"Learning to be a lady would merelycompliment you. As you are the most beautiful woman I've everknown."
Now flattery.
"It's much too soon to be saying such thingsof me, sir." She said and was whirled quickly away by another oldman.
"Is that your fiancé," the old manasked.
"No, it's just someone who asked me todance." Kate smiled at him.
"Oh that's not just someone, that's FrankCampbell. I sure wouldn't want to rile him. But he don't look toopleased me dancing with you."
"That doesn't matter. I am very pleased todance with you."
The old man smiled and continued to whirlher about. She was almost dizzy.
Afterward she stopped off for punch and tonibble on the food. Annie came up to her. "Looks like you've beendancing with most of the men around here."
"Yes, and I think I prefer it that way."Kate chuckled.
"So, what do you think of Frank Campbell?"Annie glanced at her.
"Quite the jackasss, I'd say."
Annie nearly spewed her punch but giggled."Oh Kate, you are something else. I love you girl. You saw throughhim right away. Good for you."
"My husband taught me to recognize asnake."
As the evening drew late, Kate went to lookoutside, and Wes was there waiting for her.
"Sure you're ready to leave?" He asked,seeing her cheeks blooming with color as he helped her up to thewagon seat.
"Very." She said angrily.
"Woe, something go wrong?" He asked as hehelped her up.
"Let's just get out of here." She toldhim.
She waited until they were out of earshotand shook her head.
"So how'd you get along with FrankCampbell?"
"He's an arrogant jackass!" she declaredboldly.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Mr. Campbell, of course."
"You got all that at one dance?"
Wes nearly cracked up. So she got her firsttaste of society men. In a way he was glad, and in a way, he feltbad, as she needed a man so badly.
"You gonna tell me what happened?"
"Not right now, no! I'm simply tooangry."
"What did you do all evening?" sheasked.
"Still messing with that pup. He's a gooddog." Wes told her. "But funny thing, Moby came and watched everymove."
"He's jealous. Well, my goodness. I'm glad.Are you going to keep him?"
"Hadn't thought about it, but yeah,maybe."
"Well good, he'll be a great companion foryou on the road, won't he?"
The way she said that had him staring at heronce more.
"Yeah, I guess so!" Wes couldn't figure her."But she was in no mood for small talk tonight.
"I need to talk to my dog!" she criedaloud.
"Your dog, Moby? You talk to him?"
"Of course I do. He knows me so well."
"Don't you think you're being just a bitjudgmental about this character?" Wes asked. "I mean, give him sometime. Maybe you misjudged him. First impressions can be a bitwrong."
"You weren't there, you didn’t hear what hesaid."
"What did he say that upset you?"
"He wants to turn me into a lady! He wantsto teach me to be a lady." After a moment she turned to him andasked. "Do I need more education? Am I that inept?"
Wes studied on that for a moment. "I thoughtthat was what you are! A lady, that is."
"So did I, but apparently not. I don't holdmy teacup correctly, nor my napkin in the right place. And Icertainly don't know how to dance." She almost screamed. "And hedidn't stop with me, he insulted you, Dickens and Jim of allpeople."
"Well, that's interesting. How did I comeout?"
"According to him none of you came outwell."
"So he wants to groom you to be his wife,huh?"
"His wife? He doesn't want a wife. He wantsa trained seal."
"A trained what?"
"Seal, a sea creature that they keep incaptivity to train to amuse people."
"Woe!"
"I can assure you. But I'm not interested inbeing a lady. Or his wife! At least not his lady. I don't have timeto be taught. And it isn't me."
"Want me to go beat him up for you?" Wesasked with a chuckle.
She glanced at him and broke out in a laugh."No, not yet. Maybe!"
"You got another date with him?"
"No, I don't think I’m interested in him inthat way."
"Honey, look, you need a husband, or anotherhired hand that can handle all the work." He informed her. "Andgetting mad at them won't catch a husband.'
She stopped the wagon, and stared, "I'm nothusband hunting. And don't call me honey."
"Sorry, that just kinda slipped out… " Heapologized.
"Well, you aren't courting me, so you don'thave that privilege."
Wes frowned now, not understanding how onenight could change her, but it obviously had.
"I'll find another hired hand when youleave, Wes. I don't need a husband telling me how to act, to think,to walk, to dance, or even to talk."
"Yes ma'am." He snapped.
"Now let's get home." She told him.
Putting the wagon back on the road they raninto the Smith boys.
"Well, lookie here. Been to the dance Mrs.Marley?" Hubert asked. Hubert was the youngest and had the biggestmouth.
It was obvious they'd gotten liquored up andKate was in no mood for this either.
"Thought he wasn't your man," He pointed toWes.
"He's not. He's my hired hand. Now would youplease get out of the way so I can get home?" she threw her handson her hips and glared at him as she stood up.
"Well, I don't know, what do you think boys.Maybe we should sample some of Mrs. Marley too?" Hubert poppedoff.
Without thinking, Kate grabbed the whip andcaught Hubert in the face.
Hubert grabbed his cheek, "Why you… "
He started to get down and show her a thingor two, but Wes pulled his gun. "Gentlemen, Mrs. Marley is in nomood for you right now. It might be best if you go on home rightnow."
Hubert looked at the gun. Edward stared atthe gun, he was older and not quite as drunk. "Oh yeah, well, maybeyou are right. We didn't mean no harm. But she shouldn't ought tohave hit Hubert that way."
As they moved their wagon Edward whisperedto Hubert, "Did you see how fast he pulled that gun?"
"I saw, I could beat him…" Hubert began."She had no call to pull that whip on me… and I…"
"Shut up Hubert." Edward said and hurriedhis wagon back to their place.
Wes stared at Kate. "Did you
