“Your attitude is exactly why you were a spinster for so long. Men don‟t want women who oppose what they say or

want.”

“Tell me, do you agree with everything Jim does or do you just go along with it to please him?”

“I find the easiest way to get what I want is to make him happy. Marriage is hard work and the woman does a lot of

sacrificing, but if she does what he wants, he is happy. And when he‟s happy, things are better for everyone. How do you think I

got the necklace? He gives me nice things when I do what he wants.”

To Claire, this sounded like a dog being rewarded for performing a trick. “I‟m not going to follow your path. I‟m sorry,

Beatrice. I don‟t agree with you. I‟m going to make sure Austin understands that I‟m not going to just lie down and let him walk

all over me.”

“Jim doesn‟t walk all over me. I enjoy being married to him.”

“He does dictate who you can see and how often. I don‟t know why I‟m such a threat to him.”

“He‟s afraid you‟ll put ideas in my head.”

Claire set the cookie down and crossed her arms. “Really?

What kind of ideas would I put in your head?”

She looked embarrassed. “Nothing. Let‟s just forget I said anything.”

“I don‟t want to forget this, Belinda. Why do I threaten him?”

She sighed. “Because you have such strong opinions. He figures when you marry, Austin will tame you.”

“Is that what Austin said?”

“No. It‟s just the way things are in marriage. Men lead and the women follow.”

“I don‟t agree with that. The Bible makes it clear that men and women are equal before God. The husband is the head of the

family, but since he loves his wife, he will certainly value her opinion and want to do things that are pleasing for her. It is a

love relationship where both sides serve each other.”

“Jim says the Bible says the wife is to submit to her husband.”

“Did he also mention how the husband and wife are to submit to each other? Or how the husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it? Would Jim put your interests ahead of his own?”

“I can see why Jim feels the way he does. Claire, you are a dear friend, but your words are upsetting to me. Jim sets the tone

for this house and I follow along.”

“He bosses you around.”

“I take it that is how you see it.”

“You‟re right, Beatrice. This conversation is upsetting.

Jim may get away with this but Austin won‟t. I refuse to let him run my life. I will maintain my identity. I won‟t give up who I am.

God made me the way He did for a reason.”

“If you‟re not careful, he won‟t want to keep you after the six months are up.”

She cringed. “I‟m not a pet. I‟m a person.”

“I‟m just saying that if you want to keep your husband happy, you have to bend to what he wants.”

“Even if it displeases me?”

“That‟s what submission is all about.”

“So my opinions don‟t matter.”

“What could be more important than bringing a smile to his face?”

“Being who I really am. I would rather be single and be who I am than live such a miserable existence.”

Beatrice sighed sympathetically. “My poor, sweet Claire.

You are going to be alone once June arrives. Six months isn‟t a long time.”“I hope you don‟t mind if I go back home. I find this

conversation very distressing.” She stood up and buttoned her coat.

“I am sorry. Please, don‟t take offense to what I said. I won‟t mention it again.”

She suddenly realized she was doing the same thing that Jim probably did to her. “No, Beatrice. You were just voicing your opinion. I should allow you that right. I‟m the one who‟s sorry. Can we agree to disagree?”

She smiled. “I would like that very much.”

“Thank you.” She sat back on the couch so they could continue their conversation.

**********

On Monday, Claire arrived at the bank around ten. As soon as Jackson saw her, he stomped up to her and ordered her to

leave.

“I don‟t appreciate you coming by here after all those vicious rumors you spread about me,” he hissed at her.

She placed her hands on her hips and smiled in satisfaction. “You mean people actually care about what I think?

How flattering.”

He scowled at her. “You‟re a thorn in my side and I‟ll do everything I can to bring you down.”

She laughed. “I‟m just a simple librarian. Good luck on finding a deep dark secret looming in my closet.”

“Get out of my bank.”

“What are you doing with my fiancé?” Austin barked at him as he walked up to her. He put his arm around her shoulders. “Is

he being mean to you?”

She found Jake‟s protective stance unexpectedly pleasing.

“You can‟t be serious.” Jackson rolled his eyes. “Since when did you want to be with her?”.

“Ever since she showed up at the dance on Friday night. You would be surprised with how good her dancing is,” he answered.

“Now, if you‟ll excuse us, we have some things to discuss in my office. Come along, honey, and don‟t let Jackson disturb you. His bark is worse than his bite.”

She mutely allowed him to gently lead her into his office.

He shut the door so that Jackson couldn‟t overhear what they would discuss.

“Will you have a seat?” he offered.

She struggled to overcome her shock as she sat in the chair.

He sat in his chair and pulled out the document from his desk drawer. He glanced at her when she didn‟t say anything.

“Are you feeling alright?”

She nodded.

“When have you ever been at a loss for words?” He grinned. “Don‟t mind Jackson. You shouldn‟t let him get your feathers all ruffled.”

“He‟s not what he appears. You think he‟s harmless but he‟s not. There‟s venom in his bite.”

He waved his hand as if to dismiss the observation. “I can handle him. Besides, once I finalize my purchase on the empty

building across from the dress shop, I will own my own bank and he won‟t be my problem anymore.”

Her ears perked up at this announcement. “You‟re opening another bank? That‟s wonderful! It‟ll give people an

option.”

“I didn‟t expect you to be so pleased.” He smiled, obviously enjoying her enthusiasm.

“Of course I am. Most of the people in this city will be.

Very few people like jackson moore. They are fond of his father but they worry about what will happen when Jackson takes over.”

“Matthew will retire after New Year‟s. Then Jackson will take over. With any luck, I‟ll have opened the bank by then. I have to hand it to you. You‟ve already attracted Mr. Peterson to my bank, and he‟s one the most prestigious clients at this bank.”

“Mrs. Peterson and I talk about twice a month about the books we should order and maintain at the library. She loves

literature as much as I do.”

“Mr. Tobias and Mr. Elan also approached me this morning about their desire to stop business at this bank.

Their wives are good friends with Mrs. Peterson and are just as upset

about what Jackson and Matthew did to your family as she is. You may not realize it but your opinion pulls a lot of weight in this

town. I never considered the power of women interacting together and influencing their husbands‟ decisions. I‟ll have to

take you dancing with me as long as we‟re married. You‟re good for business.”

She frowned. Was he going to make her attend luncheons and dinner parties too? She had to put a stop to this as soon as

possible. “I have no intention of quitting my job at the library. I work daytime hours and do not wish to leave home after a long

day at work.”

He shrugged. “That is fine, as long as you go dancing with me on Fridays.”

“You do understand what I am saying, right?”

“I‟m not a moron. I get it. You‟ll keep your job and confine yourself to our house in the evenings, except for Fridays.”

She slowly nodded. “Just as long as you understand. I‟m not going to do things just because you tell me to.”

His face turned red with irritation. “Did I give you the impression that I was going to boss you around?”

“Well, no. Not yet.”

“Look, it‟s not women who get bossed around in a marriage. Women are the ones who boss their husbands around.

Before men get married, they can enjoy their hobbies, but a woman comes along and decides what he can and cannot do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much love

V.A💙