HELP WANTED- Original

ONE

"I'm sorry, Mary-Ellen. There's nothing I can do." The elderly bank teller informed the curly haired woman before him. 

Dressed in warm winter clothes, she leaned against the opposite side of the counter. She offered him a sad smile and glanced out the window off to the side. Taking a moment or two the woman, sighed and rubbed her temples. A thoughtful silence settled between them as she pondered over her choices.

Mary-Ellen admitted, softly after a few long moments passed by, "I know, Ken. But please, just give me one more week. I'm takin' a trailer of calves to the yards. I'll get the cash from them."

"I can only hold off Mr. Henley for so much longer. You're still nearly three months behind on your payments." He reminded her, even though he knew she knew.

Everyone in this town knew of Mary-Ellen's plight. It was hard not hear the gossip. Word fast spread in Vevay much like any other small town. Talk was cheap when the story was good and Mary-Ellen's story had quickly become one of the prime topics up for discussion. Especially, once word had gotten out about her inability to pay back the bank.

"Please, Ken, I can't lose the farm." Mary-Ellen pleaded, "I've got nowhere else to go."

Ken studied the farmer for a moment as her countenance fell. He'd always had a soft spot for the young woman ever since her late husband had brought her down to the valley nearly five years ago. Both filled with the dream of owning and living off their own plot of land. Unfortunately, Angus Price had done nothing more than to make her a widow. It must've been going on two years ago by now. Two years since they'd brought his body back after he'd lost life life fighting in someone else's war. Mary-Ellen hadn't been the same since and who could blame her? She'd given up everything, uprooted her entire life to follow her husband's dream of owning a farm. So much for that dream, all she was left with was echoes of what could've been.

"Oh, alright," He agreed, even though he knew Mr. Henley wouldn't approve of this agreement. If one asked, he'd blame on old age. But in truth, Ken didn't have the heart to turn her down. "Best be bringin' that money in promptly."

A rare smile stretched her full lips as she beamed up at him, "You won't regret this, I promise."

The blonde bounded out of the bank in a whirl before Ken could register what'd happened. Blinking, the old man shook his head after her. Hoping everything would work out for her. She needed a miracle more than anything. He just hoped the Good Lord was willing to grant favor on her poor soul.

Tossing open the door of her old blue farm truck, Mary-Ellen slid into the driver's seat and pulled the door shut behind her. Once within the privacy of the cab, she bowed her head in a silent prayer of thanks. Shaking her head, she thrust the key into the ignition, firing up the engine before backing out of the parking spot. Hazel eyes flickered upwards as she glanced up at the rearview mirror to make sure she wasn't about to back into someone. That was until an old black and white photo caught her attention. It was a portrait of Angus dressed in his army greens, taken just days before he'd been shipped off. A bitter smile stretched her lips as she thought about Angus and how he'd been taken away from her so suddenly.

"Won't let go of our dream." She vowed, wiping the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes before she turned her truck in the direction of the homestead. 

...

Jamie O'Brien, at a glance, was a tall, lean man with a thick, wiry beard, stern features and cold, pale eyes. Auburn hair peeked out from beneath the pale Stetson perched atop of his brow. The wide brimmed hat cast a shadow over half his face as he stared down at the beer bottle resting in his hand.