Author: Lady Kathryne

Title: Unexpected

Pairing: Sam/Bella

Rating: M

Genre: hurt/comfort, friendship

Summary:

Georgia farm boy Sam Uley fell for his neighbor's best friend- the sheriff's daughter, Bella. He finds her arguing with her boyfriend Edward at a bonfire. He tries to ignore the things said to her, but he can't. He ends up comforting her and finds out there's more to her than what meets the eye.

Disclaimer:

All characters and known situations belong to their respective owners. Everything else came from my own mind. In no way shape or form have I made or intended to make a profit from this story…. All rights still belong to Stephenie Meyer.

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Prologue

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Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia Pine
And that's home you know
Sweet tea, pecan pie, and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it's not much to talk about
But it's filled with love that's grown in southern ground

-Chicken Fried, Zac Brown Band

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"Come on Sam, time for lunch!"

Said man in question- 20 year old, Georgia born and raised, 6'5", 170 pound, muscled and fit Sam Uley- arched an eyebrow and raised his hand to block the sun from his vision. He'd been born and raised on 36 acres of pasture land dedicated to raising and selling premium stock, show worthy thoroughbred horses as well as select other western breeds used in the southeastern rodeos in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

He knew little else in the way of life, growing up working on the ranch he and his family lived owned. When the time was right, the business classes he had been taking would help him take over management of the ranch. He'd be the third generation to own Haven Ranch and all the land surrounding it.

Sam looked up to see his two best friends, Jared Cameron and Paul Lahote racing towards him on their own horses- Camden and Cadence. The three were thick as thieves so his mother always claimed. They'd started living with Sam and his parents in middle school when Sam first learned about their less than adequate home lives.

Jared's father had lost his job and loved to do nothing more than drink beat his wife and Jared. He finally killed her while the boys were all in school, landing himself in a state penitentiary for the rest of his life. Paul's mother abused him while his father had been stationed overseas in the army. He'd taken a bullet to the chest for a friend in combat and Paul had gotten his dad's purple heart and the folded flag from his dad's casket.

They called Allison Uley their mother now- no one would tell them different. She'd gone through hell with the courts and child protective services. Once they'd learned about the abuse, it had been a relatively short wait and she'd finally taken them into her home. Sam's dad Josh and their lawyer and family friend, Billy Black had helped them with legal documentations and any court paperwork needed. It had been the best thing they'd ever had happen to them according to Paul and Jared. Sam had been only too happy that he'd helped his friends out of harmful situations.

"Mom said you're working too much." Paul quipped.

"She sent us out to get you." Jared told him hopping into the bed of Sam's truck after Paul.

Sam only shook his head and wiped the sweat from his head with a dry part of his shirt before peeling it from his body. The muscles in his arms rippled as he hefted the last bale of hay onto the tailgate of his truck. Jared and Paul worked together to push it back enough to close the truck up before jumping out of the bed from the sides.

"You two ride out here just to get me, or did you just want an excuse to race the horses again?" Sam teased when they took a seat under the shade of a 30 year old oak tree.

They shrugged. "We did get sent out here to tell you to come back.." Paul started.

"We wanted to race the horses too though. It's been a few days." Jared shrugged again.

Sam chuckled. "Some things never change!" He teased.

"It's not that funny! You've been in a saddle since you were a toddler. We only learned how to ride in sixth grade! It's still new to us!" Paul joked.

They shared a laugh before Paul and Jared climbed back into their saddles. "Mom said not to be late. There's someone coming for lunch. Apparently she wants us in the dining room, not just on the porch like normal."

"Huh. Alright. Y'all go on back. I'll be there." Sam said climbing up into his truck. "I'm gonna drop these off in the barn first."

They nodded in agreement and left once Sam's truck had shifted into gear. Allison Uley never let anyone eat until everyone sat at the table and the longer it took the boys to get their work done, the longer the food went untouched.

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"So, Sam, Jared, Paul… Were your classes easy this year?"

"Yeah, they were great. I've always been good with numbers, so the accounting classes are simple. Paul's better with business though. I do alright." Sam grinned.

Jared huffed. "I think I might die of boredom. The classes are too easy for me."

He'd always been smart- he'd buried his head in books to cope with the stress of a drunk and abusive dad. He spent his days now helping Old Quil on his ranch while taking veterinary courses online specializing in equine medicine.

Paul chuckled. "That's what you get for being a genius." He teased.

He took the same Business and Economic Development courses Sam was though he had started leaning more towards owning and operating a small business of his own. He had a talent for carving wood and wanted to use the one thing his dad had taught him before passing away to awe and inspire.

The three had been surprised to find their neighbor and family friend, Billy Black sitting at the table when they walked in after getting cleaned up to eat. He was a small town lawyer whom everyone loved and respected. He'd been handling any of the Uley's business contracts and legal issues for years now as well as their other close friend, Harry Clearwater. They told him time and again they were grateful for his friendship and his services and felt he was definitely a good friend to have.

Billy nodded his head. "That's good to hear. I'm glad you boys have had an easy time of things this year." He said taking a sip of his tea.

They all sat on the wrap around porch after eating their lunch enjoying the breeze. Billy had informed them that while he'd come for a social visit, he had a special request for them as well. It was a hard fact sometimes for Sam to wrap around his head that Billy and his dad had been best friends since childhood. They were so alike and yet so different in many ways. Time had a way to change things, Sam mused.

"So, Billy.. While we're on the subject of school, how's Jake. He just graduated, didn't he?" Josh asked.

"He did indeed. I even had him enrolled with Embry and Quil in the same private school Bella's momma sent her to, hoping she could keep him in line. It helped some… but not much. The dean told me if he'd had one more fight they would have been forced to expel him." Billy said shaking his head.

"He still getting into trouble now that he's home?" Sam asked. "Embry used to tell me Jake would get into fights all the time." He shrugged at the arched eyebrow he got from his dad.

"That's what I needed to talk to you about, Sam. He graduated by the skin of his teeth. He's not dumb by any means, but the boy has a temper to him." Billy sighed.

"You should have let him go to the public school, Billy." Josh teased.

Billy rolled his eyes. "I'll admit, these three did an amazing job- right down to competing for valedictorian, but Jake was too angry. Sarah passing away, then his sisters leaving the way they did for school… it was to much for him sometimes I think." He sighed. "I thought having his best friends in that private school would do him some good. Hell the only one who knows how to handle him alright is little Bella. And her daddy raised her tougher than you'd think."

"Well, he's coming home right? He won't be fighting so much." Jared offered.

"I hope so. So far all he's done is cause mischief… fighting with Doc Cullen's boys… needling the girls in town. That and a few of the local boys went to school with Jake… they're home for summer too."

Josh shook his head. "It's only been two weeks. Hell, don't you have that boy working yet?"

"Where? Here? Please, he'd have your ranch hands turning in their resignation letters in a week."

"What about chief Swan?" Paul wondered. "He's always looking for interns for the summer months."

"Well… now you know he's a good man. A damn good friend to both Josh and I- Harry too, but even he has his limits. I told him about Jake... he just laughed and told me he expected no less. Can you believe that?" Billy sighed.

"Of course. Don't you remember your momma swearin' you were gonna give her gray hair for the stunts we'd pull? Paul, your dad used to get in on it sometimes too, you know. We had Billy's momma cursin us up one side and down the other till she was blue in the face. It never phased us any." Josh grinned.

Paul smiled. He loved hearing about his dad as a kid. It made him feel closer to the man. He was forever thankful to Josh for helping him- for taking him in and calling him a son. He, Jared and Sam looked away with their lips twitching in amusement at the glare Billy sent towards his friend.

"Anyways," Billy huffed, "I have to go out of town for a couple weeks. I wondered if you three wouldn't mind keeping an eye on the house while I was gone. Just to make sure it's still standing He'll more than likely stay at Quil's. But if he fights, I'd rather it not be in my house."

Sam shared a look with Jared and Paul. At their nods, he turned back to Billy again. "Just two weeks, right?"

Billy nodded. "Just two weeks." He promised. "You can go over at night after things are done around here if it's easier."

Sam sighed. "Alright, when do you leave?"

"This afternoon. I know it's short notice, but your dad mentioned that you were home for the summer. And Jake wouldn't mind you being there as much as Josh, Charlie or Harry."

Sam inwardly sighed. "Ok I'll keep an eye out for him."

Billy smiled. "I owe you one, Sam."

Sam only shook his head and checked his watch. "We have to go feed the horses and clean the barns. It was good to see you Billy." Sam said standing to shake the man's hand.

When they were far enough away from the front porch, Paul let out a string of curses. "Remind me again why he asked us?" He finally grumbled.

Jared rolled his eyes. "Because, fucker. Sam can't say no to him, and even if WE did, he'd still have to say yes. Billy is a friend of Josh's, not to mention he's the lawyer in charge of the contracts associated with Haven Ranch. Saying no is an insult to him."

Paul rolled his eyes. "Right…"

"Embry hangs around him still. He says Jacob has calmed down some…" Sam said.

Embry Call was his only cousin and younger than Sam by two years. He also happened to be one of Jacob Black's best friends. Allison and Embry's mother, Tiffany, were half sisters who didn't find out about one another until Sam's grandpa died while the girls were still in high school. They'd grown close after that, and their bond had passed down to Embry and Sam.

"No offense, but Jacob is your cousins best friend. Of COURSE he's going to say that." Jared snorted.

Sam arched an eyebrow. "I guess we'll see tonight then." He mused.

"What's tonight?"

Sam showed them the text he'd just gotten. "There's a bonfire party tonight behind Quil's barn to celebrate his dad's absence."

"You know there are gonna be kegs and some of Billy's whiskey then." Jared mused.

Paul nodded. "And Embry is a lousy drunk."

Sam nodded. He tended to protect Embry from things- that included his best friends sometimes. From the looks of the text he'd just received, Sam would be on the lookout again.

"Damn kid is a trouble magnet!" Jared sighed.

"Damn kid is ONLY two years younger than us, Jay." Paul quipped.

Sam sighed. "If I ever find the son of a mother fucker who walked out on them, I'll tie him by the wrists to Jessup and let him run!" He growled.

"Little harsh?" Jared wondered looking at the horse in question.

Sam gave him a warning glance. He had always been protective of family. "It's not harsh enough." He finally muttered.

Even Paul shivered. Jessup was a black and white painted Shire horse. The only draft horse on Haven ranch, and he was used to haul away dead trees on the back ends on the pasture land where the machines and trucks sunk into the softer soil. He stood at an impressive 19 hands high- putting him at 6'3" tall when comparing him to a man's height.

Sam shrugged. "Lets just get the stalls mucked out and get ready. Embry said the party starts at 9. It'll be dark by then, we can take the horses down the back trails out to the old barn where Jacob likes to throw the bonfires."

All Sam could think while he worked beside Jared and Paul was two weeks needed to hurry and be over with now. He wasn't old enough to deal with all the stress he was sure to get.