Dick Winters had always found something comforting about singing a hymn. In the voices lifted up in harmony and praise for the Almighty Father. In the words offering hope and salvation. While he often found the sermons thought provoking, they were fallible by man's interpretation. But there was just something so pure about hymns.

The community of the Bluewater Church had been an unexpected jewel in his westward relocation. In fact, it had confounded them at first that a saloon operator could be such a generous and wholesome man. Reverend Clark had taken it upon himself to have several conversations with Dick when he first started attending services. Looking out for the welfare of the congregation, the reverend had said. But after the fourth visit, Dick had apparently passed whatever test he had been given, and the church community embraced him with such warmth.

He pretended not to notice, but the church ladies had been all atwitter at his marriage prospects for their daughters. In the beginning, he'd had to accept and fend off so many requests to call for afternoon tea. Fortunately, most of that chatter had died away now. It had helped when Alice started attending services with him.

Sunday mornings were the one morning that he didn't ask anyone to rouse early, not even to prepare breakfast or ready the saloon for the day. But at 7:35 am every Sunday, Dick and Alice would meet at the base of the stairs and set off for the church.

This morning had been no different.

Alice sat beside him now on the pew, gently closing her hymnal. Reverend Clark pronounced the benediction, sending them forth into the world for another week of doing the Lord's neighborly will.

A peaceful smile lingered on Alice's face as they rose. "Oh, that was lovely. I very much enjoyed Reverend Clark's sermon. Forgiveness is such a good choice."

"It's a hard thing to do." Dick agreed as they started to file out of the pew and towards the doors at the back of the church. "It's good to be reminded of it."

"And how did God manage to put everything so pretty? 'To error is human; to forgive, divine.' It's so simple and pretty to say."

"I think it's err." He smiled gently. "'To err is human.' And I'm pretty sure that came from a poet."

Alice shook her head, looking over with an impressed air. "How come you to know just everything, I'll never know."

"What I know doesn't hold a candle to so many others. Don't get Mr. Speirs talking about classical history – unless you're looking to fall asleep." His tease drew a giggle from the younger woman. "The libraries back east are so full of books, it's impossible to know everything."

"What's a library?" She asked, stepping out into the bright morning sun. "Do they sell books? Oh! Good morning, Marshal Dike."

"Good morning, Miss Alice." Dike approached, tipping his hat in polite greeting. "Mr. Winters."

"Marshal."

"Splendid service this morning, wouldn't you agree?" Dike said.

"Just lovely." Alice simpered as she bat her eyes. "I was saying the same to Mr. Winters just now. The sermon on forgiveness. It got me thinking."

"Surely, you need no one's forgiveness. An angel like yourself."

Dick fought to hide the look of surprise that threatened to flash across his face. He wasn't aware Alice and Dike ever had ever met, let alone were on such…overt terms.

"That's very kind of you, marshal." A blush colored Alice's cheeks as she stared back at him.

"Say, Mr. Winters. Would you allow me to call on Miss Alice here soon? Take her for a nice walk some sunny afternoon?"

Alice smiled excitedly. "Oh, Mr. Winters please!"

Dick's smile tightened. "So long as she's back by starting time, she doesn't need my permission."

"No?" Something in Dike's gaze sharpened. "Are you not her owner and keeper?"

Dick stiffened, offense flaring up. "I'm just her employer. She's not anymore beholden to me than that."

"Oh, I'm not sure that's entirely true." Dike looked over at Alice with an inviting smile. "You looked a little parched, angel. Why don't you go get a couple glasses of lemonade?"

"Of course. Mr. Winters, would you like one, too?"

"No, thank you." He watched Alice trot over to the table of ladies serving before turning back to Dike. "Your insinuations are not appreciated. Especially in front of her."

"She didn't seem to be upset by it."

"Then let me be clear so you don't upset her. I did not buy her. She was not sold to me. None of my employees are under any sort of similar debt. If they stop adequately doing their jobs, then they will be removed."

"That's the thing with women, though." Dike paused, looking back at Dick with an assessing gaze. "Have you ever had a woman?"

Dick froze at the impudence of the question. And outside a church of all places.

Dike continued, undeterred. "Hmm, well. Even if you have – here's the thing with women. In case you don't know. Just because they aren't for sale doesn't mean they can't be bought. And you don't have to run 'em spreading their legs to find out that's true. Even that uppity one you have – Lily. Don't think that she wouldn't drop you like horseshit for a better offer."

Dick just stared back at the other man, disgusted with the turn of conversation. "I can't prevent you from seeing Alice, especially if it's what she wants. But you will find your presence and money unwelcome on the saloon floor."

Dike grinned gleefully. "No one says no to money, Dick. Everyone has a price that, at some point, makes even the most stalwart of principles seem insignificant."

Alice's returning giggle cut over the general din of conversation around them. "Oh, you wouldn't believe it! Mrs. Anderson noticed my new gloves. Said that they were just the prettiest."

Dike turned towards her, accepting the cup of lemonade. "She's right, you know. Your gloves are just the prettiest – but not so pretty as you." He looked back to over to Dick, the pleasant smile lingering as his eyes sharpened. "If you need to return to the saloon, Mr. Winters, please go ahead. I'll see to Miss Alice's safe return after we've enjoyed our lemonade."

"If Alice is agreeable."

"Oh, yes. Very much! Thank you, Mr. Winters."

Dick inclined his head, hand brushing his hat brim in farewell before he turned to walk back through the town.

He had never been so troubled after leaving a Sunday morning service.

Stomping his boots on the step leading up to the back door, he pulled it open to inhale the fresh aroma of strong coffee. He wasn't quite sure what to expect of the Sunday morning scene in the backroom kitchen, but the sight of Nix with his damp dark hair in the bright morning light as he sat at the table, reading over the daily newspaper with a steaming mug of coffee instantly soothed him.

Nix looked up with a teasing smile in his brown eyes. "Look what the cat dragged in. Out all night, huh?"

Usually, Dick would have been happy to banter in return, but he only offered a weary shake of his head. "Not this morning, Lew."

The smile fell from the other man's face, eyes widening with concern. "I should have known better – you don't have that normal post-prayer glow. What happened? Did Alice not go with you?"

"She's with Marshal Dike."

"Dike? She didn't get arrested, I hope."

"No." Dick reached for the coffee pot and a cup, pouring a steaming drink. "But he did ask permission to court her."

"Well, isn't that something."

"Insinuated that I purchased her. Owned her. That, even then, she could still be bought – loyalties turned. Her and Lily."

"What…that, that doesn't make any sense. We didn't buy them. We don't own them, especially not in that sense."

"I told Dike that."

"Then why would he still talk about trying to turn them against us?"

"He didn't say that in so many words."

"But it was implied?"

"Heavily."

Nix cast his eyes to the ceiling, his dark brows shifting as he considered the floorboards. "You think Dike knows about our house arrest patient up there?"

Dick hadn't wanted to admit it. That maybe Dike was threatening him – warning him – that he knew Speirs was here. That one of his girls was passing along information that risked his operation. Maybe even risked the Company itself. His stomach soured as he took another sip of coffee.

"I don't know what Dike knows." Dick said quietly, voice heavy. "Or to the extent that he knows what he thinks he knows."

"Shit." Nix groaned, sitting back in his chair, exhaling an unsettled sigh. "Think I might start carrying a key to the Winchester cabinet."

"Think I might lay an emergency haversack in the storage cabinet out back."

Nix nodded, looking back over. "He didn't give you any indication of timeline did he?"

"No."

"Hmm." Nix rose from the table, picking up his mug and abandoning the newspaper. "Then I best go get that key."

"Bring mine down, too?"

"Of course." Nix raised his coffee cup in a salute as he moved for the door to the main saloon and the staircase that lead up to their rooms.

Dick took another sip of his coffee, making a mental list of everything that should go in the haversack. Money. Bullet magazines. Blanket. Tins of food.

The door squeaked on its hinge, breaking him from his list making. Lily closed the door behind her, walking with uncharacteristic hesitance, hands wringing nervously in front of her.

"Lily?" He asked gently, meeting her eyes that were heavy with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing with me." She said quietly. "It's Ginny that we need to talk about."

"Is she alright? Has her tooth gotten worse?"

"No, it's not that. She's...well, she's not physically ill. But she's…," she sighed, rubbing at her arm anxiously, "she's in the way. With a child."

Surprise flashed across Dick's face at the news. "I thought that…there was tea -"

"She hasn't been taking it regular with the pain in her tooth."

He sighed, a conflicting mix of frustration and guilt rising in him. "How is she?"

"She's scared. Terrified is probably the better word. She doesn't want to risk anything to get rid of it, but knows that she can't work here anymore. Says she wants to go home to her family."

"I didn't know she still had family."

"I didn't, either. None of the girls did. Says her parents have a farm in Kansas. Outside Abilene."

"Well, I'll be." Dick shook his head, unable to believe the bevy of news he'd just been hit with. On top of everything else, this was certainly not what he had been expecting when she walked in. He looked back up at her with something of a shy, embarrassed smile. "This is all a first for me, you'll have to forgive me."

"It's a first for her, too."

He took a sip of his coffee before looking back at her. "Well, I suppose there's only one thing we can do."

Her face fell, disappointment evident. "Dick, please – I didn't think you'd – "

"Tell her that I'll book passage on the 9 o'clock eastbound train tomorrow morning."

She stared back, as if unable to believer her ears. "You'd…you'd do that for her? You're not going to turn her out?"

"Turn her out?" His brow pinched. "Is that what happens to girls who…?" He didn't voice the rest, reading the obvious answer in her face. "No, I'm not going to turn her out. She clearly can't stay here, so I'll be glad to put her on a train home. Heck, I feel responsible and I didn't even…" He felt the tips of his ears turning red. Why couldn't Nix have waited just a few more minutes before going upstairs? He was better versed in these matters of the world.

"You are too good to be true, Dick Winters. Whoever you give your heart to will be truly lucky, indeed." She shook her head, smiling warmly. "I'll let Ginny know that she's homeward bound tomorrow. Thank you – that. That offer is the most generous I've ever heard. She will be overjoyed – thank you again. From me, and her. I'll, uh…I'll be sure to take her out the back tomorrow so as to not disturb anything."

"That's not necessary. I'll...I'll go with you."

xxx

True to his word, the next morning found the three of them standing on the platform. Tears of disbelief wet Ginny's eyes as Lily held her hand.

"I…I'm so sorry this happened, sir." Ginny stammered through her tears. "And this ticket…and you being here…it just ain't fitting."

"It's more than fitting for anyone who believes in simply human decency." He said with a gentle smile. "I do regret that we're parting under such circumstances. I…uh, I always thought – hoped, even – that I'd lose you girls to marriage proposals, but I'm just as glad to see you off to home."

"Thank you, sir." She shook her head, squeezing Lily's hand. "I don't know how else to say it."

"You're welcome, Ginny. Take care of yourself." He held out his hand, extending an envelope. "I hope this helps ease your journey and your return home."

"Oh, sir, please…," she shakily took the envelope, folding back the flap, "this…it's – thirty dollars?! Sir, no, please – I can't rob you like this."

"Accepting a gift is not stealing."

Ginny stared back at him, love written plainly on her face. "You're a real fairy tale prince, Mr. Winters. I ain't never met one before, and I'm not like to ever again. It's a shame you ain't married yet."

Lily squeezed her hand gently. "Now that kind of talk is like to get you in more trouble." She smiled warmly at the younger woman. "Good luck to you – take care. I hope your parents welcome you with open arms."

Ginny smiled shyly. "My ma will be happy to see me. I'm not sure about my pa. He might just tan my hide. But…I'd take it to be home." She looked back at Dick, again thanking him profusely and sharing parting words.

The whole scene warmed Lily's heart, giving her hope that Dick would always be on her side, no matter what happened. Just like he was doing for Ginny here.

She crossed her arms against her chest as Ginny started to move for the train, showing her ticket to the conductor. She took the steps up, waving back at them and Lily raised her hand in an answering wave.

She sighed, still amazed. "You don't know what you've done for her – helping her like this, at a time like this."

"You keep saying that, and you really shouldn't. I haven't done anything more than any good Christian should do."

"Well, there may be lots of Christians in the world - but you really just don't understand how few good Christians there are in the world." She looked over at him with a fond smile. "You have the biggest heart of any man I've met – certainly more different than most."

A faint blush started to grow on his cheeks as his lips quirked in obvious embarrassment.

She chuckled softly. "It's alright – you don't need to say anything to that. It doesn't have to be anything more than what it's always been."

The steamwhistle cut through the air, drawing their attention back to the train car and offering up waves as it started to chug out of the station.

She couldn't ever remember feeling so satisfied by giving help to others. Of course, it wasn't actually her help – none of this would have been possible without the man standing next to her. How could she ever possibly hope to repay him, or thank him for everything that he had done for her?

She would forever be in his debt.


Five Years Ago

The bitter cold had been seeping in through the walls and cracks of her room all day. The snow fell in thick sheets the night before and left behind the most piercing cold. She'd spent the whole day nearly huddled in the backroom kitchen, wrapped in as many layers as she owned, tending to her duties. And now that it was night, she sat in bed, snuggled in the bedcovers with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

The stove in the corner was doing a decent job of staving off the brunt of the bitterness, but it was still frigid. If there was any, one good thing to say about her previous place of employ, it was that there had always been body heat to share on nights like tonight. But she would gladly take sitting here alone in the cold every night for the rest of her life than go back to that god forsaken place.

A soft knock sounded on her door, making her brow furrow. She'd completely lost track of the hour, but it could only be Winters or Nixon. She shuffled out of bed, keeping the blanket close, guessing it was probably Nixon. The man seemed more unconcerned about such taboo things as late night visits. She opened the door, surprised to find that she was wrong.

"Hello, Dick." She said softly, watching a small, awkward smile grow on his face.

"Hello, Lils. I was about to turn in for the night, and wanted to check that you were staying warm enough. Or if there was anything else you need…."

"Oh, goodness." Ten months being around him and she was still easily overwhelmed by the man's thoughtfulness. "I think so...I - I'll look at my firewood. Come in. And close the door? I don't want to lose what little warmth I have."

She turned for her wood bucket near the stove, hearing the door close softly.

"I'm glad it's warm in here." Dick's voice was soft. "My room is quite colder than this, so I'd say we did right when we chose rooms."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you have enough firewood for your stove." She bent to sort through the various small logs. "I have at least a few left, I think."

She didn't want to outright admit that she didn't know her numbers. From the look on his face, though, he already seemed to to know that. But he was such a gentleman, she knew he wouldn't call her out.

"Yes, it's at least a few." He answered with a small, reassuring smile. She relaxed under his gaze, finding herself in awe of him not for the first time. He really was something else.

"Thank you. I...I know you must know, but I like that you didn't ask. You've been so kind to me. Kinder than any man has ever been."

The embarrassed flush that overtook his cheeks in the firelight was so endearing. She had noticed that he was handsome, but it was plainly pronounced now in the low light that caught in the russet color of his hair and the sky blue of his eyes. "I owe you so much, Dick, and could never hope to repay you….I just…." Words had never been a strong suit, so she stepped forward, cupping her hand on the underside of his chin and placing a kiss to his opposite cheek.

His skin felt coarse from the scrape of stubble and the irritation of a razor blade, but she didn't want to stop. The first kiss turned into a second, and a third, the tip of her tongue skimming along his jawline as he neither pulled her in or pushed her away. She nuzzled along his skin, feeling his pulse jump and hearing his breaths grow heavy as her teeth nipped gently. Her hand settled gently to the inside of his thigh, trailing up to the bulge in the front of his trousers.

A groan pushed past his lips. "You don't need to."

"It's not a matter of need to." Her words flitted across his skin as she cupped him firmly. His hand rose swiftly, pulling hers back and away from him. His breath came in tight draws as he held her hand and she stared back at him, trying not to feel the sting of rejection. Had she done something wrong? No man had ever stopped her before. It just...it didn't make sense why he would say no.

He looked down to her hand still in his, raising it slowly to press a kiss to her knuckles. "It's...it's not that you're not pretty." He said softly. "It's just...not my way."

She couldn't say what came over her as she pulled her hand from his, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to hold him close. He returned her embrace, feeling her just cling to him.

It was the first night she'd ever shared a bed with a man fully clothed and done nothing more than just fall asleep.

When she woke the next morning, snuggled under the covers, tucked against the warm contours of his body, she vowed to spend the rest of her life trying to live up to all that he had given her.