The open market street was way too crowed for Sierras liking. The busy hawkers yelling their fair, while young hooligans races to empty pockets. She hugged her coin purse a tad bit closer; knowing that what lay inside was the key to her next month's living.

The foul air of the alley ways off the sea market sent ripples of nausea. Pinching her nose she picked up her ruffled skirt and walked faster. Spying the banker's office down the street she briskly walked to the door. The bell above the door jingled as she stepped in shaking the grime of the street from her work gown.

The teller looked up a smile playing upon his lips. Sierra knew him personally; this man was not to be trusted. Hank Benne was a cheater and a slick woman's man. He fooled everyone to believe just what he wanted them to believe. Even a good hearted banker like Ernie, could be played by the book.

Nodding her head towards the back, she stepped forward. "Is Mr. Feryon in?" Hank leaned onto his hands and smiled his forget-the-old-man smile before speaking. "Sierra," he pronounced like a rattlesnake would, siiierra.

"The old man is nursing his morning drink, why don't I take you over to Miss Rachel's Cafe for a cup of tea. He sent her another smile, two years too this day she would have gushed like a school girl at the attention but not now or from Hank.

She sent him a smile reserved for her nasty customers at Bills Mercantile, "Hank can you please get him, im in a hurry." He grunted, looking very displeased at the refusal and walked to the door leading to the office of Feryon. A knock and two seconds later, Sierra was sitting in front of a grinning man.

"My dear what a pleasant surprise, what brings you into town? I know it's not your old uncle you came to see." He moved his eyebrows up and down for show, sierra giggled, he was too funny.

"Unfortunately uncle in here to see you on a business matter, I've brought my rent for the month. Frankly I'd say I had a fear my wages wouldn't help me meet this day. Yet here I am." seeing the slowly rising disapproval, she picked up her hand and waved it with building anxiety.

"I know we agreed I could take my time, even stretch the bills but lately I've had this feeling to make sure I had my ends made." wasting no further second she placed all money she had to her name on the table. Her uncle raised his eyebrows," sierra you've never payed this much in one day. I could bet on my last dollar this is everything you got. I can take it." he pushed half towards her, "no ill never take it, knowing my sunshine is going with food. I'd never do that to the memory of your mother."

Sierra blinked away tears; she knew her uncle would understand. Talking the other half she placed it into the hidden pocket next to her derringer. The one her uncle insisted she carry, she had argued that this small town was safe and she didn't need a gun but he persisted.

Smiling she got up and hugged her uncle, somehow he made her closer to her mother. "Tell Aunt Laurel I said hello would you?" He grinned, " why don't you go on down to the town house yourself, Laurel would be pleased to see you. She's grieving your momma something hard, hate to see her so sad. Say you go on and stay for dinner, I'll join you guys when I'm done here." Sierra smiled and walked to the door, turning she blew a kiss to her uncle; he caught it and placed it against his heart just like when she had been a little girl.

Opening the door she saw Hank whispering to a small man by the door. Before she could squeeze by he saw her and bid the man goodbye. The small man glared at her and rushed from the room.

Hank blocked her way leaning against the counter, "say why don't we go out for lunch, since tea wasn't enough for you." he inched closer his eyes hungrily moving across her face and body. 'We could go somewhere quiet like."

By then he was almost breathing into her face, unable to take his closeness she almost took a step back; just as Hank took one forward.

The next moment she was being held against his chest; trying to seized the moment his hands where roaming her body.

She kicked and screamed but his wicked kiss silenced it, just as the door slammed. Hank whirled around to find a gun pointed at his face. The little man was back.

Sierra fell back against the floor, just as her uncle came out of the office to the sound of a gunshot. Five more men ran in and the little man pointed towards the safe. They headed towards sierra and her uncle. He had picked her, blocking her with his body. The little man leading pushed them at gun point to the corner, as his partners worked on the safe.

Hank moaned on the floor, not thinking she ran up to him. Forgetting past grievance she leaned over him, he opened his eyes, looked straight at her and smiled an evil grin. He grabbed her arm he pulled her closer. She grimaced before he whispered into her ear, "I almost had you, beware I'll get you yet."

Seemed like hours had passed but it had only happened in a few seconds.

More shots rang out, and she heard her uncle gasp. Wide eyed sierra watched her uncle bend over in pain watching her. His mouthed moved to one word, "RUN." She got up and shook her head, before running to the door.

Her head spun in circles, she needed to call for help, she saw the sheriff before a black masked thief grabbed her and took off, as his partners grabbed their horses and followed.

She kicked and fought against him, before darkness came and all she saw was black

and her uncle bending over, blood covering his hands.