Free Heaven Scent by SpursFanatic Page B

here. Why I think he finds pleasure
in harassing us.”
    “Good day, Mr. Pensworthy,” Tarin said,
with a bright smile.
    The elderly gentleman leaned heavily on
his cane. “Good day, ladies.”
    “How are you this fine day?” Tarin
asked politely, though she knew what came.
    Pensworthy pointed his cane at the
petitions on the table. “Could be better if women remembered their
place.”
    Tarin gritted her teeth. Kitty turned
away.
    “Remembered their place?” Tarin feigned
confusion. The man was no different than most others in Boston. He
was just more vocal about it.
    “Yes, this nonsense about man-midwifery
has gotten this city in an uproar,” he said, waving his arm. “A man
delivered me and my father before me. It’s the way things are
done.”
    Tarin had heard the words numerous
times before, but they were no less frustrating than the
first.
    “You do not feel it is inappropriate
for a man to be intimately involved with a woman in that
capacity?”
    Frowning, Pensworthy leaned on the
table to stare down at her. “Little lady, there is nothing intimate
about child birth. It’s an ugly business.”
    Tarin bit the inside of her cheek. “A
business that women must go through alone,” she responded calmly.
“Don’t you think it would make the difficult process more
comfortable for the mother to have a woman beside her?”
    The man straightened to shuffle his
feet. He hesitated before saying, “Everyone knows women do not have
the strength and stamina to perform the duties of a
physician.”
    “If strength is the issue, old man, it
sounds to me like you’re the one taking the beating.”
    With a collective gasp, the three of
them turned to find Rafe and Isabel standing behind Mr. Pensworthy.
Though his grin was smug, Rafe’s eyes were black, fierce. He stood
with arms crossed over his chest, his legs apart. A deep breath
filled Tarin’s lungs before she exhaled, as though a great weight
had been lifted from her. She could not contain her
smile.
    “ Look here, young man,”
Pensworthy said, as he glanced at Isabel, “I was a father long
before you were even born.”
    “Congratulations to you, sir,” he
replied. “And what did you have – a daughter? A son?”
    The question obviously caught
Pensworthy off guard. “A-a daughter.”
    “And I assume you would not abide a man
speaking to her in the same manner you’re speaking to these ladies.
Am I right?” Rafe looked down on the man with a patient
frown.
    The hackles on Pensworthy’s back were
up again. “This country is free, and our fifth amendment allows
freedom of speech.”
    Rafe nodded. “And our Declaration of
Independence allows these ladies, as citizens, to pursue their own
happiness. Now, they may disagree with me, but I don’t believe that
having a man of your station bellowing at them is a means toward
that happiness.”
    Pensworthy did not respond. He simply
stared at Rafe with a thunderstruck frown. Tarin could not believe
her eyes. Pensworthy was actually speechless.
    “Obviously, you are a man well informed
of current events,” Rafe said with a smile, as he clapped him on
the back. He turned Mr. Pensworthy towards the street. “What is
your view on the acquisition of Texas?” The gentlemen walked a few
feet away and continued their conversation.
    “Did you see that?” Kitty asked in a
fierce whisper.
    “I was sitting right here,” Tarin
replied, her eyes glued to the conversation going on a few feet
away.
    “Yes, my son is rather defensive of
women that are badgered by men.” Isabel stood before them, smiling.
Tarin’s heart flipped in her chest. Rafe had actually defended
their cause. Had actually fought a demon that had haunted them
since the inception of their crusade. It took all of her will not
to run and throw her arms around his neck.
    “That was most kind of him,” Tarin told
Isabel. “Mr. Pensworthy visits us often to state his
view.”
    “Yes, men are rather narrow-minded when
it comes to change, aren’t