Chapter 20
Chapter
Thirty-five! Thirty-five people stood in the churchyard lining up to make the march through town.
Noreen’s heart felt as if it might burst from abundant fullness.
Even in her wildest dreams she’d only imagined perhaps twenty people showing up for her parade, but the Lord had exceeded her expectations.
Five men with instruments stood near the front.
A trombone, a cornet, two clarinets, and a drum.
A sixth man wore a washboard and held a pair of spoon handles at the ready.
Noreen was pretty sure she recognized him as a regular saloon patron, but he’d signed a temperance pledge, so she’d agreed to let him march.
Except for the pair of ministers who’d joined their parade, the rest of the participants were women, and what a wonderful collection of women they were.
Ten of her spinster sisters showed up for the parade, including Hortense Lockwood, wielding her influence with a deft hand as she recruited other ladies of her generation to join.
Looking through the ranks, Noreen recognized several women from church and many others from about town.
Each ready to march for the cause of temperance.
Amazing! Only God could have accomplished this.
Even Jane had joined the festivities. She stood in the back of the group, flanked by her parents, but she was there, and Noreen’s heart soared at her friend’s willingness to overcome her fear of public attention in order to lend her support.
Noreen had tied dozens of white bows over the past few days, the symbol of purity and commitment to the cause of temperance.
She’d distributed ribbons and pins to everyone who had come, and as she inspected the ranks, those white bows glimmered in the sunlight like stars shooting forth bursts of hope from every lapel or bodice.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Oh, how she loved that verse, how she’d clung to it through the years, as if the prophet Daniel had spoken those words specifically to inspire her mission.
Yet the longer she’d toiled alone, the more she’d felt her brightness dimming as discouragement and opposition cast deep shadows over her heart.
But not today. Like a sputtering candle that ignites a mighty bonfire, through God’s power, her flickering flame had joined with others to bring about a conflagration so bright, it would cast aside every encroaching shadow and shine hope and purpose into the darkest corners.
“Everyone ready?” Noreen peered down the rows, her heart swelling at each nod and smile that greeted her.
“Ready!” Hortense Lockwood wiggled the sign she held with enthusiasm. Black letters painted on white pasteboard proclaimed, Prohibition Promotes Probity.
Noreen grinned. “Excellent.”
She was fairly certain the majority of spectators would have no idea what probity meant, but Miss Lockwood had been so proud of her alliterative accomplishment, Noreen hadn’t had the heart to suggest she replace the final word with a term more readily recognizable, like morality or integrity.
People knew what the parade was promoting. They’d figure it out.
She made her way toward the front of the group, double-checking that everyone had their song sheets provided by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
She’d specifically selected songs that utilized the melodies of popular hymns or patriotic tunes to make things easier.
When she reached the band members near the front, she met Connor Reed’s eye.
The trombone player was the most skilled of the musicians and had volunteered to take charge of the music.
“Do you feel comfortable with the song order, Mr. Reed?”
He offered a salute. “Yes, ma’am. ‘Yankee Doodle,’ ‘The Old Hundred,’ ‘Happy Day,’ and ‘America.’ That right?”
“That’s perfect! Thank you for taking charge.”
His cheeks reddened. “Shucks. You’re the one in charge, Miss O’Sullivan. I’m just the accompaniment.”
“Well, I’m exceedingly grateful you’re here.
All of you.” She extended her smile to cover each of the musicians in turn.
“Your contributions will add a level of festivity the rest of us couldn’t achieve on our own.
Your playing will draw attention to a worthy cause, and I’ve no doubt the Lord will reward you for your participation today. ”
Noreen stepped into position at the front of the parade block.
She, Martha, and Luella would lead the pack, each bearing a sign to make their purpose known to all who saw them.
Luella’s sign proclaimed that A Sober Life Is a Better Life.
Martha’s urged the community to Make Albany Dry.
And Noreen’s sign exposed her woundedness for all to see. Drunkenness Destroys Families.
Martha handed Noreen her sign and gave her arm a squeeze. “Excited?”
Noreen nodded, even as her stomach clenched. “Nervous too. So many people came. I don’t . . . I don’t want to let them down.”
A twinkle lit Martha’s eyes. “You’re far too stubborn to let that happen.”
A chuckle loosened the tightness in Noreen’s chest. “You’re right.”
Martha winked. “Of course I am. I’m a teacher. I’m paid to be right.”
Luella’s laughter joined the mix. “It’s true. No student has ever won an argument with Miss Evans. Her rightness is quite legendary.”
Nerves banished beneath the power of shared joy, Noreen checked the watch pinned to her bodice. Almost time to start.
She turned to face the group. “Five minutes, everyone!” She eyed the single drummer of the group. “When I signal, start your cadence.”
The man nodded and held his sticks at the ready.
As she pivoted to face forward, a movement to her right snagged her attention.
James. His gaze met hers, and her chest grew so airy, she wouldn’t have been surprised to find her feet lifting from the street to float above it.
He smiled and tipped his hat, his expression abounding with pride.
For her. She couldn’t fully absorb the wonder of it, but it infused her spirit with a warmth that made her feel invincible.
She raised a hand to wave, but his expression shifted away from her and hardened slightly. Noreen turned to see what had caught his attention, and at first her heart leapt with joy.
Mama.
Noreen had prayed her mother would come. That she would stand beside her daughter to support a cause they both believed in. But she hadn’t come alone. When Noreen noticed the frowning man at her side, her delight curdled.
After her article had come out in the paper, her stepfather had made his displeasure known, pulling her aside in the churchyard to scold her after services last week.
The moment he began rehashing the familiar diatribe on the disgrace she would bring upon him by making a spectacle of herself, however, Noreen had turned her back and walked away.
The cut had roused his ire, of course, but the days of her obligingly subjecting herself to his criticism had passed.
The man had relinquished any right to dictate to her the moment he banned her from her mother’s home.
James, bless him, put that long stride of his to good advantage as he strode past the parade block and reached her stepfather before Arthur could reach Noreen.
“Clevenger! Good of you to come out to support the community this afternoon.” James positioned himself directly in her stepfather’s path.
“Step aside, Deputy. I intend to have a word with Miss O’Sullivan.”
“Sorry, sir. The parade’s fixin’ to start. Only participants are allowed in the staging area.” He paused and raised a brow. “Unless you intend to join the parade?”
Join the parade? Arthur? Noreen shared an amused glance with Martha and Luella.
“Don’t be absurd,” Arthur sputtered. “I just, uh . . .”
Noreen swore she could hear his mind churning, desperate to find a way to outmaneuver James.
All at once, he stood a little straighter, his eyes gleaming. Noreen’s stomach tightened uncomfortably.
“My wife asked me to escort her here so that she could wish her daughter good luck.” He turned to Mama. “Isn’t that right, dear?”
Noreen’s indignation flared at the way her mother seemed to shrink beneath her husband’s regard.
“I would like to speak to her. If I may?”
James dipped his chin and smiled at her in a way that allowed her to stand a little straighter. “Of course, ma’am. I’m sure she’d appreciate your encouragement.”
As if Mama would be offering any. Noreen did her best to let go of the bitterness that threatened to spring up and choke her joy, but the weed proved resilient.
She knew what Mama would say. Whatever Arthur wished.
Yet it felt like ages since she’d spoken to her mother, and Noreen longed to share a piece of this moment with her. No matter how small.
Stepping out of formation, Noreen met her mother at the edge of the street. “Mama.”
“Noreen.” She looked uncomfortable and cast a glance over her shoulder to where Arthur stood.
The man’s gaze shot a pointed look in their direction, one Noreen desperately wanted to bat away before it could impale her mother, but all she could do was take her mother’s hand and distract her from her overbearing husband.
“Just relay his message, Mama. I’ll not hold it against you.”
Her mother turned back to Noreen, her shoulders drooping as if they’d forgotten how to hold themselves upright.
“Arthur would like you to reroute your parade to circle only the south side of the courthouse square instead of looping and going down the north side twice.” She kept her voice low so others wouldn’t overhear.
“The business owners on that side are quite unhappy about the disruption your demonstration will cause and have been pressuring him to do something about it.”
Noreen bit back a sigh and did her best to remember the advice James had given her earlier. Focus on her supporters, not her detractors. It just hurt that her mother fell into the detractor camp.
“I’m sorry, Mama, but I can’t do that. The parade route has already been advertised, and my marchers have their instructions.
I won’t derail our preparations just to please a handful of irritated shop owners.
” She released her mother’s hand and began to step away.
“It’s unfair for Arthur to ask me to do so. ”
“Yes, it is.”
Noreen halted. Had her mother just disagreed with her husband?
Mama caught Noreen’s hand before it could slip away and squeezed it tightly. Tears shimmered in her eyes as her shoulders actually straightened, and her chin lifted.
“I am so proud of you, Noreen. You’re making a difference. Making this community safer. Better. If I could, I’d be marching at your side. I want you to know that I will be . . . in my heart.”
Noreen was so stunned it took her a moment to react.
Mama must have misinterpreted her silence as disapproval, for she released her hand and dropped her head back into its cowed position.
This sight broke Noreen’s heart even as it broke her out of her stupor.
She lunged for her mother and embraced her in a fierce hug.
“Thank you, Mama.”
Her mother’s arms circled her back. “I love you, sweet girl. Always and forever. Never doubt that for a moment.”
“I love you, too.”
A hand touched Noreen’s shoulder, bringing her head up. Martha’s face greeted her.
“It’s time.”
Noreen nodded and stepped away from her mother, giving a little sniff to clear away the residual emotion as her mother hurried back to where Arthur waited.
James met Noreen’s gaze for a heartbeat, a question lingering in his eyes.
She answered with a smile so wide her cheeks pinched from the effort.
Then she turned to her supporters and gave the call.
“Ladies and gentlemen . . . here we go!”
She looked to Connor Reed. “Let’s jump into the first song right away, shall we?”
He nodded, and she signaled the drummer with a point of a finger. The cadence rang out through the air. Noreen faced forward, waited for a count of four so everyone could feel the beat, then stepped off with her left foot.
Within eight counts, the tune of “Yankee Doodle” began, and Noreen lifted her voice in the first temperance hymn of the day.
“Now don’t you know the reason why
The temperance cause is winning?
Our Bands of Hope resolve to try
The pledge when life’s beginning.”
Her stepfather scowled as the group marched past, and for once, Noreen sought his gaze instead of avoiding it. The words of the chorus took on a double meaning as numerous voices swelled behind her.
“That’s the way to win the day,
Wait a little longer;
Drink shall fall with tyrants all,
When Bands of Hope are stronger.”