Chapter 10

Sissy

Sissy stood on the steps outside the restaurant with Millie, watching as her worst nightmares came true right before her eyes. For not far down the street was Elmer Webster… and it was obvious that he wasn't going to take his rig and leave quietly, as she had hoped.

Vincent stepped out of the Sheriff's Office with Daxton and Colton hot on his heels. A crease formed between Vincent's eyes as he walked purposefully toward her. "Sissy, go inside," he repeated as she watched in horror.

"No, I have to face him." She lifted her chin. "I want to pay him back, so I won't owe him anything."

"So, what's the meaning of this?" Daxton asked, looking between them.

"Elmer Gibson came into town to collect his rig, but he says he's not leaving town without Sissy." Vincent pulled her behind him, out of sight.

Daxton stepped off the steps, already pushing his coat away from his gun. Colton hung back, taking it all in.

"Vincent, I don't want you to get hurt." Sissy tried to push past him, but he wouldn't budge.

"If you think for one moment that I'm going to leave you at the mercy of that madman, then think again," Vincent said, never taking his eyes off Elmer.

"What's the meaning of this?" Elmer demanded of the town, sauntering toward them. "Sissy, my betrothed, left our wedding… and has already taken up with another man?" His voice rose several octaves, making sure the whole town heard.

Mr. and Mrs. Carson walked out of the General Store, Mr. Carson holding a rifle.

Mrs. Carson scoffed, looking over at Sissy. "Is this true?"

"Sheriff Clark knows all about it," Sissy replied, trying to step around Vincent, but he stood firm, blocking her way. "I answered an advertisement for a mail-order bride, and he's who was waiting for me when I stepped off the train." Sissy waved her hand dismissively toward Elmer. "So, I ran."

"And I paid good money for that ticket, too!" Elmer whined, stomping his foot, causing a cloud of snow to rise up.

"In immigrant class!" Sissy replied. "I would have been forced to sit between two lecherous men if I hadn't paid the difference to upgrade my ticket to second class!" Then she turned her attention back to Elmer. "Mr. Gibson, I offered you the money at the train station for the ticket when I told you I couldn't marry you, but you refused to take it. However, I'd be happy to reimburse you the sixty-eight dollars you paid for the ticket now. I'll be right back." She turned toward the hotel, but Elmer stopped her.

"I told you then that I didn't want the money and I still don't!" He took a step closer, but Sheriff Clark stepped in front of him. "I paid good money for a mail-order bride, and I intend to get one!"

"That's close enough." Daxton lifted his chin, stepping in front of him. "Say your peace and go."

Elmer narrowed his eyes at him but continued. "I paid for you, Sissy, and I'm not leaving town without you!"

His brothers stepped up beside him, flanking him.

Sal looked nervously between them, his knees shaking.

Sheriff Clark let out a deep breath as he turned toward Sissy. "Miss Spenser, would you like to marry this man?"

"No, I wouldn't," Sissy quickly replied as Vincent held her firmly behind him.

"Well, then…." Daxton turned back to Elmer and smiled, moving his hand close to his six shooter. "You heard the lady, Mr. Webster. Slavery has been outlawed in this country for a few years now, and I won't make her go with you. So, I suggest you take the money Miss Spenser offered you and go with your rig, or I'll have to arrest you for disturbing the peace."

Colton casually stepped down off the porch in front of the Sheriff's Office and stood beside the sheriff, facing off the six men standing down the street.

Elmer laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. "And the two of you are going to make me?" He snapped his fingers. "Boys!"

The five men stepped up beside him, facing them off.

"Six against two?" Colton shrugged, never taking his eyes off them. "I'd take those odds. What do you think, Sheriff?"

"Sounds good to me."

"I'll be right back with my gun, and I'll stand with you," Vincent added.

"Stay right where you are," Colton said, never taking his eyes off the men. "Protect Miss Sissy."

"Millie, go inside," Sissy whispered.

"I'm not leaving you—"

"You don't have a choice," Sissy cut her off. "Go!"

Millie ran inside. A moment later, Harrison stepped out onto the porch with his gun belt strapped to his side, watching.

"Wait…." Elmer squinted at Vincent, taking a step closer, and then his eyes widened. "I knew I recognized you! You're one of the Holloway Gang!"

Mrs. Carson gasped. "Is that true?" the elder woman demanded.

"Georgina, go inside!" Mr. Carson cocked his rifle, ready.

"I most certainly will not!" Mrs. Carson huffed, placing her hands firmly on her hips.

Sissy wondered how long she would last once the bullets started flying, but maybe she was tougher than she looked.

"Arrest that man!" Elmer waved his hand toward Vincent. "There's a bounty on anyone in the gang!"

"I suggest you leave… now," Sheriff Clark flexed his hand over his weapon. "Miss Sissy, go get the money and I'll give it to Mr. Webster so he can leave—"

"I'm not going anywhere without her!" Elmer waved his hand at Sissy.

"I'll be right back." Sissy ran as quickly as her feet could carry her up the stairs, tore open the hiding spot in the closet where she kept her money, and came back a moment later. "It's all here." She started to take it to the sheriff, but Vincent stopped her.

"I'll do it. Stay here." Vincent watched him as he walked purposefully toward Daxton Clark and handed him the money. "It's all here."

"I know it is without counting it." Daxton crossed the distance between them and shoved the wad of money into his hand. "Now. You have your money, and you have no further claim to Miss Spenser. So, git!"

A sly smile curled Elmer's lips. "Nah, I think I'll stick around for a bit. Get something to eat."

Standing on the restaurant porch, Harrison drew his weapon and cocked it, training it toward him. "Restaurant's closed."

Elmer shrugged. "Then, we'll stay in the hotel."

"It's closed to the likes of you." Harrison trained his weapon on him.

Elmer held up his hands, taking a step back, his lips curling into a snarl. "Well, we'll just see what the U.S. Marshal has to say when I bring him back with me." He nodded toward his brothers. "Sal, get the rig. Ben, get Sal's horse."

"Right, Elmer!" Sal rushed into the livery stable and came out soon with the sleigh and the white stallion. "Ready!"

Elmer mounted his horse and looked back at the sheriff. "Mark my words! This isn't over yet!" Then, he and his brothers ran as quickly as they could out of town. Sal followed with the sleigh, causing Sissy to feel sorry for the horses.

"What are we going to do, Vincent?" Sissy asked, tears in her eyes. "They're coming back with the U.S. Marshall!"

"Shh…." He held her close as everyone seemed to relax. Then he pulled back and placed his hands on her cheeks, forcing her to look into his eyes. "We're going to run."

"Oh no, you're not." Daxton stepped closer, having overheard as Colton looked on. "Vincent, if you run now, you'll be running for the rest of your life." He arched an eyebrow. "And is that really the life you want for Sissy?"

Mrs. Carson scoffed, stepping off the porch. "You knew about this? You knew he was an… outlaw?"

"He didn't, but I did." Colton slipped his thumbs into his gun belt, tilting his head to the side, a mischievous smile lighting his lips. "Is that a problem, Mrs. Carson?"

"Well! I never!" Georgina Carson stormed back toward the General Store as Mr. Carson gave them an apologetic look. She paused with the door open and turned back to Mr. Carson. "Well, Phillip? Are you coming?"

"When I'm good and ready!" he barked, uncocking his rifle.

"Hmph!" Mrs. Carson stormed into the store.

"I'm going to pay for that later, but it was worth it!" Mr. Carson chuckled as he headed toward the store behind his wife.

Daxton looked around the town and they were drawing attention. "Let's take this into my office and sort this out." He headed toward the Sheriff's Office, expecting them to follow.

Colton chuckled, shaking his head, silently lifting his eyebrows as he waited. Obviously, he wasn't going to let them run, either.

Vincent placed his hand on Sissy's back, and they walked into the Sheriff's Office together.

Daxton folded his hand atop his desk. "So, tell me everything."

Vincent went on to explain that he had been a member of the Holloway Gang, about Sissy's father getting shot in Cheyenne, and then leaving the gang and ending up in Whiskey River.

"But what he didn't tell you," Sissy added, "was that he saved my life."

Daxton's head snapped up toward Vincent and then back to Sissy. "Please, continue."

Sissy wrung her hands. "My father and I were going to the bank when the Holloway Gang rode into town. Vincent was holding the horses outside and Jim, another member, jumped off his horse and shot my father for sport." She bit her lower lip and released it. "Jim then trained his gun on me, but Vincent shot him."

Daxton's head snapped up toward Vincent. "Did you kill him?"

Vincent nodded. "I had no choice. It was either him or Sissy."

"I see." A crease formed between Daxton's eyes as he turned back to Sissy. "Please, continue."

"I was distraught, but Vincent pulled me to the corner of a building and told me to hide there until after they were gone." She let out a deep breath. "He got back to the horses just before the men in the bank came out with the money. Then, they left."

"After that," Vincent continued, "I left the gang, wanting no more part of them or robbing for money. The best thing I ever did was to land here in Whiskey River. When I got here, Dirk Price didn't know me from Adam, but he gave me a job anyway. One thing I can say about the people of Whiskey River is that they judge people for their character, not for their past mistakes."

"I see." Daxton stood, looking Vincent in the eye. "So, what are you planning to do?"

Vincent squared his shoulders. "I'm through running. I'd like to turn myself in." Then he turned to Sissy. "I can't ask you to wait for me." He placed his hand gingerly on her cheek, tears filling his eyes. "You need to go on with your life… without me."

Sissy shook her head. "No, I'll wait for you… for as long as it takes."

Vincent nodded, getting down on one knee as he held her hand. "Then, do me the honor of taking my name. It's the only thing I can give you to protect you while I'm in jail. Sissy Spenser, will you marry me?"

Sissy nodded. "Before I answer, I want you to marry me because you love me. Not because of the Holloway Gang or Mr. Webster."

Vincent rose to his feet, holding her hands as he looked deeply into her eyes. "I love you, Sissy, with all of my heart."

Tears filled her eyes. "Then, my answer is yes." He pulled her to his chest. "I love you, too, Vincent."

Colton slapped him on the back. "Congratulations! It looks like you have a wedding to plan!"