Well, 'cordin' to Gabe she said 'twas a comfort to know there was a place in this town where an unprotected female could go and not be insulted." Captain Sam's laugh could have been heard across the road.
"Ho, ho!" he roared.

"An unprotected female, eh?
'Cordin' to my notion it's the male that needs protection when Melissa's around.
I've seen Lute Small standin' in the teller's cage, tongue-tied and with the sweat standin' on his forehead, while Melissa gave him her candid opinion of anybody that would vote to allow alcohol to be sold by doctors in this town.

And 'twas ten minutes of twelve Saturday mornin', too, and there was eight men waitin' their turn in line, and nary one of them or Lute either had the spunk to ask Melissa to hurry.

Ho, ho! 'unprotected female' is good!" He had his laugh out and then added: "But there's no doubt that Charlie's goin' to be popular with the women.

Why, even Maud seems to take a shine to him.