The widow was 'hell bent to make it on her own', her hands of leather is just making a point of all the hard work she has had to do with being on her own and all she has gone through, All she needs is the touch of a lover again to turn her back into a woman who is soft and gentle. And she doesn't have to be old, because it doesn't take long after losing someone (in whatever way) to feel lonely and need the touch of someone even if only for a night.
The widow was 'hell bent to make it on her own', her hands of leather is just making a point of all the hard work she has had to do with being on her own and all she has gone through, All she needs is the touch of a lover again to turn her back into a woman who is soft and gentle. And she doesn't have to be old, because it doesn't take long after losing someone (in whatever way) to feel lonely and need the touch of someone even if only for a night.