Lee could feel his breath freeze and his hair standing as Hester hurried to hop behind his foot and hide and stooping, he captured the woman's reaching hand with a firm right and straightened up to shake her hand with a good smile on his face. Did she actually think she could touch his Hester?!
His heart was still beating like mad behind its cage as he said, "Sure is a mighty cute feller. And I'd be happy to introduce myself to anyone who says that. Scoresby's the name, Ma'am. Lee Scoresby."