Adam's Heart

by Marianne Spitzer

  The judge glared at Morton Willoughby, “You said she wouldn’t cause a ruckus.”

  Morton stood, “Now, Alberta, we spoke about this at breakfast. You are not allowed to speak unless this discussion is opened to public comments. Sit down.”

  Alberta’s fists were clenched in the sides of her blue Sunday dress and glared at her husband but sat down.

  The judge asked, “Do you have anything else to add Mr. Reed?”

  “Yes, I would like the council to change the ruling to allow me to run my business the way I see fit and rent my rooms to anyone who asks.”

  Alberta bolted to her feet again and shouted, “If you do that, we’ll burn the saloon to the ground.”

  “Bertie, sit down and shut up,” Morton hollered at his wife.

  Alberta glared but sat back down again.

  Malcolm cleared his throat before continuing. Before he could speak, the doors at the back of the room opened, and four women entered. They were dressed elegantly in satin and silk. Rainbow hues of yellow, green, blue, and purple dazzled the members of the council and residents alike. Anyone would assume they were wealthy visitors from a large city back East except for the feathers and beads in their hair.

  “Excuse me,” the oldest of the four women spoke in a false Southern accent. “My name is Emmaline Reed, and I believe I have a solution for this problem.”

  “Em?” Malcolm stammered. “What are you doing here?”

  “You know her?” Judge Magarey inquired.

  “She’s my wife.”

  “Ex-wife,” Emmaline explained smiling at the judge. “I also own a share of Silas Underwood’s enterprise here in town. I understand completely that you would not want women residing in the saloon and I believe I have the answer.”

  Malcolm's eyes turned to slits as he glared at Emmaline with his arms crossed at his chest.

  “Do tell,” the judge said.

  “Thank you,” Emmaline responded offering her sincerest smile. “My friends and I arrived on the train this morning. I noticed the new saloon is still under construction and that a temporary saloon has opened in a tent just outside the city. Upon inquiring about this situation, I spoke to the owner of the farm that currently houses the saloon. He explained that Silas opened a temporary tent saloon outside of town that could operate without town regulations. Now, the new saloon was given permission to operate in town, but within certain limits. I understand no balconies were allowed on the second floor where ladies could wave to gentleman, that is if Malcolm could change the no women rule. Also, the building could not be painted red or any other garish color. Am I correct?”

  The judge nodded, “Yes, but what does that have to do with your arrival and solution?”

  “As I said, I spoke to the man who owns the farm just outside of town and purchased a small parcel of his land. I brought a large amount of wood with me, and it has been taken to the land where a ladies boarding house will be built. My friends and I will reside there and have rooms to rent to any woman who desires to live there.”

  Alberta Willoughby shot to her feet and stormed to the front of the room and stopped directly in front of Emmaline. “You will not bring those types of women to town. Our ladies league will not allow it.” She spun and spat at her husband, “Do something, Morton.”

  Morton sat slack-jawed at the scene in front of him. “Judge, say something to stop this.”

  Judge Magarey banged his gavel on the table three times—hard. “Everyone stop arguing and take a seat. I have questions for Mrs. Reed.”

  Emmaline stood with her hands gently clasped in front of her. “Of course, your honor, what would you like to ask me?”

  “First,” the judge said, “Where did you buy that lumber?”

  “Oh, at a lovely mill just a bit north of Milwaukee. It’s good lumber if that’s what you're worried about. I won’t have a second-class boarding house. The lumber was actually supposed to be delivered to a small town building offices or some other foolish thing. I paid a premium on the lumber, and they will ship it here immediately. You may examine it if you wish.”

  The judge ran a hand down his face silently swearing to jail the idiot who sold this woman the wood for his offices. Trying not to growl at her, he continued, “Second, although the rules of the town will not affect you, I would suggest that you follow the suggestions made to Mr. Reed. Do not paint the house red and do not allow the business to become raucous at all hours or the good citizens might take action of their own.”

  Emmaline placed her small white-gloved hand to her chest. “Of course not, your honor. I plan to paint the house white adding a wraparound porch and flowers in front. I may paint the door red, though.” She smiled and winked at the judge.

  Alberta bounded to her feet again along with several members of the church ladies committee. They all linked arms and Alberta insisted they will not allow a house with a red door anywhere near the town limits.

  Adam sat back watching the women argue back and forth with the judge when he realized Becca, his sweet, beautiful, demure Becca, was in the middle of the group. Her arms were linked with two other women, and he groaned when he noticed his Ma and Winifred were also in the group. He knew his Pa was right when he told him that life would always be interesting with Becca. Did he see that Becca was just like his Ma? Not that his Ma wasn’t wonderful, but she was opinionated, and his Pa had learned years ago that when his Ma set her mind on something, it was best to let her be. Was his Becca that way, too? The wedding was close. How could he find out before then, but what did it matter? Becca had his heart, and he would marry her regardless of her opinions or flaws. The gavel broke Adam out of his thoughts.

  “I’m not done speaking,” the judge yelled. “Thirdly, Mrs. Reed, if the house you plan to build will be used for any improper purpose, do not allow the ladies to be seen outside the house or in town dressed in their umm work clothes. In town, they will be arrested, and a complaint could be made to the state if the orders I just mentioned are not met.”

  “Wait a minute,” Malcolm Reed said addressing the council members. “I came here to ask for a change in ruling for my saloon. You’re addressing Em’s issues and not mine. I insist you answer my request now.”

  The judge banged the gavel once more. “All right, the council members and I will retire and discuss this. I doubt it will take long. All concerned should stay close. Sheriff Clay will let you know when we reach a decision.”

  The council members left the room, and the residents mumbled to themselves. Alberta led the ladies in singing Amazing Grace, and the four newly arrived ladies in town spoke quietly in the back of the room.

  Sheriff Clay paced the room happy that at least his wife Molly wasn’t present at today’s meeting. He was positive she’d have an opinion tonight at supper.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The council members settled in chairs around a table in the small ante-room. Judge Magarey was still fuming about the loss of his lumber. He expected it next week. It was bad enough the mill sent a telegram saying the order would be late, but he knew now that it would be held up for quite some time. He would be sure to send a fiery telegram as soon as the meeting was over. No one treated him or the residents of Gentle Falls this way. The lumber meant for his pet project, the community center, was sold to a woman to build a bordello. He felt a headache starting behind his eyes and needed a drink.

  Henrietta Picklesimer, the only female on the city council, took a seat at the far end of the table. Morton Willoughby shook his head at her. “Henrietta, this subject is rather, shall we say, delicate. Are you sure you want to be here?”

  She scowled at him and drummed her fingers on the table. “My husband and I settled on our farm when the road was nothing but a dirt track the stage followed to Louis’ stage stop. We were here before Louis built the mercantile. I raised four boys on that farm and my present husband Phineas purchased the land across the track from us a few months after we settled here. The three of us make up the founding familie
s. Do you honestly believe that there is anything that has gone on in this town that I am not aware of? I am not a blushing schoolgirl, Morton. Get on with it.”

  Morton coughed, and Judge Magarey spoke, “All right, there isn’t anything to discuss. We are taking this time to give the residents the presumption that we are debating Mr. Reed’s request. We all know we will deny him a license to rent rooms to females thus halting his prostitution business before it begins. The bigger problem lies in Mrs. Reed’s business, but we cannot stop her. Her property lies outside the town limits, and if she were only renting the property, we could try and buy it away from her; however, she is the owner, and she does not appear ready to sell. All we can do is make sure she and her ladies act respectfully when they come into town. The proposed site for her boarding house is far enough from town that if any of her ladies walk around the property in less than acceptable attire, they will not be seen from town.”

  “Judge, can’t we pass some sort of law that will force her to build that house as far away from town as possible. We have children living in town and on farms along the road. They should not be exposed to this,” Henrietta pleaded.

  “I will explain that, and while we all know what business she plans to run, it is hard to prove. I will also explain that although she is not inside the town limits, there are state laws she must follow. It should keep the noise and unclothed women problem at a minimum. Are we all agreed to deny Mr. Reed his license and add additional town restrictions on what Mrs. Reed’s employees may and may not do within the town limits?”

  Four voices announced agreement.

  “Excellent, Cal would you inform the sheriff that we will be back in the meeting room in five minutes. Please make sure to tell him to have the people settled by then.”

  Cal nodded, and the judge sat back in his chair wondering about his lumber again.

  “You know, Mort,” he said to Mr. Willoughby, “we will never get this place built if they don’t deliver that lumber soon. The nerve of that woman to steal my lumber.”

  “Was it stealing exactly, judge?” Morton questioned. “Besides, we still have to wait for the shipment of red brick. If you had chosen that beautiful Cream City brick, we would have the brick on hand now.”

  “What good does it to have brick on hand if the lumber isn’t here and I said I would pay for the brick regardless of where it comes from. I prefer red brick.”

  Morton shrugged, “The last time I went to Milwaukee on business, I visited the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. They used Cream City brick, and it is a striking building.”

  “I’m sure it is, but we started with red brick downtown, and we’re going to continue. We decided that the town would appear coordinated,” the judge insisted.

  “You’re right,” Morton agreed.

  Sheriff Clay knocked on the door and stuck his head in the room, “Everyone’s seated.”

  Judge Magarey nodded and held the door open for Henrietta, and the four men followed her back to the table in the front of the meeting room. When they were all seated, the judge banged his gavel to silence the murmurs and whispers.

  “The council has come to a decision. Mr. Reed’s request to rent rooms to women above his saloon is denied. While we cannot deny access to any business to any resident, we can limit the hours. Women are not allowed in the saloon from midnight to nine in the morning. Also, no woman, unless married to the man she accompanies, may share a room in the saloon regardless of who pays for it. As to the matter concerning Mrs. Reed’s boarding house, the council has no control over what she does on her property outside of the town limits. However, we do have some control over who may or may not be allowed in town. As I said earlier, the women in Mrs. Reed’s employ must dress properly before entering the town limits. If the boarding house becomes a nuisance with out of control customers, drunkenness, music loud enough to cause a disturbance, or unseemly behavior in view of town residents, any of the employees will be arrested as soon as they enter the town limits.”

  Judge Magarey sat down waiting for the response. Mr. Reed bounded to his feet his face red with rage and tried to argue that the ruling was unfair. Mrs. Reed stood and quietly assured the judge she and her ladies would follow the rules. The men in the attendance groaned when they heard the rules, and the women glared at the men.

  Alberta Willoughby stood and turned to address the men. “Watch your behavior at the new house of ill repute. The church ladies will be watching. We will take down names of the men visiting. We will not hesitate to inform your wives. Single men are advised to stay away, too. We will keep a list, and any decent lady interested in you will know of your cavorting with the soiled doves.” She stopped talking and sat only after the judge banged the gavel repeatedly and demanded she quit speaking.

  Morton glared at his wife, but she sat smugly with her arms folded across her chest. Becca sat between Miranda and Winifred nodding with each statement Alberta made. Adam wondered once again if he was doing the right thing marrying her. He knew he loved Becca, but he truly expected a quiet, demure young lady. He groaned imagining her marching down Main Street with the other ladies from church to spy on the new brothel. Would their marriage work?

  Mrs. Reed and her ladies left the meeting room smiling while Mr. Reed followed mumbling words not fit for mixed company. The church ladies began singing Amazing Grace again, and the men hurried out before their wives could catch up with them.

  Judge Magarey declared he needed a drink--maybe several--and was headed back to his office. The other four council members made their way outside, and Sheriff Clay explained that the church ladies needed to leave now that the meeting was over.

  The sun was beginning to set when Miranda clicked the reins and headed home with Winifred and Becca. Adam rode his horse a short distance behind the buggy mulling over the entire meeting and Becca’s reactions.

  Judge Magarey strode into the small telegraph office and snatched up a blank form. He wrote furiously and handed the form to the telegraph operator. The operator scowled at the form and said, “I’m sorry Judge, but I can’t send this.”

  “Why not. It may be long, but I’ll pay for it.”

  “That’s not the problem, sir. It’s against the law to threaten someone via telegraph. You can’t say you want to hang the man in the middle of his sawmill. You and I both would be arrested,” the man explained.

  Judge Magarey rubbed his forehead with his fingertips, “I know. I’m angry. The mill owner sold the wood for the community center to a woman new to town so she could build a brothel here.”

  The man’s eyes brightened, and he raised his eyebrows. “Truly, a brothel here in Gentle Falls?”

  “Yes,” the judge growled. “She informed the town council at the meeting today. You weren’t there. It caused quite a stir and to top it all, she is flaunting it in the town’s face by wanting to paint the doors red.”

  “A brothel,” the man smiled.

  “Let me see that telegram form. Don’t get too excited. I doubt your wife will be happy with the new business in town. The church ladies are up in arms over this. Don’t let her see you smile about it. Let’s change this from ‘hanging him’ to ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for breaking our contract.’ That should work.”

  “Yes, sir. That isn’t considered a threat.”

  The judge slapped the money on the counter and called over his shoulder as he left, “I’ll be in my office all night. Let me know as soon as you receive an answer.”

  The telegraph operator shook his head. It would be a long night if the judge intended to wait for an a answer. The lumber mill was most certainly closed at that hour, and it would be morning before any reply was received.

  Mr. Reed headed toward the tent that served as the temporary saloon as his former wife and her ladies strolled toward the hotel.

  The judge, Adam, the Reeds, and the residents in town had different thoughts on the results of the night’s meeting. Some happy, some angry, all wondering about the c
hanges coming to their sleepy town.

  Becca’s mind wandered to her wedding and the dream of a dress Sarah made for her. She would go back into town on Friday morning for another fitting. She also needed to pick up more fabric for the bedroom curtains she planned to make for Adam’s house…her house soon.

  “Are you woolgathering,” Winifred asked.

  “Sorry, I was thinking about hanging those kitchen curtains we made. Did you ask me something?” Becca said.

  “Yes, I asked if you wanted to join the quilting and sewing circle. Rachel asked me to join and invite you.”

  “I’d love to join. What about the other projects the ladies at church are involved in like trying to keep those ladies out of town. Do you think they can really keep them out of town? It truly doesn’t seem fair that they wouldn’t be welcome. Who knows what happened in their lives to cause them to take such jobs. Adam told me before the saloon burned down, that Mrs. Masters would sell items to the working girls.” Becca mused.

  Miranda said, “Minnie has a big heart, and I don’t believe the ladies at church will cause the girls any problems as long as they adhere to the judge’s declaration. Our main concern was always what the children would see when the ladies hung off the balconies at the old saloon. Now with the new restrictions, the town will be a better place to live. If the girls come into town dressed properly, I don’t believe there will be any problems.”

  “I hope not,” Becca added just as Miranda pulled the buggy to a stop.

  Adam rode up and helped the women down from the buggy. “I need to get home and take care of the chores, but I’ll stop by tomorrow, Becca.”

  “Goodnight Adam.”

  He gave her a soft kiss since his mother watched them and rode off toward home.

  Chapter Fifteen

  A cool breeze blew in Becca’s window, and she drew in a long breath. The past few days had been hot, and she loved the feel of the cool air. Heat was expected in late July, and when she said her morning prayers, she asked God to send cooling breezes on her wedding day. She pushed herself off her knees and checked her hair once more in the mirror. She knew Adam had chores to catch up on today, but he promised to have supper with her and his family. She missed him and wished the time until their wedding would pass quickly. She never expected to fall in love with him so quickly. He did have a piece of her heart just from reading his letters, but after a week in Gentle Falls, he had her entire heart. She added a prayer that he felt the same way because he asked her to marry him and they set the date, but at times Adam looked at her as if he is debating his feeling for her. Becca sighed and decided to make the most of each day, pulled opened the bedroom door, and walked to the kitchen with a smile on her face.