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ladies lacked a clear goal.”
    Elizabeth popped out of her chair, her face animated. “Well, we have some very active suffragists in Colorado. You know Mrs. McCook. Her husband, Edward, was the territorial governor. And then there’s Eliza Thompson, her sister-in-law. Together, they lead the state suffrage movement.”
    Excitement leaped through Sarah. With the strong organization Elizabeth was describing, her efforts could truly make a difference. She would be able to do something important, be someone that mattered. She rose to join Elizabeth.
    “What can I do?”
    “Since we won’t know about the referendum until January, things will be quiet these next few months. We’re asking that everyone find other ways to make an impact. We’re hopeful you’ll speak on your position as telegrapher, a clear message to convey how capable women truly are.”
    Remembering how much more difficult Bates had made her goal, Sarah sighed. “I’m afraid I haven’t felt very capable these past couple of days.”
    Elizabeth reached for Sarah’s brandy snifter. “Bill mentioned you had a bit of a problem with Daniel Petterman.” She moved across the room.
    Sarah cringed. “You weren’t kidding when you said there were no secrets, were you?”
    “Heavens, no. I get to hear all the latest gossip first, even when I’m the object of it.”
    Sarah caught her easy smile but knew it belied a great deal of pain. Like everyone else in Denver, she’d heard all about last spring’s incident with Hattie Sancomb. According to the rumors, Bill Byers had broken off an affair with Hattie only to have her appear on the street, firing at him with a revolver. Elizabeth herself had rescued her errant husband, but the scandal had cost him the Republican nomination for governor.
    “It must be very difficult.”
    “There are difficulties in everything, my dear. Benefits and drawbacks fill every aspect of life. Here’s your brandy, drink up.” She grinned. “Being in the public eye isn’t always easy, but it does have some positive associations. Where else would I be able to pursue so many different causes?”
    “You’re involved with more than suffrage?”
    “Heavens, yes. I’ve been head of the Ladies Relief Society for years. We work to raise money for the underprivileged. I’m involved with several cultural organizations, and I firmly believe this city needs to be doing something about the problems caused by our rapid growth. Worthy endeavors abound.”
    “I guess I’ve been too focused on my career and suffrage.”
    “Oh, Denver has a host of problems, my dear, plenty for you to become involved with until the suffrage campaign begins in earnest. In addition to all those pompous men we have to deal with and our lack of rights, we have poor sanitation, runaway crime, abandoned children, destitute families, streets of vice, and gangs of hoodlums who shoot children’s dogs.”
    Sarah’s eyes widened. She’d seen the dog shootings first hand, but she hadn’t realized there were so many other causes. “Are there efforts to correct all these problems?”
    Elizabeth shook her head and sipped from her brandy. “Plenty of discussion, limited effort. What we need are more people willing to step forward and take leadership. I say, let’s get women involved. Show the men we can make a difference, that it’s about so much more than voting rights.” She nodded at Sarah. “What about you? You’ve encountered at least one of the problems yourself. How do you feel about pushing our citizens to action?”
    A small thrill crept through Sarah. Elizabeth Byers thought she had leadership potential. “What did you have in mind?” she asked, curious to hear more.
    “I propose you could take on the dog issue. You watched those little girls lose their dog, after all. And you’ve met Daniel Petterman.”
    Sarah grinned at Elizabeth’s tone. “I take it Daniel is one of the ‘pompous men’ you’re referring to?”
    “If anything is to be