Chapter 3: A Sassy Englishwoman

~The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.~—Samuel Johnson

Abner kicked him under the table and frowned. “Jake, Miz Preston needs to get to Hopewing. She’s to be the new school teacher, and Reverend Simmens said yer to bring her with you.”

Jake raised his head in surprise. “Me?” Now that his head was up, he allowed himself to give the woman a quick glance.

She was dressed in a black traveling suit, making her look pale, and her hair was gathered up in a tight bun, making her look thin. Her nose was very long, and her dark brown eyes radiated superiority.

“Yes, you,” said Abner. “Hopewing is right on the way to the Cora Belle, so you won’t have to go out of yer way.”

Now, it was Jake’s turn to frown. “No can do. She can take the mail coach.”

“You know the mail won’t be heading that way for another four or five days.”

“Then she can stay here and wait for it.”

“She don’t got the money for that.”

“Then she can work for her room and board. I’m sure yer Aunt Maggie can give her jobs in the kitchen or whatever.”

“Is there some particular reason you are being so obstinate about helping me?” Miss Preston asked, catching his gaze with her disapproving eyes. “Or are you just being rude for the fun of it? Your friend here swore on the grave of his mother that you were the finest man in all of Arizona.”

Her voice was soft, but her accent caught him off guard. Whoever this woman was, she was not from these parts.

That was enough for Jake to make up his mind that, no matter what she said or Abner did, he would not take her. “I appreciate the compliment. I just don’t take the likes of you on long, dangerous journeys into the wild.”

She raised an eyebrow. “The likes of me? What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t take women with me, no matter where I’m going.”

“I hope you have a good reason for such a rule.”

“You ladies have no common sense about you.”

His sentence must have struck a personal chord. She rose from her seat so abruptly, the chair clattered to the floor. “I have no common sense about me?”

“We’ll get out there, and you’ll start whinin’ and fussin’ about how everything is to your discomfort, and in the end, you’ll beg me to bring you back so you can get on the train to wherever you came from.”

Jake poked at his stew, then gave the woman a level stare. She was still standing there with her arms crossed, her chest heaving.

“How about you spare everyone the trouble,” he went on through a mouthful, “and stick around Clearbrook long enough to earn the money to pay for yer ticket back East? The West is no place for the likes of you.”

She was not used to being spoken to in such a manner; Jake could tell as much from the look in her eyes.

“Mister, I did not uproot myself from my home country, endure a terrible sea journey, cross an entire country, come out into the middle of nowhere, endure a mortifying disappointment, and get my hopes up—only to be turned down by a man whose manners are as terrible as his grammar. I made it this far, and I’ll get to my destination. Is it really so hard for you to help me out a little?”

“She’s right, Jake,” Abner agreed. “You’d help me if I were in such a predicament.”

“You are a different story. This is some stray dame I just met.”

This sentence caused Miss Preston to roll her eyes and leave the room. She headed upstairs and disappeared from view on the second floor.

“Why do ya have to create a scene?” Abner hissed at him. “Look, I know you don’t like women, but maybe show a little compassion? I would take her myself if I wasn’t going to Santa Fe. She needs assistance.”

“I don’t understand why you are so determined to help her. Who is she to you? You’ve only just met her.”

“I know what it is like to be alone in the world. I was orphaned at the age of fourteen, and I would have ended up very badly if my Aunt Maggie and her husband hadn’t taken me in and made me the man I am today. This here is my chance to return the favor.”

“By burdenin’ me with an unknown Englishwoman? That’s a great way to return a favor!”

Fire burned in Abner’s eyes, but before he could explode, Miss Preston came down the stairs carrying her suitcase.

“Thank you ever so much, Mr. Shaw,” she said to Abner, “for all the trouble you took to help me. It is not often someone is willing to assist a stranger in need. I hope your journey to Santa Fe will be pleasant—and allow me to offer you early congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.”

“So you decided to take the train back East then?” Jake asked her.

“I told you, I don’t have the money for that,” she snapped at him, “but now that I have work waiting for me in Hopewing, there is no reason to linger in Clearbrook. However, since I cannot afford any mode of transportation, I am left with only one option. I’ll just have to get there on foot.”

“You want to WALK?” Jake and Abner burst out in disbelief.

Jake had to chuckle. Ah, these fine ladies. He had been right in his assumption that they were the silliest creatures in the world.

“Look, lady, I don’t know what it’s like in England, but down here you can’t just go walking out into the wilderness. This is wild and dangerous territory. You’ll be dead before yer three miles out of town.”

Her reply was clear and crisp. “I will leave that between you and your conscience, Mr. Jake. After all, it was in your power to help me, but you refused.”

Jake blinked at the woman in disbelief. She was blind to his shock and turned to Mr. Callaway, who was watching the events from his place at the front desk.

“Thank you for everything, Mr. Callaway, only I fear I cannot carry my trunks with me. Might I leave them with you until I can afford to have the mail coach take them? I will pay you for the trouble.”

“I…er…”

She took his stuttering as a form of consent, smiled her thanks, and headed over to the exit.

“Jake…” Abner glared at him. Jake looked around. Mr. Callaway was staring at him with wide eyes. Mrs. Callaway stood by the doorway that led to the kitchen. Her eyes also peered at him from behind her round spectacles.

All at once, Jake realized he was about to turn into Clearbrook’s greatest villain.

By this afternoon, the entire town would be gossiping about the arrogant cowboy who didn’t want to help the poor young lady. The story would travel with the cattle teams, find its way to the wagon trains, and fly along the entire railroad line.

Jake could not afford to have his name being tossed about all over the Territory like that. He needed to get out of the spotlight as quickly as possible.

Groaning at what he would now have to do, he took a deep breath and called out, “Missy, hold on there.”

She ignored him and opened the front door.

“Jesus Christ, woman!” Jake rose to his feet.

Miss Preston whirled around, fire burning in her eyes. “Never, ever take the name of the Lord in vain in my presence!” she snapped. “Or, I promise you, I will wash out that blasphemous mouth of yours with soap.”

“Yer gonna do WHAT?”

How dared she treat him as though he were a child? He knew for a fact he would regret this decision for the rest of this life, but there was no other way out of the predicament.

Miss Preston, in the meantime, had turned to the door again. Fuming, Jake marched over and blocked the doorway.

“Damnation! Miss Preston, hold yer damn horses! I’ll take you to Hopewing!”