Chapter 1

Sissy

November 1871

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Sissy Spenser pulled her coat around her, shielding her from the November cold of Cheyenne, Wyoming as she walked with her father toward the only bank in town. Even though it was November, they hadn't gotten snowed in yet.

Things she could make for her father for Christmas rushed through her mind, excitement filling her veins. Christmas was her favorite time of year. This year, she vowed to make it as special as she could for her father.

"Father, would you mind if I go over to the General Store to look over the fabric while you're in the bank?" Sissy was the daughter of the only preacher in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Although they had everything they needed, she was used to living without extravagance, but fine fabrics were always hard for her to resist. Also, she wanted an excuse to get something for her father. Christmas would soon be upon them, and she didn't get much time away from her father to shop.

Robert Spenser smiled proudly at his only child.

A pang of guilt rushed through her yet again. Her mother had died during childbirth, leaving Sissy in the sole care of her father. Although every single woman in town had tried over the years, they had all been unsuccessful in landing the handsome, caring preacher.

When Sissy asked why he had never married again, he had simply said that her mother was the only woman for him… and he aimed to keep it that way.

Even though her mother's death hadn't been her fault, guilt had plagued her at the realization that her birth had inevitably caused her mother's death—as unreasonable as it may seem.

Sissy had dreamed of having a marriage just like her parents one day, someone she could love and who would love her in return. But if her future husband was out there, she hadn't met him yet.

Now of marriageable age, Sissy had had a few suitors over the years, but she had turned them all down, not having the heart to leave her father alone. Instead, she spent her time sewing and looking after him. That was all she needed from life.

"Fine, Sissy." Her father gently patted her arm, tucked into his. "Just have Clara put whatever you want on my tab, and I'll be in to pay it Monday morning."

Excited, Sissy kissed his cheek. "No need, Father. I've saved enough money from the sewing I've been taking in lately to pay for it." Snowflakes fell lightly from the heavens, swirling around them.

Robert smiled, brushing a snowflake away from her cheek. "Save your money, darlin'. It's a father's job to provide for his daughter, not the other way around."

But Sissy hated the thought of her father spending his hard-earned money on her so frivolously. The salary of a small-town preacher was minimal, at best. They were lucky that the church had provided a parsonage for them to live in as part of his pay.

Over the years, they had grown their own vegetables to offset the cost and sold what they didn't need. They had a cow for milking, and Sissy made extra money selling the extra milk, eggs, and the occasional chicken. Working together, they always found a way too make ends meet.

Suddenly, five gunmen wearing bandanas over their mouths stormed into town and were headed straight for the bank, their horses' hooves sounding like a stampede, resonating through the air, kicking up bits of snow and dirt from the street.

"Stay back!" One of the men jumped off his horse and pointed his gun toward Robert and Sissy, as the others ran into the bank.

Another man held the horses, a crease between his eyes as he watched.

The sound of gunshots filled the air along with the men shouting from inside the bank.

"Give me all your money! Now!" one of the men shouted from inside.

Outside, people screamed as they darted into the local businesses, clearing the street.

Her father quickly pulled Sissy behind him, holding up his hand in surrender to the gunman, while keeping the other firmly on Sissy. "I don't want any trouble, mister. Please, just let my daughter go."

"My, my!" The gunman laughed, sauntering toward them, waving his gun. "And what a pretty daughter you have, mister!"

"Leave her alone!" Robert growled, holding Sissy firmly behind him. "Please, I beg you, let her go. She's my only child."

"Nah…." The gunman leered at her, licking his lips. "She's coming with us." He reached for her, but her father pulled her back.

"No!" Sissy yelled at the gunman. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Oh yeah?" The outlaw walked purposefully toward them, his eyes wild. "We'll just have to see about that."

"Sissy, run!" her father yelled, then he let go of her and pushed the gunman back. But he raised his gun and fired, shooting Robert squarely in the chest.

"No! Father!" Sissy sobbed, falling to her feet beside him.

He looked up and placed his hand on her cheek. "Live well." Then his hand fell, and his eyes became fixed.

"Jim, why did you shoot him? You didn't have to do that! He wasn't a threat!" The outlaw holding the horses jumped down and headed toward him, kicking up tufts of snow and slush.

Jim cocked his gun, pointing it at the young outlaw, a wild look in his eyes. "Vincent, I could easily kill you, too, if you're not careful."

Just then, Jim turned his weapon toward Sissy, his eyes dancing with wild fury, but then a shot rang out behind him, and he fell to the ground.

Vincent walked purposefully toward her and kicked the gun away from him, but he was already dead.

"Father!" Sissy sobbed, holding him close, but he was gone.

"Miss…." Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the ground, leaving her father lying on the walkway. "Run! You don't have much time!"

"I'm not leaving my father!" Sissy yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The man pulled her down the walkway and quickly pushed her to the side of the bank. "Stay here until after we're gone! Your father gave his life to save you. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain."

She fell in a heap beside the bank, sobbing into her hands. How could this happen? Everything was fine an hour ago, yet now, their lives were forever changed.

The gunman rushed back to the horses just when the other three men ran out of the bank.

The obvious leader lifted his chin to his dead partner lying on the wooden walkway. "Vincent, what happened?"

"Someone got in a lucky shot." Vincent quickly mounted his horse.

"Stop right there!" the sheriff yelled, and then fired a shot, but missed.

"Let's go!" The leader jumped on his horse and took off down the road as the others followed in a cloud of snow and mud.

Vincent glanced over at her one last time, and then followed the others out of town, leaving Sissy to wonder what had just happened, and why he had saved her.