“Not so much as before,” Teddy pointed down the street in the opposite direction. “The sheriff lives right there, and Spencer keeps a tight rein on things. Dan’s had to bail several hands out of the hoosgow. Mayor Dan finally laid down the law and told the fellas that if they got arrested for disorderly conduct, they would not have a job.”
“Did it work?”
“For the most part, yes,” Teddy smiled. “You’ll always have those saddle tramps that waste every dime in a saloon, though.”
“And you?” Amanda met Teddy’s dark eyes boldly.
“No ma’am. I’ve been with Cap’n, I mean Mayor Dan, for a long while. I’d not like to disappoint him.”
Taking the man’s proffered arm, Amanda glanced over at him as he studied the street. His face, in profile, was serious, and a dark light flickered in his eyes.
“Thank you for the walk,” Amanda offered as they arrived at the front of the boarding house. “Perhaps,” she dropped her eyes, studying the dusty boards beneath her soft white boots. “Perhaps we can do this again.”
Teddy bent over the young woman’s hand. “I’d like that very much.” He looked up, capturing her eyes. “I hope this means you can forgive me for being an idiot before.”
Amanda grinned at the bright blush on the young man’s face. “I’ll think about it. Just keep that old man away from me.”
Teddy chuckled. He had already noticed that the buckboard was gone and deducted that Cookie had headed for the store for supplies.
“That I can do.”
***
“What just happened?” Olive asked, looking between Peri and Jacks, as Mercy continued to hum. “I thought that girl didn’t want anything to do with Teddy Lewis.”
“Looks like the boy beats the alternative,” Jacks laughed. “Cookie put a scare in that girl worse than Teddy ever could.”
Mercy, smacked Jacks on the wrist gently, giving him that crooked grin.
“Mama, are you tired? Would you like to go home? Jacks can take you home, and Bear can collect me here when he’s done if you’re ready to go.”
Mercy Perkins nodded slowly, her bright eyes twinkling. “Home,” she said. “T’ank for da tea,” she added as she reached for Olive’s hand.
“You know you’re welcome any time, Mercy.” Olive rose still wondering about Cookie’s quick departure through the back door, and Amanda’s seeming, change of heart.
“Miss Mercy,” Jacks pulled Mrs. Perkin’s chair back, letting her grasp his arm as she rose. “Miss Peri, I’ll see you later. Olive,” he finished placing his hat on his head and tugging at it.
“It’s a good thing Jacks has the time to ferry mother about,” Peri said. “I’m glad she isn’t stuck at home all the time. I mean, I know she has Prim and the house is always busy, but it’s important to have people around that are closer to your age.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Olive agreed. “You’re mother is looking well. How is Prim?”
She seems fine. “I think expecting agrees with her.”
“Your sister was our first bride here in Needful. Things sure have come a long way since then.”
“I thought Daliah was the first bride.”
“No, she and Spencer were the first wed once we arrived. Primrose came to us as a bride.”
Peri giggled, thinking back to when her sister had agreed to come to Needful after reading an ad in a newspaper back home in Tennessee.
“Our lives certainly have changed since that day we cleaned out the cabin and moved in with Aunt Betsy,” Peri agreed. “I wonder what Pa would say about us now.” As much as Peri didn’t approve of the life her father had led, she still missed the old moonshiner. His death had been what necessitated Prim’s answering the advertisement.
Olive and Peri chatted a while longer, surprised when Amanda returned with a smile on her lips.
“Everything all right?” Olive asked the young woman.
“I’m feeling much better now,” Amanda said, taking the seat Peri offered. “Mr. Lewis took me to the general store, and the fresh air seems to have done wonders for me.”
“How ‘bout a fresh pot of tea?” Olive leaned over the table with a grin.
“In this heat, I wish it were shaved ice.” Amanda stripped off her gloves, folding them in her lap. “Tea will be fine,” she finally added. “You’ve been most hospitable.”
Olive grinned. “You do have nice manners,” the older woman said. “We’ll find you a nice man with a good place where you’ll be looked after.”
Amanda looked between Peri and Olive questioning who they might find in Needful who met those requirements, even as a set of serious dark eyes flashed before her. Perhaps Teddy Lewis had been rash in his behavior earlier, but he had been a complete gentleman today.
The cowboy’s quick rescue of her from the derelict old man, foremost in his chivalrous behavior, had gained him points in her eyes.
“Who are all these men?” she asked delicately, peering at the men eating their lunches, who were staring at her with bold gazes.
“Just men,” Olive said. “We have ranchers, cowboys, miners, and traders galore about these parts. Most are curious about any young woman who arrives. Many have even placed a request for a good woman of their own.”
Amanda squirmed under the scrutiny of the men in the dining room. It was disconcerting being stared at in such a way.
“We’ve all been through it,” Peri assured. “These men are hard-working and lonely. That’s why Olive named the town Needful.”
“I didn’t mean anyone to hear that, but Orville, Periwinkle, and you know it.”
Peri laughed, a soft, cheery titter in the staid room. “So I hear, but that don’t mean it didn’t stick.”
“How did you name the town?” Amanda sat up, peering at Olive inquisitively. “Do tell.”
“Well, it was our first big town meeting when Mayor Dan was elected. You could look around the town and see that ninety percent of the population was all men. Diggers, ropers, riders, and the such. The town had land, resources, a few fair buildings,
