Chapter 154

While riding in the car with Sheriff, Patricia inquired about his relationship with Cassandra, and his response left her astounded. Here was a man, strong both in mind and body, yet he had spent his life hesitating to approach one woman, fearing rejection. He could confront danger head-on, facing threats from the barrel of a gun without flinching, but the prospect of rejection by a single woman was too daunting for him to risk. He needed to be persuaded before he'd agree to visit her house. Patricia found it remarkable. Throughout her life, men had pursued her relentlessly, always asserting their strength and persistence. She observed her female friends being swept up by dominant male personalities, and even those with intellect often seemed subservient to their husbands in public. Was there something unique about the West that empowered strong men to appreciate stronger women? Perhaps she would conduct a study on it. She recalled a college professor suggesting that the West wa