Page 6 of Taming Lady Temperance

She dipped a washcloth into the lukewarm water, squeezed it out, but failed to lift it to her neck.

In all of her passion-fueled protesting over the last few years, she’d never stopped to consider whether her reformation efforts were actually producing progress. All of her focus had been on proclaiming truth. Not on getting people to hear that truth. As much as it galled her to admit, the irritating deputy might have a point.

Noreen ran the damp washcloth over her neck and face, letting routine guide her hands so her mind could wander down new paths. How did Frances Willard fight for temperance? She used her political connections and social standing to bring awareness to those with the power to enact change. Politicians. Newspapermen. Writers. She lectured to women’s groups and organized those who shared her beliefs. One woman might be ignored, but hundreds standing together had a voice.

Noreen draped her washcloth over the drying bar and reached for the folded papers in her skirt pocket. She might not have any political connections or social standing to exploit, but thanks to the Lord’s perfect timing, she now had a group of women willing to stand together to better their community. All she had to do was convince them that temperance was a worthy battle to wage.

The following afternoon, in the lull between the lunch and dinner crowds at the Albany Hotel, Noreen washed dishes, handing off the freshly scrubbed place settings to the young kitchen maid at her side. Luella accepted the plate and swirled her dish towel over its surface with vigor. The girl was only fifteen, but she worked hard and gave Mrs. Winslow no reason to regret taking her on three months ago.

Luella came from a difficult home life, something Noreen understood far too well. The girl’s father, Claude Templeton, was one of the farmers who frequented the Salt Fork, drinking away funds that could be better spent on providing for his wife and daughter. When Martha came to Noreen at the end of the winter term with concerns about some bruises she’d spotted on Luella’s wrists, Noreen had taken the girl on as a personal project—finding a way to keep her out of the house after school while earning her own funds so she and her mother could have a way to escape should the need arise. It had taken some fast talking to convince Mrs. Winslow that the hotel would benefit from having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen, but after the first month, Luella had more than proven her worth.

“Noreen, I’m going to check on the table linens for the dinner service,” Mrs. Winslow called, one hand on the swinging door that led from the kitchen to the dining room. “When you are finished with the dishes, start prepping the vegetables for the salads and side dishes. Lu can peel potatoes for the mash.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. Winslow pushed through the door and disappeared from the kitchen. The moment the door swung closed behind her, Luella turned an eager face toward Noreen and practically bounced on the balls of her feet.

“So . . . which spinster profile did you get?”

The plate Noreen had been washing slipped from her fingers to clatter against the metal basin. “How do you know about that? It’s supposed to be a secret.”

“Oh, it is. But Miss Evans let me help with the research. We met every Saturday for the last month to work on it.” Her eyes shone with excitement. “It was so inspiring. Learning about women who make a difference in the world all on their own, without a husband or father telling them what to do. I had no idea there were so many. Miss Evans says there are likely hundreds more. We just don’t know about them because their stories aren’t flashy enough to end up in newspapers or history books.” Luella collected the plate from the dishwater and smiled. “Women like you and Miss Evans.”

The girl’s adoration soothed the places inside Noreen’s spirit that had been rubbed raw over the years from those who looked down on her with disapproval, dislike, and even scorn. Her heart softened and stretched, letting her sisterly feelings for the girl fill even the forgotten corners. If she could make a difference in Luella’s life, assure her that she was enough all on her own, Noreen would consider her life a success, even if Congress never passed prohibition into law.

“It just goes to show how trustworthy Miss Evans believes you to be that she would let you in on our secret.” Noreen nudged Luella with her shoulder, then retrieved the soaking flatware from the bottom of the sink and dropped it into the basin of rinse water.

The girl beamed at the compliment. “I wish I could be a spinster, too. I asked Miss Evans if I could join the society, but she said I was too young.” Luella’s face fell. “Miss Lockwood’s rules state a woman has to be twenty-four before she can be considered for membership. That’s so old! I’ll have to wait nearly a decade!”

Noreen stifled a wince at the old comment and chose not to take offense. To a fifteen-year-old girl, nine years surely felt like an eternity. It was more than half her life, after all. Noreen dried her hands on her apron and reached for a second dish towel. “I guess we’ll just have to dub you a spinster-in-training.”

Luella’s smile returned in full force. “Do you mean it?”

Noreen chuckled. “Of course. Though we can’t let the other spinsters know. Wouldn’t want them to think we were breaking the rules.”

“I won’t say a word. I swear!”

“I suppose we can let Miss Evans in on the secret since she already told you about the society. And possibly our friend Miss Cowan.” Jane might balk at the rule bending, but she had such a heart for children that Noreen couldn’t imagine her protesting Luella’s inclusion once she understood what a difference their mentorship could make in the young girl’s life.

Luella launched a hug attack, grabbing Noreen around the waist and squeezing tightly. “You’re the best!”

Not quite sure how to handle this unexpected burst of affection, Noreen held her arms wide for a moment before allowing them to curl slightly around Lu’s back. It had been a long time since someone had hugged her, and it caused a strange burning at the backs of her eyes.

Then, in a blink, it was over. Luella pulled away and started bouncing again, as if her joy didn’t know how to sit still. In contrast, Noreen could barely move, too unaccustomed to affectionate displays to navigate the treacherous territory with any kind of confidence. She cleared her throat and busied herself with drying flatware.

“Which famous spinster did you get?” Luella asked as she shifted her towel around to find a dry spot.

Noreen managed a smile. “Frances Willard. She’s the president of the WCTU.”

“I don’t remember that one.” Luella’s eyebrows arched as she reached for a group of spoons. “What’s WCTU?”

“The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.” Noreen scrunched the bib of her apron to one side so that Luella could see the small white bow she wore pinned to her bodice. “Members wear a white bow of purity, like this one, and dedicate themselves to promoting the prohibition of intoxicating liquors. Miss Willard founded a state organization in Texas as well and even helped us bring a prohibition referendum to the polls in 1887. Unfortunately, it failed to pass.” A scowl tugged Noreen’s mouth flat. “If women had been allowed to vote, I suspect the outcome would have been much different.”

Not wanting to dwell on unpleasant thoughts when they had such little time to talk openly, Noreen forced a brightness into her tone and turned the conversation around to Luella. “If you were able to pick one of the reports you helped research as your spinster inspiration, who would you have chosen?”

“That’s easy. Clara Barton.” Luella’s hands stilled, and her voice grew wistful. “The Angel of the Battlefield. Her whole life is about helping people, especially those who are unable to help themselves.” Luella shook off the dreaminess and shot a grin toward Noreen. “Did you know that she was named head nurse for General Butler’s unit in the War Between the States even though she had no formal medical training? That’s how big of an impact she made by taking care of wounded soldiers. Then she convinced President Hayes to create the American Association of the Red Cross and has been the president of the organization ever since. I want to be a nurse like Miss Barton. Helping folks heal, making their lives better.”

Giving others what she needed so badly for herself.