Chapter 1: Nice to Meet You, Ma'am

The dry air seemed to swarm into my unfamiliar lungs as a cluster of bees would swoop upon an unsuspecting hive of honey. I coughed loudly as the uncomfortable dryness caked in my throat.

I stood in front of a long, coal-black colored train, the bustling station circling around me. In my hand I held a small purse, the cream color matching my modest gown. I pulled my bonnet tighter around my head, fighting the nervous urge to run back on the steel beast. The everything around me seemed somewhat wild, people rushing to and fro, men carrying guns and open drinks, a few women dressed immodestly and leaning up against walls, taking money from men who looked more than pleased to give it to them…. My nerves erupted in the pit of my stomach.

I perched upwards looking around for the one face that would look a little like me…

"Water, Miss?" A small hand formed in front of my vision, the tanned skin dirt covered and nails bitten down to pure nubs. The voice that had greeted me was high pitched and fragile. If a butterfly could speak, I would imagine it shared this voice.

I looked down, surprised to see a young girl-of no more than ten years-looking up at me. Her features and form might have look dainty and lady-like, if she were dressed like a lady, but instead of a pretty dress to match her features she wore a pair of too-long trousers that scrapped the ground and a grown man's shirt. Her coal dark hair was long and hanging loose behind her. In her china doll hand she held a small mug of water.

"Thank you," I said, somewhat surprised by a gesture of grace and kindness in a place that my mother had always deemed barbaric and savage.

The water was cold and perfect as it slide down my dust-caked throat. I drank and drank, taking large gulps at a time until my chest began to ache with its need for breath. I stopped with a gasp as the air entered my grateful lungs.

"Thank you very much, Miss." I said again to the girl. She nodded and smiled once. Something in her eyes seemed expectant.

With a small jolt of realization, I handed the girl the now mostly-empty water jug and dug quickly through my purse. She grinned at me-a grin of triumph, even as her front two teeth were missing-and tucked the coin I had handed her into a torn pocket.

"Well, I thank you kindly Ma'am," she was standing on her toes, bouncing up and down slightly in excitement. "You see my Ma says I can't have my own gun till I earn it on my own-'cause t'aint proper for a girl to have one, she says-so I gotta get the money myself."

" Oh my!" A girl own a gun? I couldn't imagine even holding one, let alone this little wisp of a child doing it! "Why do you want a…a gun?" What could she possibly need with a weapon? A pretty girl like this?

Her grin dropped into a glare-a glare of defiance at my doubtful tone, if I were to guess.

"My Pa and my brother get guns-even though only my brother does any shootin'-and I want one to! I'm just as tough and as smart and as…as-"

"I can see you're quite a capable young lady." I told her, unable to suppress my patronizing smile at her adorable tenaciousness.

Her small chapped lip curled upwards into what I supposed was to be a menacing scowl.

"'Scuse my sayin' so, Miss, but I 'aint no Lady-" the word was spit out, as if dirt filled her small mouth. -"Like yourself. I'm gonna be a wrangler when I get big enough. The first girl wrangler in all of Oklahoma!" Her eyes twinkled with determination that fell just a second later.

"Alice! Mary Alice!"

I turned to the right to see a slightly older woman, her hair a flowing caremeal and skin several shades paler than the young girl next to me. Her dress-though obviously not new-was a lovely shade of dark green and fitted her curved form nicely. Her eyes were blazing when she reached us.

The woman grabbed Alice's arm and turned her to face those blazing eyes.

"Mary Alice!" She said again, her chastisement obviously working.

The girls skin flushed with embarrassment. "What Ma?" she said-a low mumble-and she couldn't quite meet her mother's eyes.

"I can't believe you! Running away-again-to haggle some poor woman for money! When your father hears about this…" her sentence was left hanging, but her message was clearly understood. "Now, Alice, apologize to this lovely young lady for being so nice to you and run along. Get in the wagon, we're going home."

Alice turned toward me and muttered out a barely audible "Sorry, Miss Lady." before trudging pathetically off.

Her mother sighed, shaking her head and rubbing her hands gently across her glistening forehead. I smiled and bent down, offering her the smidgen of water left in the mug Alice had dropped in her departure. She smiled and took it from me, finishing off the cool liquid.

"Thank you" she said after a moment. Her voice held no twang or accent as her daughters had. She gave me a wry smile. "I must apologize on my daughter's behalf. Alice -as much as everyone loves her-is a bit pigheaded."

I laughed. "I found her charming, Mrs…?."

"Cullen. Esme Cullen." She held her hand out, taking my gloved in her possession. "And people always do, at first." Her grin was teasing.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Cullen."

Her eyes narrowed as they traveled up and down my body in a curious movement, finally returning to my gaze. "I'm sorry, Miss, but I'm afraid I do not recall seeing you anywhere. In a town as small as Masen, you can understand, that's a rare happenstance."

I could feel additional heat flood to my face. "I uh…I'm-"

"Isabella?"

I could recognize the general sound of the voice that called to me, but I also noted the differences from what I had once known. It was deeper and fuller, as though it had somehow grown. And his tone was not one I had expected. Instead of recognition or welcome, his voice was layered with hopefulness and uncertainty.

He was just as tall as he was last time, but not quite as fit. His stomach seemed to have expanded some through the years and his arms were less bulky. His face was much the same-plump cheeks that blushed nearly as often as did mine, a wide brow constantly furrowed above wide dark brown eyes, and a large and bushy mustache that completely covered his mouth. He still wore his uniform-something I had never seen him without-and his hand rested lightly on his gun holster, as it always had.

My smile was as cheerful as I could make it. "Yes, its me."

He grinned back-or at least, I thought he did, though I couldn't be sure-and muttered out "You've grown."

Mrs. Cullen still stood between us, her face drawn up in confusion. Finally, she turned to face the third member of our party with open cheerfulness.

"Sheriff!" They shook hands. "How lovely to see you again!."

A nod and a gruff, "Mrs. Cullen," was his reply.

I would have felt awkward with his lack of words, but Mrs. Cullen-obviously a professional with all things social-didn't miss a beat as she continued on. "I was down here picking up little Alice again-one of these days, Sheriff, I'm just going to ask you and Emmett to lock her up for a few hours. A troublesome girl like her might need the scare." Her laugh was light and unhurried. I saw the Sheriff's mustache twitch in spite of himself. "She was just in the middle of rustling a dime out of this young Miss when I caught her. I see you to know each other?"

"My daughter, Isabella."

Mrs. Cullen was delighted. "A daughter! Well I didn't know you had any children, Sheriff Swan." she turned to me. "You must have been away at school, Miss Swan. It's so nice to make your acquaintance."

We shook again.

I didn't bother to correct her assumption.

"You two must come for dinner some time this week-I insistence upon it."

Charlie said nothing, so I hesitantly approached conversation. "We'd be delighted, Mrs. Cullen. Thank you so much."

We exchanged the last set of good-byes and see-you-soons before she left, stepping gracefully into a modest carriage at the end of the train.

Silence stretched on for a moment.

"Where are your things?"

I pointed to the pile beside me, which had been unloaded some time ago.

Charlie looked confused.

"That it?"

"Was I supposed to bring more?"

He shook his head at me. His hand scratched his head thoughtfully before he responded. "No, I reckon this is better-less to load anyway. I just remembered ladies normally having more items than they needed."

I blinked. "This is all I need."

"Right."

He picked up my few bags and motioned me to follow him.

The buggy we used was an open top, with just enough room in the back for my things. Has he helped me up into the seat I could feel the eye of everyone around me. What they must be thinking of me…some strange girl they had never heard of…going to the home of a public figure…I would be the gossip for weeks.

I looked straight ahead as Charlie climbed up beside me, trying my hardest not to let my cheeks color again.

Only one horse pulled us, but it was a strong, young looking thing with a skin as dark as midnight. For a moment, I debated asking for his name but stopped myself. It seemed like such a silly thing to ask. Charlie drove him well down the gravel track, with a simple confidence and ease that I had never gained from him.

"You're bigger than you were last time," he told me. I looked over at him and our eyes met. He blushed. "I mean-not bigger as in…larger. But older. You look older." he let out a breath of nervous air. "How old are ya now? Sixteen?"

"Nineteen."

"Ah."

The silence stretched on again.

Not surprisingly, Charlie proved the to be brave one. "Isabella," he began.

"Bella."

"What?"

I swallowed. "I…I would prefer to go by Bella, if it doesn't…bother you."

"No, no," He was quick to reassure me. "Bella it is."

"Bella," he started once more. I could tell that he had practice this speech as he prepared himself-that he knew exactly what he wanted to say. "I know…I know that you might not have ever planned on livin' out here, and that you'd probably much rather be with your mother out East but…well, I may not be a rich or exciting man but…I'll do the best for you I can. I've got me a nice home and a good horse." He patted the beast in front of him. "And I'll try not to be too much of a bother. I hope that you can be…that you can be happy here."

He exhaled.

That may have been the longest he had ever spoken to me.

I took a breath too.

"I don't need much…Father." the term felt odd on my lips, " Except a nice home and a good book. I'll stay out of trouble for you." I looked at him, pleased to find a small smile on his face. "And I can cook." I told him quickly. "I'm really a very good cook."

Please let me stay, I let my eyes plead with him. I had no where else to go. I needed to be good for him, so he wouldn't throw me away.

Cautiously, moving very slowly, his hand moved over to give mine an affectionate by awkward squeeze.

"I think we'll work out just fine, Bella."

I hoped so.

Not too long later we pulled up in front of a small, but quaint looking house. It was only one story, but looked plenty big. The wood had been painted a yellow that had dulled through the years, along with the blue of the window panes. In the front of the yard was a tall and wide oak tree, a swing hanging from it's lowest branch. Neighbors were on both side of the house and continuing down for a little ways.

Charlie lived right on the edge of town-near other people, but away from his office and the shops and saloons. I was thankful for that. At least I'd get a little privacy for a day or two.

Charlie helped me bring in my trunks, holding open the gate to the white fence out front. Inside, he gave me a quick tour of the place, finally showing me to my room.

It was very simple, with a blue bedspread and curtains. The room was just big enough for my bed, one wardrobe and one vanity. "Will this…will it do?" He asked me.

I made the effort to smile at him. "Its perfect. Thank you."

He nodded at me, taking a step towards the door. "I have dinner on the table when you're…when your ready. Mrs. Stanley-lives a few houses down-brought it over for us. She's nice like that. A little bit of a chatter, but nice. I'll just let ya-unpack?"

I nodded. "I'll be a few minutes."

He turned to leave but the words leapt out of my throat, as if they lived and breathed on their own. "Ch-Father? Thank you for letting me stay here. I…I really appreciate it."

His look was a serious one. "You're always welcome here, Bella. No matter what."

Unpacking my few belongings didn't take nearly as long as I would have hoped for. By the time I was finished all of my dressed were hung up, and my two pairs of shoes were tucked underneath my bed. My hairbrush and the very few cosmetics I owned-but never used-were spread out across the vanity.

I sat down and looked at myself.

My eyes were still bloodshot-red from the tears I had halted just moments ago. Slipping of my bonnet, I could see that my hair was in a state of distress. I brushed it out and put it up again, trying to spend a few more minutes. By the time I was done, I looked much the same as always.

The table was set when I got downstairs, and Charlie was pacing in front of it.

Dinner was a silent one, and filled with tension. Near the end of our speedy meal, Charlie spoke up.

"I was-I was thinkin', Bella, that I might bring you into town tomorrow, if you'd like? I could show you around and maybe pick up anything you needed?"

My heart sank.

"That…that would be lovely. Thank you."