Chances (38 page)
Authors: Pamela Nowak
Daniel grinned and lifted his eyebrows, then kissed her, full on the mouth. “You are radiant, Sarah.” He pulled back and stood silently, a teasing smile on his rugged face.
Molly tugged at his arm, thrust her chin forward, and tipped her head toward Sarah.
Kate laughed softly and shook her head.
Sarah’s hands opened in a gesture of expectation. Those three couldn’t keep a secret if their lives depended on it. “What?”
Daniel steered her up the street and onto the boardwalk, making her wait. “I wrote a letter to the editor,” he finally said.
“All by yourself?” She grinned, teasing him.
He shook his head in mock exasperation. “Figured it was time to get folks talking. Those same kids are here, day in and day out, doing nothing.”
Sarah paused, her hands moving to her hips before she could stop them. “Haven’t I been saying the same thing?”
“Every day, if I remember right.” He strode on.
She followed with quick steps, enjoying the game. She glanced at Kate and Molly and raised one eyebrow. “
He
wrote a letter?”
Molly nodded. “It was his idea and everything. But we helped.”
“I see.”
“That’s not exactly true, Molly,” Kate added. “It was Papa’s idea to write the letter but it was about our idea.”
“Our idea? The club?”
Kate nodded.
“I proposed our good citizens organize associations for our young people.” Daniel stopped and faced her.
“You didn’t?”
He tipped his head and lifted his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “You’ve been excited about the idea ever since Kate and Molly brought it up. How does the Denver Girls’ Association sound? I suggested a boys’ club, too.”
“It sounds well considered and refined.”
“I can get the letter back.”
“And ruin your moment of spontaneity?”
He shrugged, a sheepish grin filling his face. “Kate gave me the notes she took.”
Sarah’s laughter bubbled out. She should have known. “So did you write your own letter or just copy our notes?”
“A little of both, a balance of passion and restraint.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Kate prompted.
Sarah smiled at Kate’s concern. “No, honey. I think it’s a wonderful idea. I never really thought about sharing it with anyone beyond your circle of friends but why not? I’m sure there are plenty of girls who would join.”
“We told Papa that it’s important the girls get to do lots of different things, not just needlework and cooking. Girls gotta learn about bein’ leaders, too.”
“And forming their own opinions.”
“Daniel?”
He nodded and grinned again. “And vote.”
Sarah stopped and stared at him. “I’m going to have to read this letter.”
“Only after we get our chocolate,” Molly said. She grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her across the street, toward Joslin’s.
Sarah leaned her head on Daniel’s shoulder. “I hope you added something about nurturing. Sometimes, that gets missed.”
“I suggested someone to lead the effort, too.”
“I’m happy being at home with the girls. They’re teaching me so much about life and how empty mine really was. I don’t need to create and lead another group.”
“You don’t need it, but maybe it needs you, the new you.”
“And you wouldn’t mind?”
“I’ll be embarrassed as the dickens every other day, I’m sure. But, no, I don’t mind.”
She shook her head and slid her hand into his, comfortable in their give and take. “Jim heard from Frank Bates today. He’s out of jail, wants his job back.” Daniel squeezed her hand, offering silent support. “Think he’ll get it?”
“Jim said he’ll never telegraph again. Word got around fast. I still shudder to think of what might have happened to me if I hadn’t had such a distinctive keystroke. It still surprises me how rapidly the other operators realized it wasn’t me sending those suggestive messages.”
“Character and style, that’s my girl.”
“Frank told Jim that Lavinia is still in the sanitarium.” Losing her position in the suffrage movement was apparently more than she could handle. The woman had nothing else in her life.
He stopped, catching her gaze, no longer teasing. “But you don’t miss it?”
“I wish we’d gained the right to vote, but leadership?” She shrugged. “No, I don’t miss it. Too empty.”
He touched her face and offered a satisfied smile. “Funny how we needed each other to realize how narrow our priorities were, huh?”
She nodded. “And amazing how full life truly is.”
“That it is.” His hand drifted to her abdomen, a brief caress. The baby shifted, tumbling under Daniel’s touch, filling Sarah with contentment while Daniel’s hand lingered there, completely oblivious to what anyone else would think about it.
Author's Note
Many of the events in Sarah and Daniel's story were inspired by history. There really were female telegraphers, many of whom faced problems similar to Sarah's. The women of Colorado did campaign for a state suffrage referendum in January 1877. William Byers rose to prominence as editor of the
Rocky Mountain News
and his wife Elizabeth was known for her leadership in a multiple social endeavors. Mattie Silks did indeed run a fashionable house of prostitution on Holladay Street. Hop Alley, Joslin's, the City Ditch, the Kansas Pacific Railroad Depot, and many other places mentioned existed, as did James Archer and Marshal McClellin. If I have made errors in my representation of these people, events, and places, the mistakes are unintentional and entirely my own.
Acknowledgments
So many people helped me make this journey, and I cannot begin to thank them for their support. From that first encouragement to write through those rough years of learning that writing is a skill that must be developed, their support and guidance have been treasured greatly.
I owe so much to my husband Tim and daughter Katrina. Tim has put up with me all these years as I spent hours with my fictional characters instead of with him, ever encouraging my dream and loving me. Katrina has been unfailing and vocal in her faith that I would someday have my novel published and her love and support have meant more than she will ever know. Without either of them, I would not have been able to do this.
Deepest thanks to my parents, Dick and Vauna, for fostering a home in which imagination, confidence, and my love of history could flourish; to my sister Judy for encouraging me from the very first moment, and her husband Dave for enthusiastically sharing all his books on Denver; and to my brother Mike for his support. And, of course, thanks to my dear friend Terry for always cheering me on; it has meant the world to me.
I am eternally grateful to all those who helped me refine my writing skills. Many thanks to my early critiquers, Dawna and Tim, for seeing potential amid the roughness of my craft and for encouraging me to continue. I am forever in debt to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers for all I have learned through their organization. My RMFW, Cheyenne Area Writers Group, and especially my Celestial Sisters, critique partners who all taught me so much and inspired me to keep on learning, are close in my heart: Sharon, Janet, Sue, Robin, Liz, Kay, Peggy, Alice, Teresa, Jennie, Tina, Heidi, Anita, Deb, Leslee, Margaret, Vicki, Mary, Mike, Heather, Jeana ... thank you all.
Finally, I owe my appreciation to Thomas Jepsen, whose research of female telegraphers and publication of Ma Kiley's story sparked the idea for this book.
Author Bio
Original 2008 version:
Pamela Nowak has loved both history and romance for as long as she can remember. She graduated from South Dakota State University with a BA in history and has taught classes at both the high school and college level as well as adult basic education and GED classes at a state penitentiary. She served as a historic preservation specialist for the Quechan Indian Tribe at the Fort Yuma National Landmark. Currently, she serves as director of a homeless shelter. Her interests include reading, historic research, directing community theatre, and visiting historic sites. She lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with her husband and daughter. She invites you to write to her at
www.pamelanowak.com
.
Updated 2013 version:
Pamela Nowak’s debut novel,
Chances
, was awarded the HOLT Medallion for Best First Book, was a WILLA Finalist, and was named one of the “Top Ten Romance Novels of 2008” by
Booklist
. Her second novel,
Choices
, received a HOLT Finalist Award. Pam has been in love with history and rich characters for most of her life. She has a B.A. in history, has taught history to prison inmates, served as project manager for the Fort Yuma National Historic Site, and ran a homeless shelter. She was named the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’
Writer of the Year
in 2010. Pam and her partner, Ken, live in Denver. Their blended family includes six daughters, multiple grandchildren, two dogs, and a cat. Please visit/contact her at
www.pamelanowak.com
.
Table of Contents