Chapter 7

Sissy

Later that night, Sissy closed down the restaurant, tired but energized at the prospect of seeing Vincent again. Before he left earlier that day, he had said he'd come by to get her when her shift ended.

"Good night!" Sissy waved to Harrison as she left.

He nodded toward the door, concern filling his eyes. "Be careful out there."

A smile lit her lips. "Don't worry. I will." It felt nice to have someone look out for her.

When she walked outside, Vincent was standing there, waiting for her. A smile lit his lips as he headed toward her and took her hand. "You look lovely tonight."

She chuckled, blush coloring her cheeks. "I'm sorry I didn't have time to change my clothes, but we just closed the restaurant."

"No, you truly look lovely." He took her hand and tucked it into his arm as they headed down the wooden walkway headed toward The Lady's Dress Emporium.

"So, where do you live?" she asked, noticing the frost covering the trees, and the blue hue of the moon coloring the white snow. It truly was a winter wonderland. Almost magical.

"In a cabin on the edge of town." He shrugged, pulling her to a stop. "Do you mind walking? It's not far."

"No, not at all." She looked at the moonlight shining down over the pristine white snow. "It's a beautiful night."

"Yes, it is." He patted her hand as they walked. On the edge of town, he stopped before a cute, small cabin. "Well, this is it." He shrugged. "It's small, but it's enough for me… for now."

Her head snapped up. "So, are you courting anyone?" Sissy knew she was being brazen, but she had to know. She had no intention of being just one of the women he was seeing.

One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "No one but you." He opened the door. "Come on in. Dinner's ready and I don't want it to burn. We can talk while we eat."

"Sounds good. I'm starving."

He held the door for her, letting her go in first. It was a cute cabin, small with a kitchen to the right and a living room to the left. There was a door that Sissy thought probably led to a bedroom to the right on the other side of the dining area, which was set with a white tablecloth and clean dishes, ready for dinner. The cabin was clean but sparse and could definitely use a woman's touch.

"It's lovely." She looked around the room. "Did you build it?"

"No, it was abandoned, and I bought it. I've been fixing it up since I moved here." Vincent helped her out of her coat and hung it on a peg by the door beside his own. "As I said, it's small, but it's mine."

She nodded, clasping her hands. "So, what can I do to help?"

"Nothing." A smile lit his lips, showing a dimple in his cheek. "Make yourself at home. You've been waiting on everyone else all day, so let me wait on you now." He held her chair, and waited for her to sit, then pushed it in. "Now, just wait here and I'll have it on the table in just a minute."

"Thank you." Sissy hadn't been waited on like this in a long while… maybe ever.

"So, how did you come to be here in Whiskey River?" He glanced up at her as he placed a pot holder on the table and then set a covered cast iron pot on it.

"It's a long story." She shook out her napkin and spread it across her lap, not feeling comfortable enough to tell him about Elmer Webster. She didn't want to spoil the moment by talking about him.

Vincent nodded as he set a bowl with a towel in it on the table.

"Are these biscuits?" Sissy asked as the luscious scent wafted toward her.

He nodded. "Yes. My mother taught me how to make them long ago, and to put them in a dish towel." He shrugged. "It helps to keep them warm longer."

A smile lit her lips as she folded her hands at the edge of the table. Of all the things she had expected of him, this wasn't it. "Would you like to say the blessing?"

He chuckled. "Maybe I'll let you say it. I doubt the Good Lord wants to hear from me right now."

She placed a hand on his arm, looking into his eyes. "You'd be surprised. It's never too late to change your ways." She nodded toward the table. "And it appears that you already have."

He nodded, bowing his head. Then, he said a beautiful blessing over the meal, thanking God for the good company and food. Then he finished with, "Let's eat!"

She chuckled, shaking her head.

"I'll take your bowl first, if you don't mind." He held his hand out to her, and she handed it to him. He took off the lid and the delicious scent of beef stew filled the air.

"Land sakes! That smells delicious!" She took the soup bowl from him, the luscious scent wafting around her. Sissy handed him a biscuit and took one for herself and took a bite. "Vincent, this is delicious! You should be a cook at the restaurant! Paul Garrett is the cook where I work. He's getting up in age, and I'm not sure how much longer he's planning on working." She shrugged. "You could always take over for him!"

Vincent chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "Although I appreciate that, I'd rather cook at home. I have no desire to cook in a restaurant." He nodded toward the stew, one corner of his lips curling into a smile. "Let's eat. We don't want it to get cold."

Sissy nodded. "Okay, but I'm not giving up on you yet."

He gently squeezed her hand, causing heat to run through her body, his expression serious. "I hope you don't." He let her hand go and took a bite of his stew. "So, what brought you here to Whiskey River?"

She nearly spit out her stew. "You're not going to let it go. Are you?"

A mischievous smile lit his lips as he shook his head. "No, ma'am."

She dabbed her lips on the napkin and returned it to her lap, the stew forgotten. "After… my father died, I didn't have anywhere to go, so I answered an advertisement in Hearts and Hands Newspaper for a mail-order bride."

Vincent dropped his fork in his bowl, clattering throughout the room. "Sorry. Please, continue." Anger filled his features, but he kept himself composed as he took another sip of his coffee, listening.

"Well, the advertisement wasn't through a matchmaker." She let out a deep breath. "And when I got there, he was a brute." Then she went on to tell him what happened with Elmer Webster when she arrived and her narrow escape.

When she looked up, Vincent was concealing a smile. "So, do you have any regrets?"

Sissy lifted one shoulder, her eyes meeting his. "I regret agreeing to become Mr. Webster's mail-order bride, but I'm glad I landed here."

Vincent nodded thoughtfully. "So, the sleigh and white horse at the livery stable… is his?"

Sissy nodded. "Yes. In my need to escape, I saw it sitting there and took it, not caring about the consequences. But when I spoke with Dirk Price and Sheriff Clark about it, Dirk agreed to keep the sleigh and rig until Mr. Webster comes to claim it." She took a bite of her stew, hoping beyond all hope that that day never came. But unfortunately, she knew it was inevitable.

Vincent concealed a smile. "I'm sorry that happened to you, but I'm glad you landed in Whiskey River, too." He took a bite of his stew, dabbing at it with a biscuit.

The conversation turned light as they ate and talked. Then, Sissy noticed it was getting late. "Thank you for the meal." She patted her lips with the napkin, rose to her feet, and started gathering the dishes. "Since you cooked dinner, I'll wash the dishes."

"No, I wouldn't dream of it." Vincent gently took the bowl from her hand and set it on the table. "I'll get your coat."

"I can't leave these for you—"

"It's not many. Trust me." He held her coat up and she slipped into it. "I'll walk you back to the hotel. I don't want to keep you out too late." He leaned in conspiratorially, one corner of his lips curling into a smile. "I don't want Harrison Curry looking for me with a gun."

Sissy giggled, knowing he was right. She slipped her reticule over her wrist and waited for him at the door. "Dinner was delicious. Thank you."

Vincent closed the door behind them. "It was my pleasure." He offered her his arm and she took it. He led her toward town and onto the wooden walkway to the left that would lead to the hotel. "You know, I've been wanting to speak with you about something."

Her head snapped up. "Oh? And what's that?"

He let out a deep breath. "Since… the day we met, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. When I saw you here in Whiskey River, I knew it was fate and that I had to see you again."

"Vincent, I—"

"Please, hear me out," he cut her off, sincerity coloring his eyes. "Would you do me the honor of courting me?" He bit his lower lip and released it. "When Jim pulled the gun on you, I nearly had a heart attack. I would say that I'm sorry I killed him, but I'm not." He pulled her to a stop outside of the darkened hotel and placed his hand on her cheek, looking deeply into her eyes. "If it meant saving you, I'd do the same thing all over again."

"Vincent…." She leaned into his hand and then she noticed the curtain pulled back from a window at the General Store. "Mrs. Carson is watching us."

A devilish smile lit his lips as he pulled back. "Okay. I don't want to soil your reputation, but…." He took her hand and knelt on one knee at her feet, raising his voice. "Miss Sissy Spenser, would you do me the honor of…."

Sissy snuck a peek at Mrs. Carson and her eyes were wide in the shadows, her face pressed against the glass.

"Of courting me?" Vincent asked, loud enough for her to hear.

Obviously knowing he put the show on for her benefit, Mrs. Carson stepped back angrily, quickly lowering the curtain.

Sissy giggled. "I think she's gone now."

Vincent rose to his feet, still holding her hand. "But you didn't answer my question." He saw the puzzled look in her eyes and added, "Would you do me the honor of courting me?"

Sissy giggled. "Mister… er… what is your last name?"

Vincent laughed. "Gains. Vincent Gains."

"Yes, Mr. Gains, I'd be honored."

He lifted her hand to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers as he kissed it. "I'll see you tomorrow." Then, he slowly backed away, headed toward his cabin.

"But I have to work tomorrow," she called after him.

He lifted one shoulder. "So do I."

She chuckled, shaking her head, watching as he kissed his hand and held it up to her. Then he turned around and pulled his coat tightly around him. Vincent was a few paces away when he turned back to look at her, arching an eyebrow. He chuckled and then headed toward his cabin.

Sissy's heart soared as she walked into the hotel, hoping that Vincent wasn't playing with her heart. She had experienced enough games to last a lifetime… and didn't need any more.