Chapter 25: Admirers

~It is gentle manners which prove so irresistible in women.~ —Theophile Gautier

“So, this is the wild woman with a frying pan,” the sheriff said, approval clearly shining in his eyes.

Dannie felt the blood rushing to her face, and she coughed nervously.

“Sheriff Grant, why do you keep referring to her as that?” Sophie asked.

The sheriff laughed. “Because it’s what both Jake and Wild Tom were callin’ her. They said she’s a gentle woman for the most part, but give her a frying pan, and she is a force to be reckoned with. By the way, I’m Jeremiah Grant, Sheriff of Hopewing.”

He held out his hand, and Dannie took it.

“Danielle Preston. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“If you ever need any help, Miss Preston, my office is right there. Don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’ll be seein’ you in church then.” He gave her another smile, tipped his hat, and walked off. “Wild woman with a frying pan,” he muttered with an impressed smile.

Dannie groaned and buried her face in her hands. “In Collingham, I was always known as a proper and gentle girl. But five days out West, and I’ve earned a most improper reputation.”

Annie and Sophie both giggled loudly at her words.

“I think it’s a right good reputation to have out here,” Annie replied.

“Yes, you’ve got to be tough,” Sophie agreed. “A woman will never make it out here if she’s gentle and quiet. Folks will walk all over you.”

“That was quite a show!” a new male voice now said.

The three girls turned around. Another young man had approached. His clothing was of good quality, but covered in dust. He wore a black hat that matched the black leather his boots were made of. He wasn’t very tall, but he was well-built and had a commanding presence about him. There was a bit of a shade over his chin and cheeks, but his bright blue eyes shone with good humor.

“Hopewing’s new teacher surely knows how to make first impressions.”

“And you are?” Dannie asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Dannie, this is Drew Foster. He’s the owner of the Paradise Ranch,” Annie said.

Paradise? Dannie fought very hard to keep a straight face. She thought of the sandy, parched terrain she had just crossed with Jake. And someone actually had the courage to call a ranch in a climate like this ~paradise~? Apparently, she and Mr. Foster had very different ideas of what paradise was supposed to be.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Foster,” Dannie said with a gracious smile, wisely keeping her thoughts to herself. “Is your ranch far out?”

“Quite far,” he replied. “I’m not often in town, just came over with my foreman to get some supplies—and witnessed quite a show.”

Poor Dannie felt the heat rushing to her face again. “Yes, well, what can I do? I’ve got to establish some authority right from the start or that child will be spitting all over me every school day.”

He chuckled at her words. “I am impressed, Miss Preston, that a city woman such as yerself has the courage to come out here.”

“Oh, I’m not a city girl,” Dannie hurried to correct him. “I suppose you could call me a true country bumpkin. I spent my entire life in a village, with only a few trips to Leeds and Oxford. I haven’t even been to London. Though of course,” here she let out a sigh, “villages in England are so different from towns in the American West.”

“Then I still stand by my opinion, Miss Preston, that you are a woman of true courage.”

It was at this point that Sophie rolled her eyes, obviously not able to take any more sugar-coated talk. “Yes, well, thank you for the compliment, Mr. Foster, but we’ve got things to do and places to go.”

She grabbed Dannie by the shoulders and began pushing her forward.

“I guess I’ll be seein’ you in church,” Mr. Foster called after her.

Annie giggled at these words. “It’s amazing, Dannie, how quickly you can turn men back to religion.”

“Religion has nothing to do with it,” Sophie retorted. “Like I said, everyone is starvin’ for a wife. You keep your wits about you, Dannie. Paradise is way, way, way out there. It’s even farther than the Cora Belle! I don’t like how all these men swarm around you! And it’s only yer third day in Hopewing. I wish I could trust Annie with you, but she’s just turned fifteen and hardly knows how to deal with all the men herself.”

Annie frowned at Sophie, but the girl didn’t notice and kept right on talking.

“Once you are settled with the school, you will be coming to spend the weekends at the Circle 4! At least I’ll be able to keep an eye on you there and make sure you are safe from hungry eyes.”

“How far is the Circle 4?”

“Not far at all. You can get there in under an hour. Oh look, here comes another. Just see how his eyes popped out at the sight of you!”

Sophie nodded toward Mack, who was approaching them. His eyes had indeed lit up at the sight of Dannie, and a bright smile came to his face.

“Well, howdy there, Miss Preston!” he said as he whipped off his hat and gave her a bow.

“Mr. Rellware, how are you?” Dannie once again rewarded his good manners with a smile.

Sophie looked from Mack to Dannie. “The two of you know each other?”

“I met him when just arriving in Hopewing.”

“And I had no idea you were related to Mr. Martin!” Mack’s head shook in disbelief.

“Mack works on our ranch,” Sophie explained. “He’s the son of our foreman. Mack, hurry along on yer business.”

Mack let out a little sigh, but put on a smile. “We won’t be leavin’ till Monday,” he said to Dannie. “I’ll see you in church then, Miss Preston.”

Dannie gave him a nod, and they kept walking. But they had hardly gone two steps when the door to the bank opened, and out of it stepped another young man. He was dressed in finer clothes than anyone else Dannie had seen in the town. His style reminded her of what men wore back in New York.

He paused at the sight of the three girls.

“So, this is the young lady who dragged Scotty Jenkins by his ear and threatened to convert him to Anglican?”

Fire blazed in Sophie’s blue eyes. She put on her most menacing expression and glanced over at him. “Cal Jennson, we have no time to bother with any more introductions. We’ve had too many for one day. So you can just excuse us and be on yer way.”

“Am I not allowed…?”

“You ain’t! Goodbye. Let’s go, Dannie, before any more of these parasites catch up with us.” She grabbed Dannie’s hand and dragged her off.

Annie had to giggle again. “You can see Miss Preston in church, Mr. Jennson,” she called as she ran to catch up with the other two. Sophie reached over and pinched her at these words.

“Don’t go givin’ them ideas. Dannie has no time for suitors.”

“I’m the reverend’s daughter. It’s my duty to invite people to come to the church,” Annie replied with a naughty smile as she rubbed the sore spot on her arm.

“Sophie! Don’t go pinching,” Dannie rebuked. “It’s not ladylike! There is no need for such concern. I am a woman with brains of my own, and I know how to act accordingly. I won’t fall head over heels just because some young men in Hopewing smile at me and call me a wild woman with a frying pan.”