Love

Hello, I'm Chelsea. I'm the sheriff's daughter.

I live in a wonderful little town out in the desert. It's a beautiful place - if you know where to look, that is. Here we aren't rich, nor are we poor. We make do with what we have and we live good lives.

I have a small group of friends. They like to make trouble and I like to keep them in line. My life is a lot more interesting with them. The most troublesome is Julia. She knows no limits.

I like to spend time with my family too. I have a younger sister, Claire. She looks a bit like ma, though daddy says that I'm more like her. I miss my ma but I know that she would be happy for me.

A raucous laughter erupts. "Chelsea, what are you writing?"

Chelsea looks up, smiling quietly. "It isn't important,"

Julia sits down on the bench. "If you say so," she shrugs.

Chelsea closes her notebook discreetly. "You're smiling. Can you tell me why?"

She leaps up suddenly, squealing and pulls her along. "Ooh, I'm so very glad that you asked! Have you heard of that new trader?"

Chelsea pants, struggling to keep her friend's pace. "Yes! Daddy... Daddy mentioned something..."

She laughs. "You have not lived until you see this man!"

Chelsea merely allows herself to be forced along. It isn't unusual for Julia to swoon over a man. She has an eye for the newest men and always talks them into buying her gifts. Her only downfall is her lack of confidence on the first meeting. However, Chelsea very quickly finds herself confused when she sees that she isn't being taken to a man. Instead she finds herself surrounded by Lanna, Sabrina, Natalie. Julia blocks her from escaping.

Lanna coos. "Aw, what a man!"

Sabrina murmurs sadly, her fingers twiddling nervously. "Sure is..."

Julia swats at them. "Now, now girls. You know the rules. This one's reserved,"

Lanna sighs. "Oh, you are lucky, Chelsea,"

She staggers back into Natalie. "What are you talking about? I haven't reserved anyone!"

Natalie grasps her flailing arms. "Courtesy of Julia here, he's all yours,"

She shakes her head violently. "No! No, I can't! Julia, you know this isn't right!"

Julia pouts. She stares at her seething friend with wide, pleading eyes though they have no effect.

Lanna interjects, grinning widely. "Chelsea, if you truly want to end this then we will end the reserve,"

She heaves a sigh of relief. "Thank you!"

Lanna begins tip-toeing away. "Then it's decided. The reserve will end in one month. You have to try!"

Her silhouette vanishes behind a building. The small trail of disturbed dust dances through the air. She's too fast for Chelsea to try and catch and they all know it.

Julia huffs ungratefully. "Fine! One month only... Oh, Chelsea, you don't know how hard it was to reserve this one!"

She seethes, storming away. "One month! Only one!"

Chelsea peers out of the window. The old, abused curtains hang limply from her fist. She knows all of the residents. She hasn't known anyone to move into the town in her father's lifetime. Thankfully, the trader isn't anywhere in sight.

A long, despondent sigh stretches out into the silence. She's the only one home. Her father is busy working with a neighbouring town. Claire is sneaking around with a terrible case of lovesickness.

The curtains fall from her grip. She slowly turns, just missing out on the opportunity to spy the trader. However, her attention is locked onto the notebook lying on the floor. A terrible sense of dread twists her stomach and she crashes to her knees. Great heaving gasps fill the air as her eyes sting and vision blurs.

She stretches her hand out as though to touch it. Then, she jerks back as though it's poison. She covers her face and she whimpers in quiet desperation.

She cannot afford to win.

Author's Note: I don't like Western. I know nothing about it. So what have I just gotten myself into?

Disclaimer: If it's property of/ belongs to any part of Harvest Moon. Then it clearly is not mine.

Chapter edited.

Author's Note 2: I don't know anything about Westerns as I've stated before. Please don't expect it to be historically accurate. I know it was foolish of me to start this.

Chapter edited (27.04.13).