Nancy had been well aware that her life could easily end up the same as many of the girls who came before her. One day her eyes stopped on an ad in the newspaper that read:
Wife wanted for bachelor in the Colorado territory. Please respond with letter if interested. Willing to correspond for a few months to see if a relationship is viable. Sincerely, Patrick Trenor.
A spark had lit inside her. It was the first glimmer of hope she had felt for years. The thought of escape from the life she was living overcame the fear that inevitably welled up inside her. Perhaps this was the time Reverend and Mrs. Norris had always told her about. They had encouraged her in her darkest moments that someday God would open a door of opportunity for her. Nancy, while appreciative of their kind intentions, had never fully believed these words. She had often felt that God had abandoned her when he took her parents away. But now…could this really be true? Could this be a path of escape he had laid out for her?
