[Smokin' Joe]

At the age of 16-18 she was a woman, not a mere girl in those days.

It is only in the last 100 years we have begun to perceive someone between 15 and 21 as a 'child'. That perception is largely the result of cultural changes since the industrial revolution. Before then young men of 14 were clearing their own farmland.

[West Texas Chuck]

And young Jack Daniel was driving a team and delivering barrels of whisky at I think age 13. I read that somewhere.

[Little Bill]

At the age of 16-18 she was a woman, not a mere girl in those days.

I think that the String Skirt meant that she was available and breed able, see second link, if terms and conditions were met, see Tactus, Germanica.