Chapter 2

Sissy

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…." The preacher from the next town droned on. Since Robert had been the only preacher in Cheyenne, this stranger had been called in from the next town to preside. The snow had turned to freezing rain during the service.

Sissy pulled her coat around her and bent her head, wondering why this had happened… and to a good man like her father, no less. All her life, her father had tried to live a good life and to save people. But who was there to save him? Now, he was in heaven with her mother, leaving her alone.

"And I shall live in the house of the Lord forever," the preacher finished. Then he said a wonderful sermon over her father's body and the men lowered the casket into the ground. When they were ready, the preacher nodded toward her.

Sissy stepped forward first and leaned over her father's grave, tears streaming down her cheeks. Sissy picked up a handful of muddy dirt and spread it over her father's coffin. "Goodbye, Father. I love you." Then she walked away as Mrs. Caspian held her shoulders.

Other friends and members of the congregation paid their last respects, each casting a handful of dirt over her father's coffin.

When the service was over, Mrs. Caspian led her away under her umbrella. "Sissy, you can come stay with me and Noah for as long as you need to."

"No, thank you." Sissy sighed, the freezing mist from earlier now turning to a hard, cold rain. "I'm moving farther west. There's nothing holding me here now, and I need a fresh start."

Mrs. Caspian nodded in understanding, a sympathetic look in her eyes, oblivious to the freezing rain pouring down around them. "Do you have any idea where you might go?"

Sissy shook her head. "No, not yet. But I'll decide soon." She gave the woman another hug. "Now, if you'll excuse me." She headed toward her father's buckboard that was now hers, when the head of the Church Council stopped her, flanked by other council members holding umbrellas.

"Miss Spenser," said Mr. Thermopolis, holding his umbrella over her as he walked with her toward her buckboard. "May we have a word?"

"Yes, of course." Although Sissy knew exactly what he was going to say, she wanted him to say it aloud. She had no intention of making it easy for him.

"I know this is a hard time for you," he started, his eyes filled with worry along with the faces of the other council members. "But the new preacher will arrive on Friday. You can stay in the parsonage for now, but you need to be out Thursday. I'm so sorry to have to do this to you, but—"

"It's not a problem." Sissy lifted her chin, squaring her shoulders. "My father was a good man and had served this community since before I was born, but the parsonage isn't my family home. Don't worry. I'll be out Thursday."

"Thank you. I'm so glad you understand." Mr. Thermopolis sighed, holding her hand with both of his, sincerity coloring his eyes. "I'm so sorry for your loss. As you said, your father was a good man."

"Yes, he was." A small smile lit her lips. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it appears that I have some packing to do." Then she mounted the buckboard and headed through town toward the house that she and her father had occupied ever since she could remember. If she had a place to go, she would leave sooner. But as it was, she had only three days to pack her and her father's things and be out. But she needed time to think about where she was going to go and what she was going to do.

Wet and hungry, she spotted the restaurant at the hotel and decided to splurge. She checked her rig at the livery stable and then headed toward the restaurant.

"My goodness! You're soaked through!" Mr. Barrett handed her a towel. "It's not much, but maybe you can dry off. You can stay in a room here at the hotel free of charge until the rain dies down, if you like."

She shook her head, a smile lighting her lips. "I'll be fine after I eat but thank you."

"I'm so sorry for your loss." Mr. Barrett tipped his hat to her as she walked in. "When I heard what happened—"

"Thank you, Mr. Barrett." Sissy gave him a small smile. Although she appreciated the sentiment, she hated seeing the sympathetic look in the eyes of everyone she met. "A table for one, please."

She planned to pay a visit to the sheriff later to find out how the investigation into the bank robbery was going. She wasn't worried about finding her father's killer. He was already dead, thanks to Vincent. It was strange to think that a bank robber had killed her father, but another had saved her life. It was clear that it was all about the choices one made in life that makes all the difference. Vincent could have easily let her die along with her father, but instead, he chose to save her. Again, it was all about the choices one makes.

"Yes, miss." A smile lit Mr. Barrett's lips. "Please, wait right here. It'll be just a minute."

"Take your time." Sissy used the towel to sop up as much of the water as she could, knowing she must look a fright. But now wasn't the time for vanity. Necessity was what she had to worry about now.

Sissy sat in the lobby to wait. Although she knew this day would inevitably come, the day she would be on her own without her father, she had no idea it would come so soon.

On the small table by the window lay a Hearts and Hands Newspaper. Curious, Sissy picked it up and perused it. Inside were advertisements for mail-order brides from all around the country, but most were from the west.

"We're ready for you now, Miss Spenser." The kind man smiled, waiting for her.

"Mr. Barrett…." A crease formed between her eyes as she held up the newspaper. "May I keep this?"

"That old rag? Yes, of course!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "I have no idea how it got there. One of the waitresses must have left it." He placed his hand on the small of her back and motioned toward the back of the restaurant. "Right this way."

As they walked, Sissy noticed that nearly all of the tables were filled. "Business must be doing well."

"Yes, it's been growing in leaps and bounds lately." He stopped before a table. "In fact, the town appears to be busting at the seams. I can't imagine where we'll put more people if they keep coming in. Heaven forbid anyone have to wait for a table."

Sissy chuckled as she took her seat. "Well, I'm sure you'll find a place for them. Maybe on the roof?"

He laughed. "Now, that's an idea! But with the rain coming down in buckets out there, it wouldn't do anyone any good today, I'm afraid!" He winked. "Your waitress will be with you in just a bit. Enjoy your meal, Miss Spenser." Then he hurried off to help a family who had just walked in… and there were already two other families waiting.

The town really was booming. The sooner she moved from it, the better. Over the years, everyone in the town had been kind to her, but it was time to start a new chapter of her life.

She ran her hand over the newsprint of the magazine. The Hearts and Hands Newspaper was a mail-order bride magazine. Intrigued, she opened the cover and began to peruse the advertisements.

"Hello, Miss Spenser! I'm so sorry for your loss." Belle, one of the waitresses, gave her a sympathetic look. "May I get you something to drink?"

"Actually, I'm ready to order."

Belle waited as relief washed over her. People often didn't handle loss well and are often at a loss for what to say.

"Does Harry have any more of his fried chicken left?" Sissy loved fried chicken and Harry made the best.

"Yes! He has plenty," Belle replied, "and we have mashed potatoes and corn as the sides. Would that be okay?"

"Yes, please." Sissy smiled as she handed her the menu. "I'd also like a cup of hot cocoa, if you have it?"

A broad smile spread across her face. "Yes, we have it! Harry is keeping cocoa in the back since it's nearing the holidays." She took the menu. "I'll be right back!" Belle hurried off to another table.

Sissy paged through the newspaper, spying all sorts of ads. There was an ad for a banker, a rancher, a gardener, a cook, a socialite, and more. Then, an ad for a rancher in Laramie caught her eye. It read simply: Rancher in Laramie, Wyoming, seeks a wife.

It was simple, direct, and to the point. Excitement filled her. Although she had never considered becoming a mail-order bride before, the spirit of adventure behind it filled her with excitement.

"Here you go!" Belle smiled proudly as she set a plate of steaming hot fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob before her, along with a mug of hot cocoa. "Could I get anything else for you?"

Sissy grinned, shaking her head. "No, thank you. This is fine." She arched an eyebrow. "Maybe a slice of apple pie for dessert?"

"You got it!" Belle placed her hand gingerly on Sissy's shoulder, leaning in conspiratorially. "I'll save you a slice."

"Thank you."

Belle hurried off to another table, leaving Sissy with her own thoughts.

Sissy lifted the chicken and took a bite, the savory juices filling her mouth, causing her to moan involuntarily. For the first time since her father passed, Sissy was excited about what the future held.

As she ate, the good-looking man with brown hair and brown eyes who had saved her life ran through her mind again. Since that fateful day they met, he had never been far from her mind. She wondered why he had saved her life. Instead of letting Jim kill her, Vincent had shot him. It made no sense. But she quickly pushed the thought from her mind, knowing she'd probably never see him again. But if she could, she would thank him for saving her life. She just wished he had done the same for her father.

When she was finished eating, Sissy paid the bill and headed over to the post office to send a wire. She needed an answer now. And desperate times called for desperate measures. There wasn't a matchmaker, so she hoped that the man was decent. But he was a rancher, so she guessed that he had to be a good man and financially viable. Knowing she only had three days to leave the parsonage, she didn't have time to wait for the mail.

"Good afternoon, Miss Spenser!" Mr. Adams smiled when she walked in. "Here's your mail." He slid the envelopes to her across the desk. "I'm sorry about your father. He was a good man."

"Thank you." Sissy slipped the envelopes into her reticule to peruse later. "I wonder if I could trouble you to send a wire for me."

His head snapped up. "Yes, of course!" He slid a half-sheet of paper to her across the counter. "Just write down what you'd like to say here…." He pointed at the large box at the bottom. "And who it's going to here…." Mr. Adams continued with the lesson. "When you're ready, I'll be right over here." He pointed toward the other end of the long counter.

"Thank you, Mr. Adams." Sissy set straight to work deciding on her note. She settled on:

"My name is Sissy Spenser and I'm from Cheyenne, Wyoming. Stop.

I'm interested in becoming your mail-order bride. Stop.

I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and am the daughter of a preacher. Stop.

Please respond as soon as possible. Stop."

When she was finished, she turned over the paper and slid it across the counter to Mr. Adams, who had just finished helping a customer.

After reading the message, his eyes were filled with concern. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

She nodded, a lump forming in her throat. "Yes, I am. Please send it right away. I have to move out of the parsonage by Thursday."

"Yes, but other women in the community may have a spare room for you—"

"No." Sissy sighed, her voice adamant. "Please let me know as soon as you receive a response."

He nodded, giving her a small smile. "I will."

Sissy headed out the door, hoping she was making the right choice. Choices. It was all about the choices you make in life. They make you who you are.