A Lady's Choice by Sandra Robbins Page A

do you know about any of the people who are working to give women the right they should have had years ago? Are you so narrow-minded that you think women aren’t intelligent enough to make the right choice in electing our leaders?”
    â€œNo, I’m not. I’m just saying that you should respect my wish to succeed in my job and help me do it.”
    She crossed her arms and stared at him a moment. “Where did you get the idea you couldn’t make partner if you had friends in the suffrage movement? Was it from James Buckley?”
    His face turned crimson, and he held out his hand. “Sarah, please try to understand….”
    She could see the truth in his eyes, and it broke her heart. “It was Mr. Buckley, wasn’t it? When did he tell you this? Was it when he helped you with my executor problem?”
    He hung his head and nodded. “Yes. He recognized your mother’s name as one of the leaders in the Memphis suffrage movement, and he asked me if I had a relationship with you. He told me he couldn’t have associates in his office who support such radical ideas. Then he said he was sure you were a sensible girl who wouldn’t want to hurt my career.”
    Tears stung her eyes, and her chin trembled. “Why didn’t you tell me this when you got back?”
    â€œBecause I thought it was something we could face in the future. You have enough to worry about now with your mother’s illness. Please understand my position on this, Sarah. I want to rise to the top of my profession so I can afford to take care of Ellen and repay her for all she’s done for me. Don’t you want that for me?”
    She nodded. “I want you to have whatever will make you happy, Alex. Just remember that Ellen may need more than money, though. She might like to have a voice in who represents her in the government.”
    â€œI know. She kind of hinted at that after you and I had our first argument about suffrage. So do you understand why I’m asking you to do this?”
    â€œYes, I understand. I want you to tell Mr. Buckley when you see him that I appreciate his help in getting my money back and that he’s right about me not doing anything to hurt your career. I would never do anything to harm you, Alex.”
    He sighed with relief. “I knew you would see it my way.”
    She arched her eyebrows. “But I don’t. I can’t turn my back on a cause that I believe in so wholeheartedly. I will continue to support enfranchisement for women until my last breath.” She hesitated before she spoke the words that she knew would break her heart. “Our relationship is never going to work, Alex. We have to end it now while we still can. You go to Memphis and play Mr. Buckley’s game to get you to the top, and make a lot of money on the way. But I won’t be there with you.”
    He took a step toward her. “You can’t mean that. I know I haven’t said it, but I love you, Sarah.”
    She shook her head. “It’s no use, Alex. There’s no future for us. I don’t want to see you again.”
    He reached for her, but she flinched. Her heart pricked at the hurt expression in his eyes. “You’re sure about this?”
    â€œPositive. Now please leave and don’t come back here again.”
    He let out a ragged breath before he pushed past her and bounded down the steps. She didn’t turn around, but she heard his horse gallop out of the yard. Then she walked back in the house and leaned over the bed to check her mother.
    â€œMama, can you hear me?”
    There was no response except labored breathing. So far she’d been unable to get any food down her mother today and that concerned her. Maybe she could get her to take some of the soup she’d made earlier. She went into the kitchen and returned with a warm bowl of broth, sat down, and attempted to feed it to her mother. Nothing she did could coax her to