The pastor had such conviction and spoke with such authority, that Amanda was entirely unprepared for the final words of the message and hesitated a moment before rising to sing a last song.
“It certainly is a lively church,” she observed as she and Theo left the church, stopping to chat with friends along the way.
“Here’s your basket,” Olive said, walking up to Teddy and handing him a large basket before handing over an old quilt to Amanda. “You’d best find yourself a nice place to eat and get settled before the good ones are all gone.” She turned, gazing out across the open grass and few shady spots around the church. “It seems a bunch of other folks had the same idea as we did.”
Amanda laughed, watching as Olive hurried back to Orville, waving the family toward a tall old tree.
“Where would you like to sit?” Teddy asked. “There’s a spot there by the woods if that suits you.”
“That looks lovely,” Amanda smiled.
They had only gone a few yards when a rough voice accosted them.
“Now isn’t that sweet,” Mr. Alder stepped out of the shade of the church building. “Why Teddy, I do think you’ve got yourself the prettiest girl in town.” The older man’s eyes raked Amanda with approval, but she ignored him. She had ignored rude men in her life, and this small man would not upset her.
“Now, darlin’ if you get tired of trying to live rough with this cowpoke, you know you can always come to me. I’ve got a nice place above the saloon and enough money to buy you all the fancy dresses you want. Why I don’t even care if you’ve been taken by young Teddy here, I like women with a few miles on them.”
Teddy’s fist connected with Alder’s nose in a sickening crunch before Amanda had time to let loose with a scathing remark.
“Why you oaf, you hit me,” the bartender grumbled. “I was just havin’ some fun.”
Teddy pulled back his fist again, but a steel grip wound around his wrist, arresting his momentum.
“Amanda, you’d best come with me,” A woman’s voice whispered in her ear as she gaped in horror at her husband’s bloody fist and the saloon owner's gushing nose.
“Theodore,” Pastor Barton spoke, his voice a sharp bark as he held to Teddy’s arm. “I’d like a word with you.”
Amanda watched as several men came to attend to the saloon owner while her husband was pulled away by the preacher.
“Why did he do that?” She asked, turning toward Beth, who now held both quilt and basket in her hands. “The man wasn’t worth it.”
“Come sit down and we’ll talk,” Beth said. “I’ve already started on your first dress,” she added, hoping to distract Amanda from the unpleasantness of a moment ago.
Amanda followed the preacher’s wife to a spot near the trees that she and Theodore had been headed to. Soon she was sitting on the blanket sipping cold tea and wondering when Teddy would return.
***
“I’m afraid that was not a very wise thing for Teddy to do,” Beth said. “I know he feels like he isn’t good enough for you, but he’ll get over that in time.”
“He isn’t good enough for me?” Amanda turned wide eyes on the pastor’s wife.
“Of course,” Beth smoothed her skirts then met Amanda’s eyes. “Teddy is a simple man. He’s carrying a lot of weight and leftover hurt from the war, and now, he’s married himself a real lady. I’m sure he feels like he’s the luckiest and most undeserving man in town.”
“But why? I’m useless as a wife. I can’t cook or clean. I had to stop helping Rosa with the dishes because my hands were so raw.” Amanda lifted her gloved hands in supplication.
Beth settled her hands over Amanda’s. “Those things you can learn,” she said. “But Teddy knows he’ll never be a gentleman. He’s just a cowboy who married a lady.”
Amanda shook her head. “He shouldn’t have hit that man. I know the creature was being odious, but he wasn’t worth our time.”
“Teddy was defending your honor.”
“My honor doesn’t need defending,” Amanda sighed. “I’ve had all sorts of insults tossed at me over the years in the city. Some men are simply rude. The best thing to do is to ignore them.”
Beth smiled. “We know that, but men sometimes don’t see it that way.” The young woman leaned in closer to Amanda and grinned. “To be honest, I think Mr. Alder deserved it. He’s been trying to filch on his agreement with Brandon. The man thinks that because he takes money from poor, hard-working miners, farmers, and cowhands, he’s a big deal. Maybe this will bring him down a peg.”
Amanda gaped at Beth then broke out with a laugh. It had been silly of Teddy to do what he did, but it was also sweet in a misguided sort of way.
***
“Now preacher,” Teddy started as they walked into the church. “Don’t start lecturing me on turning the other cheek and the like. Alder shouldn’t have said such a thing to my wife.”
“No, I don’t suppose he should have, but do you think he deserved a punch in the nose?”
Teddy scuffed his foot on the plank floor, just inside the church door. “It seemed like the thing to do at the time.”
Brandon chuckled. “I’m sure you aren’t the first man to think that. I believe Alder is looking for attention is all. Things are quieting down here in Needful, and folks don’t look so kindly on his presence as they used to.”
“He still has plenty of business, though.”
“That’s true, but don’t let him get under your skin. He isn’t worth it.”
“That’s what Amanda said as well.”
“She’s a smart woman.”
“And too good for me,” the words leapt from Teddy’s mouth so fast he couldn’t recall them.
“So
