“Wake up,” Jane hissed. She jammed her elbow into her friend’s side. “You start snoring and we’re done for.”

“I’m up,” Marjorie mumbled. “It’s just the dark is easier on my eyes than that dress. What was that woman thinking?”

“She’s thinking she looks like a proper lady should.”

Marjorie’s eyes opened at that and she flashed her teeth at Jane, “Well she looks like a circus clown. What’s she going on about now?”

“About the evils of recreational drugs, hippies and their protests. I’m pretty sure she mentioned Woodstock in there. Of course, pants are evil and heaven forbid we wear short skirts.” At that Jane tugged at her own tiny slip of a dress. It wasn’t modesty, she had none. It was anger. “Now get back to helping me instead of dozing there.”

“Does she know we went?” Marjorie sat up and grabbed a few bibles and her stamp, stamping them dutifully, if a bit slow. “And how did we get stuck with this boring job? I mean really, stamping the new bibles with our church’s name?”

“Well neither of us sew, and we don’t bake. This is really all that’s left for girls wishing to do something for their church. Besides, do you really want to be in the middle of that quilt circle?” Jane stamped the next book with a bit too much force. The judging eyes of Mabel Greene turned their direction.

In unison both women gave her their most saccharine of smiles. Marjorie dropped hers the second Mabel looked away. “I’m all for helping people, that’s why I signed up for this Auxiliary thing. We’ve done no community outreach, and been judged every week because we live free.”

“You’d think with the flood victims we’d be doing something other than stamping brand new bibles.” Jane frowned down at the book in her hands. “The money used to buy these could have gone to buy clothes for the children.”

“Does that woman ever shut up?”

“I wish she subscribed to the same rule as her husband. A good sermon should be like a woman’s skirt; short enough to rouse the interest, but long enough to cover the essentials. Like mine.” While short and still in style, Jane always kept her skirts a little longer than most.

“Just wear pants and you never have to worry.” Margie slammed down her bible on the table, the humor of her statement lost in the rise of her anger. Speaking of sermons, it was clear she was about to blow with one of her own.

“Is there a problem, ladies?” Mabel looked over at them, “Are you tired from all of your free living and merry making?”

“No. We’re tired of you and your hypocritical ways, Mabel Greene. Does your husband know you diverted the funds to buy these bibles instead of buying food and clothing for the flood victims over in the next town?”

Jane rose to her feet next to her friend. There wasn’t a lick of embarrassment. Not at all, after all, Marjorie was right. “There are children without clothes or food and you’re worried about the length of my skirt?”

“Not just the length of your skirt. It’s your loose ways, Jane.”

“Loose? I am far from loose, Mabel. Then again you don’t care do you? You’re the one that spreads the rumors that claim I sleep with half the town’s police force just because I am friends with them.”

Marjorie laced her arm through Jane’s. She alone knew the truth of Jane’s feelings for one man alone. “We don’t need them, Jane. This isn’t the only church in town. And who says we need a church to do good deeds?”

Truth was she liked the preacher at the church. Before Marjorie had gotten to town he was one of the few that supported her and believed in her amnesia. Marjorie had a point, though. They didn’t need the Auxiliary to do good deeds. “You know what, Marjorie? You’re right. Let’s go.”

“I bet Cole will contribute something,” Marjorie said as they walked out the door. “Man hasn’t stepped foot in a church in years, but he’s not about to let people suffer in favor of fresh clean bibles.”

Jane laughed, “Well he’d let people suffer – but not innocent lives and definitely not in favor of bibles.”

Speak of the devil himself, Cole was standing outside leaning on his motorcycle. His cockeyed grin gave away his excitement to see them get out early. “Hey, Janey.”

She let him tug her close and returned his kiss without restraint. “Hey.”

“Didn’t expect the two of you for another hour.”

“Well we told Mabel Greene to shove her bibles up her ass.” Marjorie grinned, “And it felt real good.”

“Wish I could have seen that. You should have told me, we could have sold tickets for a show like that.” Cole’s hand slipped along the line of Jane’s skirt. The man would tease her until the day she died. Not that she minded as long as he followed through. “What set you off?”

“They bought brand new bibles. The old ones were holding up fine, but she used the Auxiliary money to buy new bibles instead of helping the victims over in the next town. After the flood those people have nothing.”

Cole’s eyebrow quirked up and his lip quirked up, “That mean you two are planning on doing something?”

“You bet we are. And you’re going to help.” Jane leaned against him. He wasn’t the only one that could tease. She moved in for a kiss but stopped just shy of touching her lips to his, “Right?”

“What’s in it for me?”

“Me.”

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

*~*~*~*~*

***I took characters from my (currently being queried) novel, Changing Tracks – and moved them forward in time 100 years. From the 1870’s to 1969.

****Image Source****