The year is 1890. Arranged marriages are a common occurrence. Lady Sydney Hathwell resides in England. She has just arrived in the United States to meet the man that her now deceased father expected her to marry. The story opens with Rexall Hume and Lady Hathwell in Hume’s office.
A full year of no contact—then he’d telegraphed for her to come. She’d been more than a little surprised, but she understood she was obliged to allow him to court her. Sydney struggled to find anything more to write than the particulars regarding her arrival. She’d never seen his picture, heard his voice, or even read a single word written by his hand—yet she’d come to fulfill her obligation. Now that she’d traversed a wide ocean and been beneath his roof, he’d made no attempt to woo her. None whatsoever. How could he possibly think they’d pledge their hearts and lives to each other tomorrow?
The story that follows is absolutely delightful. Sydney sends her aunt back home to take care of preparing other bride to be for their upcoming weddings. She demonstrates an independent streak somewhat uncommon among women of the 1890s. After deciding she couldn’t possibly marry this man, she embarks on the adventure of a life time.
Fortunately, Sydney has an Uncle living in the United States. As any decent girl would do, she notified him of her predicament and was told to go to his ranch even though he wasn’t home at the time. He also told her the ranch was for men. The only woman that lived there was their cook. Somehow, he had assumed the name Sydney, was a man’s name.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Sydney does the only thing she can think of – she dresses in men’s clothing and passes herself off as a man. Tim, your uncle’s ranch manager, nicknames her “Fancy Pants” when he first glimpses her. She is dressed totally wrong for a man on a ranch in the US. Since she (he) is assigned to his care until the Uncle arrives home, he and the other ranch hands set out to turn her into a good ranch hand – doing all the duties they must attend to each day.
Tim and the ranch hands get many days of delight as they watch her “muck out” the cattle stalls by removing manure. The also enjoy watching her remove stones from a plot of land to be turned into a garden without using the tools of the trade—a wheelbarrow. For some reason, they let her learn everything on her own with only limited instruction.
Finally, after some time, her sex is revealed. Tim is appalled that she was treated the way they did! He’s obviously concerned about what his boss will think because he was expecting a man, not a young under-aged girl. Tim’s attitude towards her changes somewhat dramatically and he has to deal with his own feelings.
One of the best features of this book is watching how people doing their everyday jobs manage to teach Sydney about true Christianity instead of what she had experienced in England. Other than telling you that she becomes a Christian, I’m leaving the rest of the story until you read this book!
Recommendation
Hake is a wonderful historical novel author. She skillfully weaves a story about realistic people while also weaving in Christian beliefs and life styles. I believe females aged teens to adult will enjoy this novel.
Cathy Marie Hake. Fancy Pants. Bethany House. 2007.
