Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended.

Hope you like this one ... I know I do. :)


CHAPTER 1

Charles Swan never met a banker he liked.

Them and their fancy suits, shiny shoes and soft moisturized hands that ain't never seen a hard day's work. Thinking they own you just because they sitting up in their offices counting and controlling money that don't belong to them. Acting all superior just cause they got themselves an education in a town where most folks lived simple and tilled the unforgiving soil in the hot sun for their daily bread.

He surely didn't like the weasel of a man that was sitting at his table watching his Bella with rapt interest as she poured him some of her homemade lemonade.

"Thank you," The manager of the bank cooed, "How old are you Ms. Isabella?"

"I just turned 18 last week Mr. Sullivan." Bella's reply was quiet.

On the inside she was burning with contempt for that boot-licker. There was nothing that Bella wanted to do more than smash the fancy glass lemonade jug she was holding over his head and run his ass off her land with her shotgun.

She knew why he was here; the bank was going to take away the ranch. The cattle drive earlier this year barely made enough for them to survive day to day much less pay the mounting debts Swan Lake Ranch owed to the bank.

Bella knew all of this because when Charlie was up in his room late at night coughing from the pneumonia in his right lung she was in the office reading up on the ranch's fiscal position. They were in dire straits.

"Why, that's marrying age Ms. Swan," Mr. Sullivan tried to sound surprised to mask the fact that he had been counting the days before he made the trip out to Swan Lake Ranch, "You're going to make some man very happy."

Bella glared at the face of that fat pig while her grip on the jug tightened. In her mind she decided that she wouldn't run him off her land; she would bury him under the stable where the horses could shit on him all day long. She didn't wanna be some baby-making idiot for some stupid man.

"Isabella Marie," Charlie said abruptly, "I think I hear Mary Alice calling you for some help with the chores; go on now."

"Yes Pa," Bella set the fancy glass lemonade jug on the table before breathing deeply, "Mr. Sullivan." Then she went outside to find her sister.

"Beautiful girls Charles," Mr. Sullivan commented as he took a sip of the lemonade.

Charlie nodded; they were beautiful indeed. But, that wasn't what Sullivan came here to talk about, or was it?

"Let's get down to it," Charlie took a deep breath to stave off a cough that was building in his chest.

He didn't want to show weakness in front that bastard knowing that if he did, Sullivan would try harder to snatch this farm right from under the Swans. Charlie couldn't let that happen; this was Bella's and Alice's legacy. He needed them to have it after he was gone and Jesus knows he was leaving God's blessed earth soon enough.

"Charles, it's not looking good. The bank can't grant you another loan when we have seen much return on the first two." Mr. Sullivan leaned back in his chair.

Charles Swan was a proud man; it was clear he was not going to get another loan and he was not going shame his family by begging for one. He needed an alternative.

"I have another course of action." Mr. Sullivan looked smug, "A personal transaction between you and me. My James has his eye on your Isabella."

Charlie eyed him hard.

"Hear me out," Mr. Sullivan linked his fingers around his pudgy protruding stomach. "Give my boy her hand in marriage and I'll bail Swan Lake Ranch out with my own money; the whole Ten Thousand. Think of it as an investment."

"My daughter is not for sale Sully," Charles said calmly, "Even if she was God don't like ugly and your boy uglier than homemade sin."

Mr. Sullivan harrumphed.

Charlie motioned to the door, "Now get off my property before I have the Sheriff pick up pieces of your body off my front yard."

Mr. Sullivan laughed haughtily before pushing to his feet and balancing his weight, "I'm going to recommend that the bank foreclose on the property as soon as legally possible which is about," he pretended to think, "About two months' time. Enjoy it while it lasts. Good day Mr. Swan."

Charlie remained at the table until he heard Mr. Sullivan's fancy carriage take off down the road. A month ago Charlie had reviewed his options; the last of which was another loan from the bank and refinancing for the other two. With that no longer an option; he was desperate. But, he'd be darned if he let anyone know about that.

Charlie thought that maybe Sully was on to something. Yes, that plan could work. But, it had to be someone else; there was no way he'd let his Bella be stuck in a life long marriage to James. That boy was evil and troubled.

It had to be someone decent, God fearing, who would treat her right and most importantly had the money to dig Swan Lake Ranch out of the hole it was in. He felt bad that he was planning to basically sell his oldest daughter but, if it was what would secure her and her sister's future after he was gone, it had to be done.

Maybe if he were younger and didn't have that pneumonia pulling him six feet under he could work off the loans. Swan Lake Ranch had great potential. It just needed a little tender love and capital. Also a strong headed leader who would make sure it was going in the right direction.

Bella could do it but, she was a woman and he knew that no one would take her seriously in this day and age. Too smart for her own good that one; thinking that Charlie didn't know that she went through the books at nights. He knew and he let her because Charlie had no problem with women who wanted to know what was going on and offer help and advice. He didn't think they were passing their place.

He also knew that even if he got her a suitor Bella would fight him every bit of the way and be very involved in the running of Swan Lake Ranch. So, the suitor had to also be able to handle Bella.

Charlie asked himself, 'Who could do all that?'

Maybe it was time he paid a visit to the Creek.


A/N: This is just the start ...