Tenacious Love (Banished Saga, Book Four): Banished Saga, Book Four (42 page)

“Besides, Rissa, the majority of those men understand she’s my wife and know better than to cross her. She’s not there in the evenings. She’s there midday at the latest.” Sebastian winked at Amelia.

“What are you saving money for?” Clarissa asked.

“Well, if the children wish to attend the university, I want them to have the opportunity. With seven children, I need to look at all options. Nicholas is almost of age to attend.”

“He’d always have a place to stay in Missoula,” Clarissa said as Savannah nodded.

“I can’t bear the thought of him away from home, but I know he must leave at some point. Knowing he’d have the support of … family would ease my mind.”

“Simply let us know what you need, and we’ll help in any way,” Clarissa said.

“Seb, are you and Amelia traveling to Helena in a few weeks for the parade?” Savannah asked. “It’s remarkable to have a woman’s day and suffragist parade planned during the state fair in Helena this year.”

“I was hoping Amelia, Annie and the younger children could travel to Missoula and make the journey with you,” Sebastian said. “Nicholas and I will rough it while they are away.” He winked at Nicholas.

“We plan on traveling to Helena on Tuesday to be settled before the parade on Friday,” Savannah said. She smiled slyly as she watched Zylphia. “Anna Howard Shaw is coming to speak to those gathered on Friday after the parade.”

Zylphia sighed with disgust, pushing the remnants of her meal around on her plate.

“What don’t you like about her, Zee? I think she’s a remarkable woman,” Amelia said.

“If you like antiquated tactics destined to yield no result, then I’d recommend listening to what she has to say.” Zylphia shook her head.

Amelia squinted as she studied Zylphia. “Do those from the East, who sent you out thinking you were a faithful member of NAWSA, realize you’re really an ardent supporter of Alice Paul?”

Zylphia grinned. “No. Sophie thinks it best to keep them on their toes. She also thinks it best to understand what both groups are doing. She doesn’t really care who has the more successful tactic, as long as she has the opportunity to vote before she dies.”

Clarissa shivered. “Don’t even mention that. Although I only receive her guidance through her weekly letters, I couldn’t imagine life without Sophie.”

“Well, last I saw her, she was feisty and reigning over her fiefdom with her usual vigor. I wouldn’t be concerned,” Zylphia said with a smile.

Sebastian frowned. “
Alice Paul
. Isn’t she the one advocating that we vote against Democrats because Wilson is a Democrat and has failed to vocally support universal enfranchisement?”

Zylphia nodded.

“Seems a crackbrained policy to me, especially as many of those are your most ardent supporters.”

“She wants to show the president that his intransigence will lead to instability in Congress and his party. That universal enfranchisement is a policy that must be supported and advocated for by the president.”

Sebastian shook his head. “She didn’t change his mind after the disgraceful way you were treated at that march in Washington, DC, so I doubt this will change his mind.”

“Then we’ll have to increase our tactics until he does,” Zylphia retorted, her cheeks flushed and blue eyes flashing.

Sebastian watched her and shook his head. “If you don’t look like Gabe when he’s angered. Listen, Zee. Fight for universal suffrage. But don’t turn to violence.”

“I promise. I won’t.”

Sebastian studied her a moment before grinning. “Speaking of radical places, how is your brother faring in Butte under martial law?” he asked Clarissa, holding up the
Missoulian
and the editorial written by Joseph Dixon. A bold quote by Dixon proclaimed
There does not seem to be any reason but the desires of Amalgamated for martial law and the troops in Butte.

“Patrick wrote me that, when the troops arrived, they thought they’d be feted with a heroes’ welcome. Instead everyone watched them with distrust and anger. There’s no need for them there, except to promote Amalgamated’s agenda.”

“That’s the way of this state,” Sebastian said. “Who do you think purchases the majority of my lumber?” He raised his hands as though in defeat. “There’s little we can do to fight them.”

“Write your politicians. Write articles in your newspapers,” Zylphia argued.

Everyone around the table laughed, but Zylphia was perplexed.

“They have bribed every politician here and own every newspaper,” Amelia explained. “There’s no way for a resident of Montana to have freedom of knowledge as everything we read is filtered through them.”

“How is such a thing possible? Why doesn’t the federal government do something?” Zylphia asked.

“As long as Amalgamated produces the copper the country needs to continue America’s rapid growth, they will allow Amalgamated to do what it pleases,” Sebastian said. “Things are very different here, Zee.”

“Why does your brother, Patrick, remain in Butte, rather than move to Missoula? I’d think he’d grasp at any reason to escape and live closer to you and Colin,” Sebastian said.

Clarissa sighed. “He writes that Fiona has been advised that she should refrain from any travel and should remain in a familiar environment.”

“I think Patrick is also determined to make his way for his family without depending on us,” Savannah said. “He knows I’d be happy to help and able to help.”

“You don’t want to interfere with a man’s sense of pride,” Sebastian said.

Amelia rolled her eyes as Clarissa chuckled. Clarissa said, “I know. I wish he’d move to Missoula, but I’m content knowing where he is.”

“And as long as Fiona remains healthy, that is what is important,” Savannah said.

After a few moments of silence, Sebastian asked about Clarissa and Gabriel’s children and the goings-on in Missoula, halting further discussion about state politics and Patrick’s persistent presence in Butte.

* * *

T
he following morning
Zylphia slipped from bed just before sunrise and donned a simple dress. She grabbed a small case from her bag and cracked open the bedroom door. A floorboard creaked as she walked down the hall toward the front door. She eased it open and walked in haste toward an open field she remembered passing when they drove into town to catch the sunrise.

When she arrived a few minutes later, the sky was just lightening to a robin’s-egg blue, each moment changing and limning the mountains in a different hue. She breathed deeply, inhaling wood smoke and the elusive scent of the pine forest. She found a small boulder to perch on and watched as the mountains came into greater relief with the dawning day.

She pulled out her case and extracted a small sketch pad and a sharpened pencil. Her hand flew across the paper as she drew, capturing the mood and atmosphere of the morning with light strokes and deft shading. Intent on capturing the scene, she became lost to her surroundings.

A hand settled on her shoulder, and she flinched, nearly marring her drawing with a deep pencil scratch. She screeched and jumped up, spinning to face the person behind her. “Sebastian,” she whispered, holding a hand to her heart as she caught her breath.

“I’m sorry to startle you, but you didn’t answer when I called your name.” He smiled his apology. “I hadn’t realized you were an artist.”

“I have a near daily compulsion to draw something,” Zylphia admitted. When Sebastian nodded at her sketch pad, she handed it to him.

He began with the unfinished sketch from the morning before flipping through the previous days’ work. “These are something,” he said as he swayed to and fro in front of her.

Zylphia noted he always seemed to be in motion, even when standing still.

“What do you plan to do with them?”

“If I have the opportunity, I hope to paint them. I think oil paintings.” Zylphia nodded her thanks as she accepted the sketchpad. “They’re to help me remember when I’m at my easel in Boston.”

“I’d think you’d have an easel here to capture the moment as it’s in front of you.”

“It would be difficult to obtain what I need,” Zylphia protested.

“Most anything you could imagine can be had from the Merc in Missoula. Just ask Gabe, and he’ll help you.” Sebastian watched her intently. “I’d be honored to hang one of your fine paintings in my house. I have a feeling you’ll soon be as well-known as your cousin, Lucas.”

“Oh, this is just a hobby,” Zylphia said, her breath coming quickly.

“Well, I ain’t no artist, but I’m smart enough to know this is art worth having in my house. You’re talented, Zee. Don’t waste it. Not even for this cause you espouse.”

“It’s essential for women to obtain the vote,” Zylphia said with a flash of her irritation in her eyes.

“I’m not arguing against it. I’d love for my Amelia to be able to vote and have her say in her future. But this cause is a fleeting thing, Zee. Your art, now that’s something to be nurtured for life.” He smiled. “You’re fortunate your father’s wealthy enough you don’t have to worry about such a mundane thing as money.”

Zylphia blushed. “I know.”

“Come. I’m sure by now they’ve all awakened and are worried about your absence. I always leave for work early, so Amelia will think nothing of my not being home.”

“Did you follow me?” Zylphia walked next to Sebastian, thankful he walked at a slower pace than her male cousins.

“I heard someone leave. I glanced down the street to see you turn the corner. By the time I dressed, you had disappeared. It took me a little while to find you.” He watched her with a worried gaze. “The men of this town are respectful, for the most part. But there are always drifters. You must take more care, Zee. I would hate for something to happen to you.”

“Thank you,” Zylphia whispered. “All I could think about was having a few moments alone to sketch. To lose myself in art.”

“Well, you’ve become a bit too lost when you don’t even hear a man of my size approaching.”

“You move with the stealth of a cat!” Zylphia protested with a laugh.

“Even so, Zee, even so,” Sebastian said.

“My father sent me west with a maid, but I can’t stand having her hovering a step or two behind me all the time. She remained in Missoula to help Araminta care for the children.” She shared a chagrined smile with Sebastian. They walked a few minutes in the quiet of the early morning.

“Can I ask you something that I don’t want to worry Amelia about?” At his nod, she asked, “Do you worry about Nickie and the Great War?”

“Of course we do. She reads the newspaper reports every day with the hopes that the fighting will soon end. She has nightmares about her son being called to fight. He’ll be eighteen soon and of perfect age.” He looked at her. “You and your women want voters to shun the president and his party ’cause he won’t support your cause. I have to say that his determination to keep us out of this war, and boys like Nickie safe, is reason enough for me to vote for him.”

Zylphia frowned, nodding her understanding as she linked her arm through his and matched his stride toward his home.

“Zee!” Clarissa exclaimed when she walked in through the kitchen door with Sebastian. “We’ve been so worried. Amelia just sent Nicholas to the mill to fetch you, Sebastian.”

“I’m sorry,” Zylphia said, looking chagrined. “I woke with an overwhelming desire to sketch this morning. I didn’t think I’d be missed, but I must have become lost in my drawing. Sebastian found me.”

“I heard her leave and eventually found her,” he said as he moved toward the sky-blue coffeepot and poured himself a cup. At Zylphia’s nod, he poured her one too. “She was immersed in sketching the mountains.”

“Oh, Zylphia!” Amelia exclaimed, gripping her in a tight hug as she burst into the kitchen. “You’ve had us frantic.”

“I’m sorry,” Zylphia said again as she was pushed into a chair and a plate of pancakes, eggs and bacon was set before her.

“There’s my Amelia,” Sebastian murmured as he leaned forward to kiss his wife on her forehead as she bustled past him. “Always assuming we’ll need plenty of food, especially if there’s a calamity of some sort.” He grunted when she elbowed his side good-naturedly.

Nicholas burst into the kitchen, and groaned with frustration to find his father and Zylphia sitting down to breakfast. “Where were you?” he demanded, gasping from his dash to the mill and back.

“Thank you for your help, son,” Sebastian said, running a quick hand over Nicholas’s head as he sat next to his father. Seb pushed his full plate toward Nicholas, sharing his breakfast.

After breakfast, Clarissa and Savannah helped Amelia make sandwiches while Zylphia finished her sketch from the morning. When it was time to go, Zylphia took the basket offered to her, placing pamphlets next to the sandwiches.

They walked the short distance to the Sawmill Saloon, a two-story brick building in the central part of the town. Men called out greetings to Amelia, and one opened the door for them to pass.

“Not like you to have a companion, Mrs. Carlin.”

“Miss McLeod is my friend from Missoula,” Amelia said with a nod of thanks as she led the way into the saloon. She turned to Zee and whispered, “He always tries to sweet talk a free sandwich from me.”