IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER
Chapter Twenty-Two

It had been a month since Fabrizio and Kate had come to Chippewa Falls, but no one expected the next arrival in their small town. Not even Jack and Rose, but when it did arrive, it brought Rose and her two best friends to attention.

Rose was sitting in her rocking chair on the porch, talking to Kate and brushing Becky’s blonde curls, when Susan ran up the path, a yellow paper in her hand.

"Rose! Kate! Look at this!" She excitedly pushed the paper in Rose’s face.

"What is it?" Rose asked, looking up at her friend as she took the paper from her face.

"Read it," Susan insisted, her face flushed from running.

"Attention all women, come join our leader, Carrie Chapman Catt, at the rally in the town square next Saturday. There will be a parade and a rally accompanied by a nice lunch during her speech. Who is she?" Rose looked up at her friend, who was now looking at her like she’d lost her mind.

"Gee, for a high society girl, Rose, you sure are behind the times. Carrie Chapman Catt is the leader of the American Women’s Suffrage Movement. You know…the organization that’s fighting for a woman’s right to vote in this country!" Susan explained. "She’s coming here to Chippewa Falls next Saturday. In fact, she’s staying in the boarding house with us. Mother just reserved her room!"

"Oh, my God!" Rose gasped, finally remembering who the woman was. She had heard a lot about her and the women’s suffrage movement in finishing school, but with all the twists and turns her life had taken in the past year or so, she had totally forgotten about the movement.

"It says next Saturday there’s a parade and speech," Kate read.

"Let’s do it, you two. Let’s march in that parade and join in that rally. Let’s show our support for the cause." Susan excitedly laughed.

"All right." Rose nodded her agreement. "I’ll do it."

"I don’t know, you two…I’ll have to ask Fabri if he wants me to, and you two should do the same. I mean, Rose, Jack might not want you to march, and Cal may have a problem with Susan’s marching, too." Kate shook her head.

Rose’s eyes widened in shock at what she had just heard.

"Is she real?" Susan asked Rose.

"Kate…Fabri doesn’t own you. You have your own mind. And as for Jack, he’s already assured me that he’ll stand behind my decisions, no matter what. And Cal…he won’t approve, but I think he’s learned his lesson about treating women as property." Rose laughed. "I’m sure Fabri won’t mind."

"I don’t know…" Kate was still unsure.

"All right, how about this? I’ll cook dinner tonight, and Susan can bring Cal over. All six of us can sit down and discuss this. Would that make you feel better?" Rose asked.

Kate readily nodded. She always looked forward to the times all of them got together. It made her less homesick for Ireland and made her feel more at home. They were one happy family.

"Okay, then. That’s what we’ll do. I’ll bring the flyer so the boys can see it." Susan took the flyer back from Rose and prepared to leave.

Four Hours Later

Dinner was finished, and Becky was sleeping peacefully in her crib upstairs. The six adults were in the parlor, enjoying each other’s company, when Susan brought out the flyer about the women’s suffrage parade.

"I already showed this to Rose and Kate, but they wanted to run it past you first to reach our final decision whether to join in or not." Susan first gave Jack the flyer, knowing he was a lot more likely to agree than the other two.

"Interesting." Jack arched his eyebrow.

"I don’t know…" Fabri replied as the flyer was passed to him.

"This is nonsense! Pure nonsense!" Cal snorted as the flyer was handed to him. "I hope you’re not getting involved with this rubbish, Susan."

"What?" Susan turned to her fiancé.

"Here we go," Rose whispered to Kate. "Now you’re going to see one of the reasons why I left him."

"Women’s right to vote. Who does this woman think she is? If women were meant to vote, then they would have already had it. They’re just not capable of thinking as clearly as a man." Cal threw the flyer back on the table.

"Just like Cal to say that." Rose rolled her eyes.

"I agree with Cal." Fabrizio spoke up. All eyes turned to him. "I’m from Italy, and in Italy women don’t speak unless spoken to. You all have a lot more freedom here in America than in my old country. You should be happy with that."

"And how about Jack? Does he agree with the chauvinists in the room?" Susan turned to him. He immediately paled at the question.

"Well…I agree with the cause. I mean, a woman should have the right to vote," Jack carefully replied.

"There’s a but in there somewhere." Susan held back laughter.

"You’re right. There is a but in there." Jack sighed, took Rose’s hand, and looked her in the eyes. "I don’t want Rose to march in it."

"What?" Rose asked, her voice low, confusion in her eyes. He had just said he believed in the cause. What did he mean he didn’t want her marching in it? "I don’t understand."

"Rose…this isn’t New York City, or even Philadelphia. It’s a small town that doesn’t take well to change. Especially change of the way of life, and this is dealing with that. What I’m saying is things could get ugly, and I don’t want you in a situation where you could get hurt. That’s all."

"Jack, I won’t get hurt." Rose sighed.

"I can’t take that chance. I mean, we’re talking about men just like those two who attacked you in Southampton, Rose. I don’t want you in that situation again."

"For once, Jack’s talking like he’s making sense." Cal nodded.

"Cal, shut up! This all your fault, you know!" Rose turned on her ex-fiancé, who was smiling smugly.

"And how do you figure that, sweetpea?" Cal asked, his eyebrow arched.

"You poisoned his mind! I knew it wasn’t good for him to be hanging around you," Rose growled.

"Rose, calm down. Let me finish." Jack sighed, pulling her back down to the couch. "I don’t want you marching in the parade. But I know from experience that once you have your mind made up, there’s no stopping you. So whatever you decide to do…I’ll stand behind your decision, whether I approve or not."

Rose smiled and hugged her husband tightly. "Thank you, Jack. You don’t know how much hearing you say that means to me."

"I think I do." Jack smiled, hugging her back. "Just promise me that if you do this, you’ll be careful. At the first sign of trouble, come home."

"I promise." Rose kissed his ear.

"I suppose you two are going to want to march, too, now that Dawson gave his approval?" Cal turned to Susan and Kate.

"Fabri? Please? Jack is letting Rose go…why can’t I go, too?"

"Because you are with bambino and should remain in the house. Not in some parade." Fabrizio crossed his arms.

"Fabri’s right, Kate." Rose turned to her friend. "There’s no use endangering the baby’s welfare."

"And Cal…what about you? I know you think this is all nonsense, but it’s important to me. Are you going to be a man like Jack and support me anyway…or are you going to do to me what you did to Rose before she left you? Treat me like what I want doesn’t matter?" Susan turned back to Cal.

Cal looked back and forth between Susan and Rose. His present and his past. His decision of the past could affect his future, and he couldn’t have that. If he wanted to keep Susan in his life, he had no choice. "Even though I do not believe in this radical thinking…I won’t try to stop you from going, since it is important to you. Like Jack…I’ll stand behind you in your decision."

"Goodness gracious, Susan. How did you do it?" Rose asked, her face betraying her surprise. "You have absolutely changed the great and powerful Caledon Hockley."

"All it took was a lot of patience and a lot of love." Susan grinned and kissed his cheek. "I knew he’d come up with the right answer. So, Rose, the decision is down to us two. Are we going to march, or aren’t we?"

"We are!" Rose stood and hugged her friend. "This is going to be the grandest parade this town has ever seen!"

*****

All that week, in getting ready for the parade, Rose and Susan and a few other women stood outside the general store and handed out flyers for the parade. They were answered with a few looks of interest, smiles, and mostly from the men, glares. Jack and Cal stopped by every hour to make sure that no one tried anything. Jack even decided to sit and sketch the scene. Another memento of their life together, he said.

It was Friday, the day before the big event, when the threat of trouble finally showed up. It was afternoon, and they hadn’t been having much luck in handing out the flyers. People were either too scared or weren’t interested enough to even take a look at their cause. Rose was about to suggest that they call it a day when two young men approached. Both had the look of farm boys, dressed in overalls and quite unshaven. Tobacco juice stained their teeth, and Rose grimaced in revulsion as one spat juice right in front of her.

"Would you like a flyer, sir?" Susan confidently held a flyer out to the man.

"Let me see." The man grabbed the flyer away from her. "Women’s suffrage," the man read. "Parade. What’s that?"

"It’s a parade for the women’s right to vote," Rose answered.

"Why, look here, Harv! We got us a pretty one here." The man with dirty blond hair looked her up and down the way Sal had in Southampton. Rose swallowed as she felt a shiver go up her spine. She couldn’t help taking a step back.

"This one ain’t bad, neither!" Harv looked Susan up and down. "One for me and one for you."

"Hate to tell ya this, fellas, but we’re already taken." Susan stepped in front of Rose, who was as pale as a ghost and frozen in her spot. "Now, if you don’t mind, please take a flyer and leave, or just leave. Your choice."

"What an uppity one." Harv snorted. "I like her. But not this suffrage stuff. Voting belongs to us men alone, and that’s the way it ought to be. Damn woman, whatever her name is, coming down here and messing with our way of life."

"We ought to make her pay." Harv’s friend nodded. "Like take her two gals here. No one would know that it was us."

"Leave us alone!" Susan demanded. "I warn you, I’m engaged to a very powerful man, and…"

Harv grabbed her and slapped her hard across the face. "That’s for talking back!"

"Let me go! Rose, do something!" Susan turned to her friend, who stared at her in utter terror. She had never seen Rose like this before. She had to not only save herself, but save her friend, as well, get her back to the house before anything bad happened.

"I’ll get the redhead, Harv!"

"Fine by me, Lyle!"

Lyle sounded so much like Sal, and this was what made Rose retreat even deeper into herself, knowing this time that there was no escape, no Jack to appear out of nowhere and save her.

"Come here, little missy…" Lyle grinned, advancing on her, but was suddenly stopped by a familiar voice.

"Get away from my wife, or you’ll be sorry." Jack appeared behind the two men. Fabrizio and Cal were with him.

"And take your dirty hands off my fiancée, you filth." Cal glared at Harv.

"Why, isn’t it Jack Dawson? Haven’t seen you since elementary school." The man known as Lyle turned to face Jack. "Why, look, Harv, it’s Jack Dawson. You remember him, don’t ya?"

"Yeah. Used to pick on him all the time. The only one gutsy enough to stand up to us." Harv laughed. "The rest of the pipsqueaks were too chicken."

"So this pretty lady’s your wife, huh, Jack? Well, don’t be selfish. Share a little." Lyle laughed, turning back to Rose. Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind and a flying fist connected with his face, sending him reeling back against the stone wall of the general store.

"Sharing was never my strong suit." Jack angrily glared at the man, who wiped blood from his nose.

"Too bad, Lyle. Looks like you lose!" Harv laughed until he was grabbed by the back of the neck and turned to face Cal’s furious brown eyes.

"And I said get your filthy hands off my fiancée!" Cal threw him up against a tree. "If I ever catch any of you near these two ladies again, I promise you I’ll make your life a living hell, and you wouldn’t want that, now, would you?"

At the sound of Cal’s upper-crust voice, and the darkness in his eyes, both of the men shook their heads. "Now, you have the count of three to get out of here, and don’t let me see your faces here again!"

"Yes, sir." Both men nodded and took off running in the other direction.

"Cal, thank goodness you came in time…" Susan began.

"You see, Susan? You see now why I’m against you marching in this parade?" Cal turned to her.

Susan nodded. "But I still have to do it, Cal. I have to do it for not only other women, but for myself, as well."

"This is absurd." Cal rolled his eyes.

Susan turned to Jack and Rose and gasped. Jack had his arm around his wife, who was now in tears. Her face was still pale, and she was shivering.

"It’s okay, Rose. I’m here. I’m not going to let anything happen to ya," Jack soothed, stroking her hair. She just clung to him and cried. He looked up at Susan and Cal. "I’m going to get her home now. She needs to get some rest."

"What’s wrong with her?" Cal was immediately concerned. For as long as he’d known Rose, he’d never seen her like this…not even when he was at his worst.

"Something similar to this happened in Southampton. That’s how we met. Two men were trying to assault her, and I stopped them." Jack pulled Rose close to him. "Shh, Rose. It’s all right now. They’re gone. You’re safe."

"Let’s get her back." Susan sighed, already heading away from the general store, followed by the rest of her friends.

*****

That night, Rose laid cuddled in Jack’s arms. Neither of them were asleep. They were both absorbed in their own thoughts.

Rose couldn’t help but think back to Southampton. What would have happened to her if Jack hadn’t shown up? Where would she be right now? What would’ve happened this afternoon? History seemed to be repeating itself.

"Jack?" Rose finally turned to him. "I just wanted to tell you that this afternoon hasn’t changed my mind. I’m still going to march in that parade."

"What?"

"I’m still marching in that parade. I can’t let what happened this afternoon stop me. If I do, then that means they’ve won." Rose sighed.

"Rose…I wish you wouldn’t. I mean…I just don’t want you marching anymore." Jack bit his lip, knowing he was about to make his wife angry with him.

"Jack…"

"Rose, please…you’re not only my wife…you’re my entire life. If anything should happen to you…I’d die. I really would."

"But, Jack…this is something I really want to do. I mean, I understand your concern, but it’s groundless…"

"No, Rose, no. I don’t want you marching in that parade anymore, and that’s final. End of discussion."

"End of discussion? Jack, this isn’t your decision. It’s mine. I’m going to march in this parade whether you like it or not!" Rose sat up angrily.

"No, Rose, this is not just your decision. It’s our decision, and I don’t want you marching anymore. It’s too dangerous. That march isn’t worth our family…I’m sorry."

"You sound just like Cal did when we were engaged…and that’s why I left him!"

"So, is that what you’re going to do if I stand fast with my decision? Leave me? Is this cause worth more to you than our marriage?"

Rose was silent. She didn’t know what to say to that. All she knew was that she couldn’t let men like Sal and Ed back in Southampton win, and they would if she didn’t march in that parade. Why couldn’t Jack understand that?

"I’m not some little porcelain doll for you to lock away, Jack. I’m a human being, with my own mind and wants, and I want to march in this parade…and if you can’t understand that…then I’m sorry, but I’m going to march in this parade whether you like it or not."

"Well, I don’t like it, and I will not have you marching in that parade, just for some drunk men to take advantage of you!" Jack got up.

"I can take care of myself!" Rose got up, too, wanting to face him head on. "I’m marching in this parade!"

"No, you’re not, and that’s final!" Jack grabbed her arm roughly, causing her to gasp in pain. He instantly let go, realizing that he was hurting her. "Rose…"

Rose backed away from him, shaking her head, a hint of fear in her eyes. "You hurt my arm." She looked down, where there was already a bruise.

"Oh, God, Rose…I’m sorry…I didn’t mean…"

"You’re just like Cal…" Rose sobbed, grabbing her coat.

"Where are you going? It’s the middle of the night!"

"I’ll be back for Becky and my things." Rose headed for the stairs.

"Rose, wait! We can talk this over. I know we can. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

"No, Jack, no. Just leave me alone." Rose headed for the door.

Jack went after her when Fabrizio stepped in his path.

"What’s going on here?" Fabri asked, confused. He had never seen Jack and Rose like this before. They seemed so far apart now.

"I’m leaving Jack," Rose quietly replied. "I’ll be back for my things later…after the march."

"Rose, no! Fabri, stop her!" Jack demanded, trying to move past his friend. "Rose, we can work things out! We have a baby together, for goodness sake! We love each other! Don’t you remember that?"

"Good-bye, Jack." Rose looked at him one more time, tears in her eyes. She did love him still, more than anything. But he had acted in a way she had never seen him act before, and it scared her. She couldn’t be with him right now. She had to get away. Sighing, she slammed the door behind her as she left.

"Rose, no!" Jack yelled, once more trying to push past his friend, but Fabrizio was strong and stopped him from going any further.

"Let her go, Jack. She needs time to think," Fabri said. "She’ll be back."

Jack just shook his head, tears in his eyes. "I didn’t mean it, Fabri…" he sobbed, collapsing onto the floor.

Fabri didn’t know what to do or say to comfort his friend. So he just stood there, sympathy in his eyes. He knew this would happen when Jack and Rose had first gotten together. Somehow, she would break Jack’s heart, and Jack being Jack, being able to feel ten times the way other men did, would be devastated.

"It’ll be okay, Jack. She’ll be back." Fabri attempted to comfort his friend, staring at the door Rose had gone out of.

*****

Susan stretched and yawned as she got up to answer the door. She gasped when she opened it to Rose, tears staining her face. "Rose? What are you doing here?"

"I left Jack…" Rose burst into tears.

"What? Why? Here, come in and sit down. Tell me all about it." Susan led her into the house.

Rose followed her friend and sighed in relief as she sat down. "We had a fight about the march tomorrow…he grabbed me roughly and bruised my arm!" Rose sobbed, showing the bruise to Susan.

"Oh, my God. Jack did that?" Susan’s eyes widened. This wasn’t like Jack. What had gotten into him?

"He begged me not to leave, but I couldn’t stay. I never saw him like that before, and it scared me. I just had to get away from him."

"Oh, Rose." Susan embraced her sobbing friend.

"You were right, Susan. When we first met and you said I hardly knew Jack…you were right. I hardly know him."

"Oh, no, Rose. I was wrong. You do know Jack…you know him more than any one of us does. You know his heart. You know he’s a good person…he’s just…going through a rough time right now." Susan sighed. "In fact, I totally forgot what day today was."

"What? What do you mean?" Rose asked, confused.

"Five years ago today, Jack’s parents died in a forest fire. It really hit him hard when they died…no matter that he’s acting so strange."

"Oh, no! Jack!" Rose gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She was immediately on her feet and heading for the door.

"Rose, where are you going?" Susan stood up. "It’s pitch black out there!"

"Home to Jack! He needs me!" Rose mentally kicked herself. Jack had been selflessly there for her all this time, and the one time he needed her…she walked out on him. How selfish could she be? Her mother was right about her all along. She didn’t deserve Jack, or their daughter.

"Wait a minute, Rose. I’ll get Cal, and we’ll go with you. It’s not good walking down that path at night…especially alone." Susan headed for the stairs.

*****

Jack sat in the parlor in the dark, thinking about that night’s events. Why had he done that? Why had he grabbed Rose so roughly? He never wanted to hurt her…he had sworn to himself that he never would, but he had, and now she was gone. Another person he loved more than anything, gone out of his life.

"Jack?" Fabrizio came back down the stairs. "Are you going to bed anytime soon?"

"I’ll be up in a minute, Fabri." Jack shrugged.

"Okay." Fabri nodded and headed upstairs.

Jack watched his friend disappear up the stairs and then collapsed back against the couch, lost in his thoughts of Rose.

*****

Rose stood outside the door, poised to knock, but she couldn’t do it. What if he never wanted to see her again? What if he already had her things packed and ready to go back to Philadelphia? What would she do then? How would she be able to live without him?

"Rose, what are you waiting for? Go on in." Susan came up behind her. "He’s probably worried about you."

"He probably hates me." Rose sniffed. "Susan, how could I have been so selfish? The one time he needed me most, I ran away from him…after all he’s done for me."

"Rose…you’re not selfish at all. There’s no way you could’ve known. I mean, Jack hardly ever talks about his parents. There’s no way you could have known, when he never talked about it." Susan comforted her friend. "Now, go in there and make up. You two love each other. You should be together, especially tonight."

Rose nodded in agreement. "I’m going in right now."

"And I’ll go back to Cal. You tell Jack I said hi, and give him a big hug for me."

"I will." Rose smiled, hating to see her friend leave.

After Susan was gone, Rose turned back to the door and took a deep breath before entering to find Jack about to head upstairs.

"Rose?" Jack stopped in mid-stride.

"Jack…oh, Jack, I’m sorry…I…I didn’t mean…." Before she could finish, she was in his arms. He held her tightly, as if he let her go she’d disappear.

"No, Rose, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that. I never meant to hurt you…I’d never want to intentionally hurt you. I love you so much!" Jack sobbed, burying his face in her hair.

"I love you, Jack," Rose whispered, lightly kissing his cheek.

"I love you, too, Rose. Let’s not fight again."

"All right."

Fabrizio stood at the top of the stairs, a smile on his face. He knew Rose would come back. She wouldn’t be able to stay away from Jack that long, and he was right. Rose was back where she belonged, with Jack.

*****

An hour later, Rose and Jack laid in each other’s arms. Neither had spoken a word since Rose returned. They just laid in the afterglow of their lovemaking and enjoyed the comfortable silence. It was Rose who spoke first.

"Jack…Susan told me what today was…"

"Rose…"

"I just want to say I’m sorry. You needed me, and I let you down. You’ve been such a rock for me, and when it was my turn to be a rock for you…I turned and ran away. I know you must think I’m selfish. I’m surprised you even took me back."

"Don’t say that, Rose. You have been my rock for quite a while now. You know how hard it’s been for me to live in this house again? All my memories of my parents are here. At one time, I thought I’d never have the strength to step into this place again. But then you came into my life, and you gave me strength…just by being in the same room with me. All I had to do was look at you, and visions of the past were replaced by visions of our future together. You’re not selfish at all, Rose, and no matter what, I’ll always love you. Nothing you do can ever change that. You can leave me a thousand and one times, and I’ll still take you back."

"Oh, Jack." Rose sighed, kissing him tenderly. "I love you, too."

"Now, love, tell me what you’re going to wear to that march tomorrow." Jack smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Nothing. If you don’t want me to go, then I won’t. It’s that simple." Rose laid her head on his chest, so he couldn’t see her face full of disappointment in not marching.

"But I want you to, Rose."

"What?" Rose looked up at him.

"I know how much it means to you, and I was wrong to try to stop you just because I was afraid of something happening. Doing this march is something you want to do, and you should do it."

"But, Jack…"

"No buts, Rose. Remember what my parents said, make each day count? Well…that’s what I want you to do tomorrow. Make it count."

"Oh, Jack." Rose hugged him tightly. "How did I ever end up with the most wonderful husband in the world?"

"Just lucky, I guess." Jack laughed, hugging her back twice as hard. "Now, let’s get to sleep. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow."

Rose just cuddled closer to him and closed her eyes, slipping into a sweet dream about their future together.

*****

The next day was bright and sunny for the march. It all began at noon. Hundreds of women showed up and marched from one end of town to the other. Two hours later, everyone was gathered in the park, waiting for Mrs. Catt’s speech.

"Oh, Rose, this is so exciting." Susan grinned. "I think this is the most excitement Chippewa Falls has had in years."

Rose just smiled, caught up in her own world. All through the march, all she could think of was Jack. She knew he still wasn’t over the deaths of his parents. She wanted to stay home with him, but he had insisted that he was fine and to go on to the march.

"Stop worrying, Rose." Susan caught the worried expression on Rose’s face. "Jack’s fine. In fact, he’s probably at the factory right now, working."

"I know I’m being silly, Susan. It’s just that he’s not talking about it again, and that worries me." Rose sighed. "He’s so open with everything else…why can’t he be that way about his parents’ deaths? Why won’t he let me comfort him?"

"Because that’s Jack. He likes to keep that locked up away from others…no matter how painful it is. Don’t push him on it, Rose. Just let him be."

Rose nodded her agreement. She had no intention of forcing Jack to face up to his parents’ deaths.

"I just want him to be at peace, Susan. I just want him to be happy."

"He is happy, Rose. I’ve never seen him as happy as he is when you two are together."

Rose smiled at this. She hoped Susan was right.

"Ladies, may I have your attention, please!" Susan’s mother was at the podium now. "I’d like to introduce to you our guest speaker and the woman who has organized this event, Mrs. Catt!"

Applause thundered throughout the park, along with a couple of jeers from a few of the men who had gotten curious about the march and speech.

"Hello, ladies!" A woman appeared on the podium. "May I say I’m glad to be here in your lovely town on such a beautiful day! I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay here in Chippewa Falls. Now, I was planning on giving a long, drawn-out speech about why women deserve the right to vote, but instead I’ve decided that it’d be good for the men in attendance today to hear what their women think about the movement, and why they should have the right to vote. Don’t you think that’s a better idea than listening to a speech?"

A thunderous applause went up.

"Good. Now, who wants to go first?" She looked around the crowd and spotted a beautiful redhead who seemed to have a lot of spirit in her. Someone who had strong opinions. "What’s her name?" She leaned over to Susan’s mother.

"Rose Dawson. Not a native of Chippewa Falls. From Philadelphia society, actually. But she’s a sweet girl. Very opinionated."

"Good." Mrs. Catt pointed at Rose. "Hey, you over there in the yellow dress, talking to the blonde! Come up here and give us your opinion."

Rose’s eyes widened in surprise. Not in a million years had she thought she would be called up there.

"Go on, Rose. Just tell them your opinion." Susan urged her friend up to the stage.

"Mrs. Dawson, I do believe." Mrs. Catt nodded. "Tell the men in this town why you think you deserve to vote."

Rose turned to the crowd and immediately lost her voice. She had never really stood up before a crowd to speak before. She looked out among the crowd of glaring men and cheering women. She didn’t want to be up there. She wanted to be back home with Jack and Becky…away from all those eyes. Rose took a deep breath and looked down to where she was standing before to see Jack holding their daughter, his eyes full of love and encouragement, giving her the strength to speak.

"We deserve the right to vote because, unlike what some of you may think, we’re not little porcelain dolls. We’re human beings who have our own opinions and have a right to voice those opinions, just as much as you men do." Rose felt herself losing her nerve and looked at Jack again, who nodded his head in encouragement, urging her to go on.

"And it’s time that you men stopped living in the nineteenth century and joined us in the twentieth. And it’s time for us women to stand up and be heard," Rose finished. Loud applause thundered from the women in attendance.

"Thank you." Rose smiled, stepping off the stage and going to Susan and Jack.

"You were wonderful." Jack kissed her tenderly.

"Thanks to you. If you hadn’t shown up like this and lent me some of your strength, I would have lost my nerve." Rose smiled.

"That was a grand speech, Rose. You hit the nail on the head." Susan nodded her approval. "Jack, what are you doing here, anyway?"

"Oh, the factory let out early because everyone wanted to attend this speech. I knew you’d be here, so I went to pick up Becky and came on down. I thought I could take you out to lunch afterwards or something." Jack smiled.

"That’s a great idea. Do you want to join us, Susan?" Rose turned to her friend.

"I can’t. I told Cal I’d be home right after the speech." Susan sighed and caught the strange expression on Rose’s face. "Hey, I had to compromise somehow." She laughed.

"Mrs. Dawson!" Mrs. Catt stepped off the stage and ran up to Rose before she had a chance to leave with Jack. "Mrs. Dawson, wait. I just want to congratulate you on that wonderful speech. I couldn’t have said it better myself."

"Oh, thank you." Rose shyly smiled. "I was terrified, really. If it wasn’t for my husband showing up, I think I would have fainted." Rose smiled lovingly up at Jack.

"Well, thank goodness he came, or we would have missed out on such a wonderful opinion." Mrs. Catt smiled. "I better get back up on the podium. I just wanted to tell you what I thought of that speech. Good day, Mrs. Dawson."

"Wow, Rose. She came right up and talked to you." Susan watched Mrs. Catt climb back up to the podium.

"People are just drawn to my Rose." Jack kissed her forehead.

"Shall we go?" Rose asked Jack, wanting some alone time with her family for a while.

"Sure. We’ll see you later, Susan." Jack turned to his friend before leading Rose through the crowd.

Susan watched them leave with a happy expression on her face. Jack and Rose were the happiest couple she’d ever seen. They just completed each other. She was so happy that her best friend had found someone that he fitted together so well with. She hoped people saw her and Cal in that way as well. Jack and Rose gave her hope for the future.

Chapter Twenty-Three
Stories