Helen......welcome!! Farmyard varmints and a .22LR would be an EXCELLENT combo toward making you a proficient handgunner'ette!
Do you like single shot firearms or a repeater?? If you like single shots, the T/C Contender would be right up your alley. If you like repeaters, then a revolver like a Ruger Single Six would be perfect.
pter1020k's input was dead on.
Personally...I'm a single shot kinda fella.....