Howdy!

I'm kind of an old-newbie to fanfiction. I began posting a story a few years back and kept hitting a block. Then when I finally felt that I had got my mojo back, my computer died and I had nothing backed up, so I lost everything. It was a huge knockback and I honestly lost the will to write. However, I have had this storyline playing around in my mind for some time now after playing a game and it got me thinking that there aren't that many Wild West stories out there! And everyone loves the Twilight characters, right? So, I thought heck, I'll give it another go! For those that were following my previous story, I do hope to finish it one day, but I hope you don't mind me throwing this one out there first!

I hope you enjoy!

Please let me know what you think!

"Did you hear? Webstar Hall was raided again."

"Well of course it was, the whores aren't exactly discreet and with the way those city boys stumble out of there, it's never long till the police make another visit." Isabella quickly glanced away from the ladies seated opposite her in the waiting hall. Her mother would have scolded her for eavesdropping on another person's conversation if she had still been around to do so.

"Miss Isabella?" Isabella startled from her thoughts as her name was called. She recognised the voice immediately having grown up being taught by it. Turning in her seat she spied the lady who had called to her; she was a petite lady, shorter than Isabella herself who was only a small thing. It hurt to smile, not physically of course, just emotionally, but if she pretended to be anything but confident and happy with her decision then Mrs Jenny might try to persuade her to abandon her mission.

Isabella rose from her seat and approached Mrs Jenny, they clasped each others forearms tightly and pressed their foreheads together in greeting. As Isabella inhaled, she recognised the familiar scent of home, a home that she was planning to leave long behind her.

"Oh Miss Isabella, must you go through with this crazy plan? I am begging you to change your mind and return home with me." Before Mrs Jenny could even complete her sentence, Isabella was shaking her head in response. Tears filled the older lady's eyes as she gazed up at what was the closest thing she had to a child.

"I can't Mrs Jenny, I have to go and find him." Mrs Jenny nodded defeatedly, she had heard this answer an innumerable amount of times over the past few weeks, ever since the child's parents had passed away. She had tried to reason with her, but the stubborn child was exactly that; stubborn.

"Then here is your ticket. This will get you as far as Des Moines, from there you will need another train ticket to take you further West. Do you remember the name of where you are heading to?" Isabella took the ticket from Miss Jenny, placing it securely into the top of her trunk.

"Yes ma'am, Virginia City then onto Placerville." Isabella tried her hand at smiling again but realised she must not have been that convincing as Mrs Jenny frowned at her. Ever so gently she cupped Isabella's face in her hands, rubbing her thumbs in comforting circles.

"Oh, sweet child, I will miss you so much. But I will let you go; I know you will not rest until you have found your brother. Maybe you could try and bring him home."

"Perhaps," Isabella whispered; the lie felt bitter on her tongue. She would be in no hurry to return, with the death of her parents and the sale of her childhood home, there was nothing but Mrs Jenny to hold her here now. And even then, Isabella justified that Mrs Jenny had her own family to care for, she would just be a burden. "I will miss you too, I'll write as often as I can." Isabella promised, it was the least she could do for the lady that had had such a large part in raising her.

"Ma'am is this your luggage?" Bella and Mrs Jenny both turned to the young man who was pointing at her luggage. She nodded silently, watching as the railway worker begun to drag it towards the train.

Isabella had not realised she was crying until soft fingers delicately wiped the tears away. She sniffled and clutched her second mother to her tightly, pushing all her love for this woman into her actions.

One, two, three, four, five deep breathes and she forced herself to step out of the familiar embrace completely. She felt cold as she took another step back, only their hands were touching now.

"You better go," the older lady's voice cracked as she released one hand reluctantly. "Be safe and send my love to your brother when you reach him. And don't forget me." Isabella snorted, she almost expected Mrs Jenny to scold her for it but instead they both giggled at the sound.

"I couldn't forget you Mrs Jenny." Isabella squeezed her hand before finally withdrawing it completely, then took two steps back before turning and hurrying towards the train that had nearly finished boarding. As she settled herself in for the long journey, she could hear the train attendant calling out, signalling their on-time departure.

Isabella chewed her lip nervously as the train built up power and speed, and everything she knew begun to grow smaller and smaller. Mrs Jenny lifted her hand in a parting wave and Isabella returned the gesture until finally the lady had disappeared from her sight. The panic instantly kicked Isabella in the gut, she had never felt this alone in all her life, not even when her brother had run away.

The young girl had never left the comfort of her home town in her entire life. But now here she was, heading west, following the path her older sibling had taken just seven years ago. He was her only living relative and besides the panic she felt, she felt hope that maybe she would finally be reunited with him.