I would never recommend a pistol for a woman that isn't well experienced with firearms in general first. Not for most men these days either. Peoples mechanical abilities have gone down hill in the last several years. Just think of it, people have cars that talk to them, cell phones, body heat sensors on their toilets and use automated car washes. I swear most people I know these days don't even know how to check the oil under their hood.
With that in mind if you feel comfortable giving your wife a pistol that has at very minimum a safety lever, probably a grip safety of some sort, a trigger safety, a decocking lever and maybe even a slide stop lever then just teach her well and make sure she fires it often to get used to it.
I personally carry almost 24 hours a day a custom 1911 model that I built myself but it's what I've carried for more than 20 years. I used them in the military, as a cop and now to guard my farm and my gun business which is on my farm from unwanted criminals and predators. I've had to pull it before but thankfully, aside from military duties never had to use it.
I'm not intimidated by all the safety features and switches and things on it and really neither is my wife but I know her well enough to know that if someone broke in and that was all she had she would end up throwing it at him instead of firing it. She's too weak to pull the slide back without really putting some muscle into it and even though I have an extended slide stop and thumb safety she still fumbles with them. With an automatic of any kind you should be able to field strip it, put it back together and fire it blindfolded in any conditions. If you can't then you need to carry a revolver.
Safety is the biggest concern with any firearm and ignorance and inability to proficiently use one gets more people killed than anything. Revolvers are just point and shoot weapons. There isn't really any thinking involved. No levers to fumble with and nothing really to go wrong. A pump shotgun is great too. It's pretty much a no brainer aside from the safety button.
Whatever you get just make sure she practices and keeps it safe from kids and whoever else may find it.
I live in about the same situation here, Long driveway more than half a mile down a dirt road from the highway and no neighbors to speak of. Plus I have my gun shop here. People have tried to outsmart me and got stupid trying to break in but the pistol I carry is only one of our many security measures in place here. Nobody will ever get through all of them. Think of other things you can do also to secure your property. I won't talk in public of all the things I have done but I'd be happy to in private if you want to call or email me sometime.
Here is a pic of what I carry every day: (not the rifle)
Take a look at my
photogallery page and you'll see why I am so security conscious here. Most of what I work on is military or police weapons. Criminals don't need to be getting their hands on them.
