Chapter 5

Sissy

Sissy headed toward the restaurant, knowing that staying in Whiskey River was her best shot at surviving. Between the snow piling up around them and Elmer Webster and his brothers hot on her trail, she'd take Whiskey River any day.

When she walked into the restaurant, a beautiful young woman with dark curly hair smiled. "Welcome to Whiskey River!" She lifted a menu from the bar to the left. "Dinner for one tonight?"

Sissy nodded, a smile lighting her lips. "Yes, please."

"Right this way!"

As Millie walked her over to a table by the window, Sissy noticed that there weren't many people in there tonight. She was glad. If she was arrested for being a horse thief, she didn't want word to spread around and ruin her reputation in this town before she even had a chance to cultivate one.

"Is this all right?" Millie asked, laying the menu on the table.

"It's fine," Sissy replied. She had thought of asking for a table in the back, but she had no desire to hide… from the sheriff, at least. She hoped she never saw Elmer Webster again, and mentally kicked herself for not going through a matchmaker. At least a matchmaker would screen the gentleman to make sure he was suitable before agreeing to a match.

"So, what can I get for you tonight?" Millie smiled, taking her time.

"Hot cocoa, please?" Sissy asked. "And what's your specials?"

"Well, Paul Garrett, our cook, makes the best fried chicken in three counties." Millie smiled proudly. "But if you don't want that, there's roast beef with carrots, potatoes, and celery, or Beef Stew." Millie leaned in conspiratorially. "Frankly, they're both made of the same ingredients, but the Beef Stew has gravy."

Sissy giggled. Even though she had just met Millie, she liked her already. "Well, I would have the fried chicken, but I just had it yesterday. So, I'll go with the roast beef with carrots, potatoes, and celery."

"Good choice!' Millie chirped, her smile touching her eyes. "And maybe I can tempt you with a slice of homemade apple pie or pumpkin pie for dessert?"

"Sounds good." Sissy grinned. "Whichever you think is best is fine for me."

"Great! I'll be right back with your hot cocoa!" Millie hurried off to do her bidding.

Even though she had just arrived in Whiskey River, there was something about the town—and the people here—that made it feel like home.

Just then, Dirk walked in with the sheriff and looked around. They spotted Sissy and headed toward her. She just hoped that they took her outside before they arrested her.

"Miss, this is Sheriff Daxton Clark," Dirk said, standing beside her table. "Sheriff, this is—"

"Sissy Spenser," she supplied. "Please, join me."

Dirk smiled as he spoke to Sheriff Clark. "Well, if you have everything under control, I'll be on my way. Gabriella has dinner ready, I'm sure."

Sheriff Clark shook his hand. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of her."

Dirk nodded. "I know you will." Then he turned to Sissy. "And don't worry about the rig. I'll take care of it for you. Sheriff Clark will tell you the rest."

Sissy stood and offered him her hand. "Thank you so much for your help. I truly appreciate it."

Dirk firmly shook her hand. "It was my pleasure." He tipped his hat and then headed toward the door, said something to Millie, causing her to smile, and then headed out into the cold.

"Are you hungry?" Sissy asked Sheriff Clark. "I just ordered dinner."

Sheriff Clark shook his head. "I'll be going home to my children soon. My daughter makes good pork chops but thank you."

"Here you go, Sheriff!" Millie chirped, setting a cup of coffee in front of him, along with Sissy's hot cocoa.

"Put the sheriff's coffee on my tab, please," Sissy said. It was the least she could do, after all.

Millie giggled. "Your food will be right out." She gave the sheriff a knowing look and then headed over to another table.

"Okay, am I missing something?" Sissy asked, looking around.

Sheriff Clark laughed. "It's just that my coffee is free, since I'm the sheriff."

"Oh, I see." Sissy stirred her hot cocoa, feeling a little foolish.

"But it was nice of you to offer." He took a drink of his coffee. "Now, Dirk tells me that you came in with a sleigh and a white horse, but they aren't yours?"

Sissy sighed, defeated. "Well, I was a mail-order bride," she began. But when she started the tale, she couldn't stop. Sissy told him about her father dying in a bank robbery and that she decided to become a mail-order bride to start her life anew. Then she told them about the train ride, running into Kenzie Baker, and then her arrival at Whiskey River. Then she went on to tell him about the foul Elmer Webster waiting for her and what had transpired at the church with her running away in his sleigh. "When I arrived here, I was surprised it was the same town that Kenzie said she was from."

When she looked up, Millie was standing beside the table, holding her meal, a stunned look on her face. "Here you go. Miss, I don't blame you for running. If it were me, I would have done the same thing." She set the plate in front of her. "If you need a job, I'll talk to Harrison Curry, the owner of this restaurant and hotel."

Sissy gave her a small smile. "Thanks, Millie. I truly appreciate it."

Millie patted her hand, her eyes filled with concern. "Well, I'll leave you to talk to the sheriff. He's very fair. Don't worry." She arched an eyebrow at Daxton, giving him a knowing look, and then hurried off to help another couple who had just walked in.

"So, sheriff, if you need to arrest me, I completely understand." Sissy just hoped that he let her finish her meal before hauling her off to jail.

Daxton chuckled. "Miss, I'm not going to arrest you. Dirk has agreed to take care of the rig until the owner can come and get it. Also, I'll contact the sheriff in Laramie and let him know what's going on. He'll contact the owner."

Sissy's eyes widened. "Thank you, sheriff! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it."

Daxton smiled. "Just try to stay out of trouble until he gets here." A crease formed between his eyes. "I hate to say this, but this Elmer Webster may demand the price of the train fare, since you didn't marry him."

"Actually, I tried to repay him, but he refused to take it."

"Then, that's good enough for me." Daxton downed the rest of his coffee and stood. "Just don't leave town until we get this all straightened out."

Sissy nodded, rising to her feet. "Sheriff, I can give you the money for the train fare to give Mr. Webster when he gets here, if you like."

"Just keep it, for now." He arched an eyebrow. "After all, he refused your payment, so I wouldn't worry about it." He shrugged. "But I'd suggest keeping the money aside just in case he insists. But any man worth his salt wouldn't make you pay… not for reimbursement for an immigrant ticket, anyway." He shook his head in disgust. "Miss Spenser, there's a widow woman who runs a boardinghouse for young women. It's the Jenkins Boardinghouse on the edge of town." He shrugged. "Maybe you can stay there for now, until you decide what you'd like to do."

Sissy extended her hand. "Thank you so much, sheriff. I'll keep it in mind."

Sheriff Clark shook her hand, a smile lighting his lips. "Just promise me you'll stay out of trouble until we get this mess sorted out."

"Yes, sir." She chuckled. "It's funny, but before now, I never even dreamed of what trouble was, let alone get into it."

He laughed. "Well, we've all been there." He tipped his hat. "Ma'am." Then, he walked out.

Sissy sat back down to finish her meal when Millie approached.

"May I?" Millie asked, indicating the chair Daxton had been sitting in.

"By all means." Sissy smiled, taking her in. "If you have time, why don't you eat with me?"

Millie chuckled. "I appreciate that, but I'm on duty. Maybe next time." Millie bit her lower lip and released it. "No, I was going to suggest that you take a job here with me as a waitress." She sighed, looking over the restaurant. "I've been the only waitress working here for a while now and I'm getting tired."

"You what?" Sissy asked, her voice raising several octaves. "You should get some time off!"

"Shh!" Millie looked around to make sure no one was listening. "If you worked here with me, then we could split the shifts and alternate weekends." She shrugged, a smile lighting her lips. "So, what do you say?"

"Why not?" Sissy chuckled. "When do I start?"

"Wait here." Millie headed across the room to a tall man wearing a cowboy hat and dressed in a suit, standing at the bar. They had a few words that Sissy couldn't hear and then the man followed Millie over to her.

Sissy stood, wringing her hands as she waited.

"Sissy, this is Harrison Curry, the owner of the hotel and restaurant. Harrison, this is Sissy." Millie straighten her back as she squared her shoulders. "She needs a job and I need the help."

Harrison glared at Millie, his hands on his hips as he spoke to Sissy. "So, have you ever waitressed before?"

"No, but—"

"Are you willing to work weekends?" Harrison cut her off.

"Yes, of course."

Harrison glared at Millie, but she stood strong. "If I hire her, then you'll need to train her."

"Agreed," Millie quickly replied. "Harrison, with Thanksgiving coming up and the holidays, I need help. Also, I'm tired of working every weekend. I need some time off, but I won't take a day off until Sissy is ready to handle it on her own."

Harrison let out a deep breath. "All right, then." He turned his attention back to Sissy. "We're open seven days a week here, since we're a hotel as well as a restaurant. You and Millie can work out your days off. But if you need time off, just let me or Millie know, and we'll work it out. Now, if Millie needs a day off, I take up the slack or Paul does, but he's also our cook and can't handle it all." Then he told her what the pay was. "And you keep all your tips. Is this agreeable to you?"

Sissy nodded. "It sounds good."

Harrison sighed. "Then, when can you start?"

"How does tomorrow sound?" Sissy shrugged. "I need to find a place to stay first. Sheriff Clark suggested the boardinghouse."

He nodded. "You can either stay there or you can have a room here as part of your pay." He shrugged. "Millie stays here. Her room is upstairs to the left."

"Thank you," Sissy replied. "Also, my trunk was left at the train station. I don't think Mr. Webster's brothers got it. Is there any way I can get a ride into Laramie to retrieve it?"

Harrison sighed. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime…." He nodded toward the bar. "You can take a room, settle in and get cleaned up. Then, you can start tomorrow." He arched an eyebrow. "Sound good?"

She nodded. "Sounds great!" She shook Harrison's hand and then Millie's. "Thank you both for everything."

Harrison nodded. "It's my pleasure. Welcome to the team. Also, I suggest doing everything Millie says. She's my best waitress and knows the ropes."

"I'm your only waitress." Millie chuckled.

Sissy giggled as Harrison narrowed his eyes at her. "Get settled in and get a good night's sleep. You'll be busy tomorrow." Then, Harrison walked off to help another couple.

Millie nodded toward the bar. "Come on. Let's get you a room. You can take the room next to mine."

"So, if I stay at the boardinghouse, how much more pay will it be?" Sissy hated herself for asking but she had to know.

Millie lifted one shoulder. "Not much." Then she leaned in conspiratorially. "The room's an added bonus." Then she turned to the man behind the counter. "Rudy, give her the room next to mine, please." Millie smiled at Sissy proudly. "This is Sissy, our new waitress. She starts tomorrow."

Rudy's eyes flew open wide. "You're not leaving, are you?"

Millie burst out laughing. "Oh, no! I just need the help and Sissy here needs a job."

A broad smile spread across Rudy's face. "Sounds good to me." He wrote something on the ledger, took a key off the peg behind him, and laid it on the counter in front of Sissy. "The name's Rudy Wells. It's nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Millie happily led her up the stairs and turned to the left as Sissy followed. "My room is right here on the corner…." Millie pointed to the first door on the left. "And this is your room." Millie stopped before the second door. "If you need anything let me know. Also, the General Store is right across the street."

"Thank you," Sissy replied. "I might go there and get some fabric to make a few dresses to do me until I can get my trunk."

Millie nodded. "That sounds good." She gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Welcome to Whiskey River."