held out his hand.
Zylphia smiled. “I’m Zylphia, but everyone calls me Zee. I’m Aidan and Delia’s daughter.”
“Of course you are,” he said with a broad smile. “You look just like a McLeod.”
Zylphia ran a self-conscious hand over her raven hair. “That’s what everyone says.”
He nodded to Fiona. “All of the McLeods, who include Clarissa’s and Savannah’s husbands, have black hair and either green or blue eyes.”
“What part of Scotland is your family from?” Fiona asked.
“I was always told we were from Ireland, but I could be wrong,” Zylphia said with a shrug.
“You’re from Ireland, Miss O’Leary?” Savannah asked.
“I am. From Kerry originally.” She attempted a small smile as she pleated the tablecloth over and over.
“Well, we’re glad you moved to Butte to meet our Patrick,” Savannah said. She reached out a hand to clasp Miss O’Leary’s and met her startled gaze. As the conversation continued around them, she began a quiet discussion with her. “I can’t tell you how delighted I was to receive your letter, asking me for my aid. I wish I’d had the courage to do the same.”
Fiona met her gaze and whispered, “I’m so ashamed. I never meant to harm your family.”
“The only way you’ll harm our family is if you treat Patrick false.” Savannah shared a long look with her. “Henry would have found a way to enrage his cousins with or without your help. Just thinking about him angers them. Besides, we’re a notorious-enough group that he didn’t need to do much detective work to discover hurtful facts about us.”
“You talk about your notoriety as though it brings you pride.” Fiona watched Savannah with bemused wonder.
“It’s either that or hide away in shame, and I refuse to do that. When you get to know Rissa, she’s the last person who will ever retreat from another person’s opinion about her or her life.” She saw Fiona look around the table—Zylphia laughing at Clarissa, Melinda teasing a smile from Patrick—and squeezed Fiona’s hand. “We’re really not a scary bunch, but we are outspoken and fiercely tight-knit and protective of each other.”
Fiona nodded as she met Savannah’s gaze. “I want in.”
Savannah threw back her head as she laughed. “You’ll fit in just fine.”
“Fiona,” Clarissa asked from the other side of the round table, “how have you been feeling?”
“Fine, thank you.” She stared pointedly at Melinda, who beamed at her.
“When’s your baby coming? I can’t wait to meet it!” She bounced in her chair in her exuberance, reminding everyone she was more of a child than a young woman.
“Oh, I imagine your little cousin will be a Christmas present,” Zylphia said as Fiona appeared struck dumb at the casual conversation.
“Yea! I can’t wait to meet her. I don’t want a boy cousin. They’re not much fun to play with.”
“Just because Billy didn’t understand the fine art of a tea party doesn’t mean he isn’t fun to play with,” Clarissa protested with a laugh. “If I remember correctly, you enjoy your romps in the woods with him the most because he’s not afraid of getting dirty.”
Melinda looked toward the ceiling as though deep in thought. “I guess either one would be fine.”
Patrick chortled out a laugh. “Well, that’s a good thing because those are your two options, and you don’t have a choice.” He held up a hand as she opened her mouth. “No more questions. You’re overwhelming Fee.”
Melly slumped into her chair, and the adults around the table chuckled.
He looked over to Fiona and shared a long look with her, earning a small smile from her.
Clarissa watched the interaction, relaxing for the first time into her chair since she’d seen Fiona enter the restaurant with him. “Fiona, it’s lovely to finally meet you,” Clarissa said.
“If you are able to spend a few days here in Butte, we hope you will witness our wedding,” Patrick said with a toast of the champagne that had just been poured for them.
“It’s final then?” Clarissa asked, reaching forward to grip his arm and then outstretching a hand toward Fiona for one of hers. At Patrick’s nod, she squeezed their hands once in support before releasing them. “Thank God.”
“I received word today. I’m no longer a Flaherty,” Fiona said.
“You never were a Flaherty,” Patrick said. “And soon you’ll be a Sullivan.” Then addressing the others, he said, “We plan to marry the day after tomorrow.”
“Excellent. We’ll simply change our tickets and stay for another day,” Clarissa said, sharing a quick look with Savannah.
As they ate their meals, Clarissa glanced around the restaurant. “Patrick, there seems to be a nervous energy in the city right now. It’s not how I remember Butte.”
Patrick sighed, his fingers strumming alongside his beer glass. “You’re observant to detect it.” He lowered his voice, and they leaned forward to hear him. “The miners are on edge. You remember last year when I told you about the card system?”
They nodded, but he glanced at Zylphia and knew she wouldn’t understand. “Th
ere’s been a card system in place for over a year among the miners. It ensures that they are members of the union and is supposed to help the mine owners know they are getting capable miners. However, some believe it unfairly favors the Irish, to keep other nationalities from getting good work and to unjustly label miners as Socialists.
“Last year, five hundred Finns were forced from their jobs due to the card system. A large number of miners protested because the union didn’t strike for their unjustly fired members. So, two weeks ago, a group of men refused to show their cards at the Black Rock and Speculator mines.” He shook his head at Clarissa’s unasked question. “Not any of the Company’s mines. A small act of defiance but it may be just the beginning.”
“So you think something more will happen?” Savannah asked.
“Well, the next day was the disturbance at the annual miners’ parade. Generally a day where the miners march, showing unity and their pride in what they do. Instead there was a near brawl and violence. Then, that evening, men broke into the Miners’ Union Hall, stole the safe and all the records.”
“What would that accomplish?” Zylphia asked.
“If the union and mine owners don’t know who’s paid union dues, then the cards are worthless,” Patrick said. “The union plans a meeting tomorrow night at the miners’ hall to calm everyone. Even officials from out of state are coming to calm the members of their largest union.” Patrick shook his head as he considered what was going on in Butte.
“What will happen to the miners if they have no union?” Clarissa whispered.
Patrick glanced around the room and raised his shoulders in a shrug.
She reached forward and clasped his hand. “Stay safe. Please, Patrick.”
“I’m not a miner, Rissa. This has nothing to do with me.”
“But you work for the Company. You could still be harmed in some way.” She squeezed his hand once before releasing it.
“How do you know so much about the miners?” Zylphia asked. “From what I understand of businessmen, they pay little attention to the men working under them.”
“Well, those with any sense treat their workers well. Like Ford and his eight-hour day and $5-per-day pledge for his workers.” Patrick took a bite of his steak. He lowered his voice further. “I have a friend who’s a miner. He keeps me informed when he’s in Butte.”
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