Read Online A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad - Free Book Online Page B

ladylike gait. He’d see her waddle, and her humiliation would double. But riding down the toboggan run with him?
    “Carter, I’m not sure.”
    His eyes darkened. “Is it because of earlier?”
    “Aw, ease up on her, Stockton.” Ducky stepped forward. “It’s not her fault if she doesn’t want to be around a cad like you. Walking into ladies’ bathhouses and all.” Comfortable teasing laced his voice. “She can take my toboggan, and I’ll ride down with you.” He flopped the toboggan down on the deck and held out his hand. “Will that work, Miss Graham?”
    “Yes, thank you very much.” She took his hand and gingerly seated herself. Picking up the reins on the toboggan, she turned to nod to Ducky to release her. Instead, she found Carter. Her eyes widened.
    “Hold on.” The smile had crept back into his voice. “You’re about to go on the ride of your life.”
    The sled lunged forward and her stomach lodged in her throat—not from the ride as much as the unspoken promise Carter’s words seemed to hold.

    “Do I look all right?” Emily pressed a shaky hand to her stomach. From inside the pavilion, she could see folks gathering at the foot of the stairs. Apparently, word had gotten around about today’s speech. She swallowed hard. “I think the butterflies in my stomach have butterflies.”
    “You look fine.” Lilly straightened the patriotic red and white satin banner that lay diagonally across Emily’s chest with Votes for Women sewn on in bright blue letters. “And you’ll do great. I think this is the biggest crowd we’ve had so far.”
    “That’s not helping.” Emily filled her lungs with lake-scented air. “I guess it’s time. Wish me luck.”
    “You don’t need luck, but I’ll pray for you.” Lilly nudged her in the direction of the steps.
    Emily stepped out of the pavilion and scanned the crowd. Although it contained mostly women, a few men stood with their arms firmly crossed over their chests. This wasn’t going to be easy, but she hadn’t expected it to be.
    She lifted her voice. “Ladies and gentleman, or should I say sisters and brothers, hear me. There are wrongs in this country we have in our power to right, and change is within our grasp. It is up to us to reach out and grab hold of the opportunity.”
    “Go home to your babies!” A burly man in his fifties pushed to the front. “A woman’s place is in the home.”
    Emily stiffened. Should she respond to him, tell him she had no children, or continue with her plans? Deciding it best to ignore the comments, she pressed on. “Allow me to tell you why this fight is of the utmost importance.
    “A woman in Davenport who had been repeatedly beaten by her husband, fearing for her life, chose to separate from him. He now has her children, and she has no right to see them.
    “A woman in Tabor killed a man in the presence of her husband. She cannot be tried for what she’s done, but her husband can.
    “A woman, a sister, in Des Moines inherited her parents’ farm, and her husband drank it away. He died from his consumption of alcohol and left her penniless.”
    “That’s his God-given right!” the heckler shouted. “She belongs to him.”
    Nerves and anger tangled inside her. How dare the man? If he kept this up, he’d ruin her speech. She’d never dealt with a heckler before.
    Then she spotted Carter shouldering his way through the crowd. He stepped directly behind the heckler. “Let her talk,” he said loudly. “I want to hear what the lady has to say.”
    Emily blinked. What was he doing here? He didn’t believe in suffrage. She swallowed hard and willed her voice to come out strong. “You all know of someone who is similar to one of these women. Perhaps you are one of these women.”
    She let her gaze rest on the woman standing beside the heckler. He lunged toward the stairs. Instinctively, Emily moved away.
    Carter clamped a broad hand on the man’s shoulder and yanked him back.
    Emily’s gaze locked