Title: Wanted

Summary: Obidala! This is an AR love story. I'm taking Obi-Wan and Padme into the mid 1800s Old West (not necessarily Earth...) Yeehaw!

Author: Ticklesivory

Genre: Alternate Reality, Romance, Adventure

Warnings: None

A/N: Felt like writing an AR. Only one so far is "Soturi," (the first half of it.) I have two ideas in mind: a western and a medieval story. I may write both, depending upon the reader's response to this one. :)

Chapter One: The Letter

I was my mother's favorite. She'd never admitted that out loud, of course, but it was obvious in the way she catered to my whims and bought only the nicest things for me. She made sure I wore the most expensive gowns, the finest hats, and the most tasteful jewelry. She had sent me to the best schools and I arrived there daily in our private barouche.

I'd heard some say I was spoiled. My sister was one of them. Sola had defied both our parents and had married for love; ignoring wealth or status. Her husband was handsome and adventurous, and after he'd swept her off her feet, he took her off to the West. He longed for the excitement and challenge of establishing a thriving business in a new location. He was a banker and I could understand his excitement. Everywhere I went, people were talking about the rapid expansion happening in the West. The idea was intriguing and contagious, and it quickly affected Sola. Less than a year after she married Darred, they packed up, boarded a train, and headed off to the frontier.

While Father was outraged and loudly criticized Darred's decision, my mother grieved in silence. She was heartbroken. I could see it in her eyes. She was a kind and gentle soul, who only wanted what was best for her two daughters; as long as that meant they lived close by in a nice, established home with a hard-working husband who provided a decent and steady income. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to move to the wilderness, away from the comforts and security of the city.

She'd apparently forgotten a lot. In the beginning, my mother's life hadn't been so easy. I recalled that she and Father had struggled financially as well as socially. At least until Governor Palpatine had taken a liking to Father. After that, our lives changed quite radically.

The West was dangerous, I'd heard her say just this morning, clutching the letter she'd just received from Sola tightly against her chest.

"Padme, come read this to me. I don't think I can manage it."

I smiled at her graciously as she took a seat in the parlor and closed her eyes. I knew she was picturing my sister Sola's smiling face and beautiful brunette hair; most likely wishing she was sitting here with us.

"Dear Mother," I read. "Everything is fine at Shady Lake. Darred is busy gaining everyone's trust which will allow him to keep their money safe. The town is growing so fast! It seems as if there is a new building going up every day! And more and more people are getting off the train to try and make a go of it. The local hotel and saloon are full, and word is the settled townspeople are wanting to build a school.

Enclosed in this letter is a train ticket. I know this will be difficult for you Mother, but there are so many opportunities here for a young woman like Padme.

I would so much appreciate it if you could send her to me and let her see for herself what is going on. It would be good for her and for me as well. I love Darred with all my heart and we are getting along fine, but I would so much enjoy seeing my little sister again. Please consider it. With all my love, Sola."

I laughed quietly at the ridiculous idea and viewed the ticket myself; a rather extravagant gesture I thought, even if it was just for one way. I imagined it was all they could afford. Certainly, Father would give me the funds to return.

But who said I was going? Even though I did miss my sister and I wished to see her again, the West was an untamed and dangerous place! I'd heard frightening tales about those who headed there and never made it. Bandits, thieves, gunfighters, and other lawless men seemed to prey on the weak and innocent travelers. Entire wagon trains had been attacked and burned with everyone left for dead.

The train ticket in my hand did indeed offer a safer means of travel, but how safe would I be once I got there? Darred wasn't exactly the hero type. He was smart, to be sure, but his biggest muscle was his brain, not his bicep.

Two months ago, I received my teaching certificate and I was eager to begin working. Although I had applied to several local schools, I hadn't yet been hired. Father told me to be patient; that things tended to happen exactly when they should. I was trying, but what exactly was I waiting for? To become an old maid still living in my parents' home?

There was an instructor at the women's college I had attended who had shown interest in me, but Mother would've never approved of the match. He was nothing but a poor professor who lived in a tiny apartment on the east side of the city. 'Not appropriate for a young girl of my status,' she would've no doubt said.

Maybe, taking this trip would be good for me after all. It would allow me to get out from under her constant care and advice. For the first time in my twenty-two years, I could be independent and free to make my own choices. It was something to consider.

I held onto the ticket and handed the letter back to the mother, watching with interest as she folded it neatly back into its original shape before tucking it carefully into the bosom of her gown. I knew she would read the thing a dozen times by the end of the week. At the moment, she was still silent, her eyes closed, her hand over her heart where the letter now resided. She was smiling and most likely remembering our family being all together, my sister Sola and I as young girls playing with our cornhusk dolls near the hearth. I didn't want to interrupt her moment of bliss, but I wished to hear her thoughts on the matter.

I was just about to ask her opinion when Father walked into the parlor. He had apparently just gotten home from the office and removed his hat and gloves before handing them to the under-butler standing by.

"Jobal, my love, I have some excellent news," he boasted while pouring himself a brandy. "Be sure to inform the kitchen staff we shall be dining with very important guests tomorrow evening."

Mother obviously wasn't pleased to have been pulled from her reverie, although she rose to kiss Father on the cheek to welcome him home anyway.

"Who is it going to be, my dear?" she asked sweetly.

"The Governor himself and his son will be dropping by. I promised them a hearty meal and witty conversation. Perhaps you can order up some of that famous lemon cake of yours."

"Ru!" Mother responded in a flustered manner. "Tomorrow night? How am I ever going to get something that nice prepared in such a short amount of time?"

"Jo, you have all day tomorrow. You'll get it done. I have no worries about that."

Apparently confident and satisfied, Father kissed Mother on the cheek and headed off toward the kitchen where he always took his last meals. His work hours were so unpredictable, that we never knew when he'd be coming home. So, the head cook had always kept his food warming in the kitchen.

"Oh, heavens, Padme," she said to me. "What am I going to do with that man?"

She didn't want an answer. I realized that and I smiled at her instead before I excused myself and headed upstairs to my own bedroom.

Once inside, I sat down on my curtained bed and lay the train ticket down to stare at it. The date issued was two weeks ago from today, and therefore, I had two weeks to decide. Good. This was too difficult a decision to make right now. I would take Father's advice and wait a while.

Surely, if I'm meant to go, something will tell me when it's the right time.