BRIGHT BEAMS OF SUNLIGHT SHONE through the crack of belle's white curtains. Belle squinted her green eyes under the bright light. The ginger girl pressed the heel of her pale hands into her eyelids, trying to wake herself up. With a final yawn, Belle flung her legs over the side of her bed and stretched her aching joints.

Walking over to her closet, she flung the doors open and inspected her outfits. Considering she wasn't planning on going out into town today, she opted for a white blouse and long brown skirt. She slid on her brown boots and strode out her room.

Belle made her way down the stairs of the father's ranch and into the kitchen. Glancing at the clock, seeing that it was 5:30 in the morning. Belle furrowed her eyebrows, the boys are normally up by now. 

Belle made her way back up the stairs, entering the corridor where all the residents of the ranch slept. Belle smiled mischievously as made her way to the closet door, banging her hand on the wood. An angry Steve emerged from the doorway, prepared to shout at the intruder but stopped when he noticed it was the only female of the house. 

"Why, hello, Miss Belle. What can I help you with?" Steve asked.

"Well, good morning, Steve. It's time to wake up. Get dressed and cleaned up," Belle replied, beginning to walk to the next door. Steve went to go back into his room and went to grab his tobacco but was stopped by Belle's word. "Brush your teeth before for once, Stevie," Belle said without turning around, already knowing what he wanted to do. The girl heard Steve groan and treed towards the bathroom. Belle proceeded to beat on the next two doors together, revealing a groggy and tired Dick and Charley. "Morning, boys. Rise and shine."

Charley mumbled a morning back and rubbed his eyes, stumbling over to the bathroom. "Morning, Miss Belle. What's the time?" Dick asked, running his hand through his dark messy hair.

"Just gone 5:30." Belle smiled.

"Bit late today, let's hope your old man doesn't go too hard on us."

"I wouldn't worry, he isn't up yet either, now you get ready," Belle ushered Dick back into his room so he could dressed, then moved onto the last three doors. She banged her hands on the closest two doors. The doors hesitantly and slowly opened revealing Chevez and Doc. Belle smiled at the sight of both of their dishevelled hair. "Morning, sleepy heads."

"Mornin'," Chevez replied with a tired smile, waddling over to the bathroom.

"Hi there, Miss Belle, how are you on this fine morning?" Doc smiled, leaning against his doorframe, watching the ginger woman wince at the small argument occurring around the bathroom doorway.

"Oh, I'm quite alright, a little busy but I'm managing well," Belle smiled back. Belle's cheeks grew pink at Josiah's smile. She had found the man before her attractive - from the moment her father brought him onto the ranch - but after getting to know him after several years, she started to fall in love with all of him. But she could never allow him to find out, it would be too embarrassing.

"Hey, how about I get dressed and try my best to help with breakfast, how does that sound?" Doc grinned causing Belle to laugh.

"That sounds perfect, thank you, Josiah," Belle smiled, tucking a stray ginger strand behind her ear.

"No problem, I'll go break up that squabble, you go get your Pops up, and we can go make breakfast," Doc began walking over to the bathroom were Charley, Steve and Chavez arguing over who should get cleaned up first. Belle nodded with a smile and walked in the opposite direction and towards her father's door.

With a loud but polite knock, Belle spoke loudly. "Daddy, it's time to wake up."

John Tunstall opened the door to see his daughter smiling at him. "Morning, dear, thank you for waking us all up," John greeted.

"No problem, now I've got to go get breakfast ready, see you a jiffy," Belle said, walking back down the corridor and down the stairs.

Back in the kitchen, Belle turned the oven on and began cooking some eggs, bacon and toast. The ginger girl began humming to a random tune that popped into her head as she began pouring freshly squeezed orange juice and water into two pitchers. Soon Belle began to sway to her quiet humming as she flipped the seven slices of bacon.

Doc walked into the kitchen, tucking his black shirt into his pants. Almost knocking over a chair, Doc rushed into the room, desperate to help Belle before she had finished cooking. But before he made his way over to the oven, he awe-struck at the sight of Belle completely immersed in her small tune. Doc cracked a lop-sided smile as he leant against the chair he almost sent tumbling to the ground.

"Howdy, Miss Belle, you having fun there?" Doc chuckled, causing Belle to jump and whirl around.

"Jesus! You scared me, Doc," Belle laughed.

"Sorry, little lady, now tell me what you want me to do,"

Belle proceeded to tell Josiah what she needed to be done before all the boys came down. Dick was the first to come down, as per usual, and helped Doc prepare the table. Charley and Steve were pushing each other down the stairs with loud laughs, followed by a still tired looking Chevez. Finally, John Tunstall made his way down the stairs, taking his usual seat at the head of the table.

Finally, breakfast was ready and Belle was placing two slices of toast, a slice of bacon and two fried eggs on each plate. All the boys began to tuck into their meals, settling for comfortable conversation. 

"Josiah, I'll be going into town today, I'll be needing your assistance," Tunstall said after swallowing a few mouthfuls of toast and bacon. "This is divine, Belle," The redhead smiled with pride at the compliment.

"Of course, when are you planning on going?" Josiah questioned.

"As soon as I've got the horse and wagon ready. Belle, could you prepare a -" John began but was interrupted by his daughter.

"A basket for lunch for the both of you, I know, I'll start it soon, don't worry," Belle smiled with cockiness.

"Thank you, dear," John laughed. John always finishes his breakfast before the others and goes off to care for his horses. All the boys finished in tow and went off to tend to their duties, leaving Belle to her own - cleaning the kitchen. She didn't mind, in fact, she found it calming. She couldn't complain, compared to the tasks that her boys were set, hers were a piece of cake.

After she was done, she stepped outside and into the hen hut where she saw Chevez trying to catch one of the poor chickens. "Hello, dear, you need some help there?" Belle laughed as she watched the West Indian fail at catching the energetic chick.

"That would be appreciated, yes," Chevez breathed heavily. Belle knelt down once the hen was making its way to her, and easily picked it up. Belle shot a cheeky grin in Chevez's direction and handed him the bird. "How?"

"A woman's touch can get you a long way," The ginger winked and moved to grab a few eggs and made her gracious way out of the hut. Back in the kitchen once again, she began preparing an on-the-go lunch for her father and close friend. 

Her red hair whipped around her shoulders at the sound of the dutch door creaking open. "Hello again, doll, me and John are just about to head off, and I've come to collect our beloved packed lunch," Josiah grinned, leaning against the counter beside Belle.

"Well, I'm almost done, just finishing your sandwiches... and we're done," Belle sang, plopping the four sandwiches in paper bags and into the wicker basket. "Chicken and egg, your favourite."

"Ah, you're too good to me," Doc laughed with a hand over his heart. "I do love a woman who knows my favourite sandwich."

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach after all," Belle laughed, handing the basket over to Doc.

"Well, consider me in love," Josiah smiled down at the ginger as she blushed. This flirting between them was constantly evident from the moment that Doc turned up at the ranch, but Belle believed it was only playful. The blonde man took a step closer to Belle, removing the basket from her hands. "Thank you, Belle, don't let those idiots get in trouble."

"Don't worry, if they cause any chaos, I'll slap them silly," Belle giggled. Doc laughed with her comment, knowing that she will keep her word. Belle saw her father getting into the wagon, waiting for Doc, in the corner of her eye. "You should probably get going, Josiah, you know how impatient John gets."

Josiah sighed and looked out the window to see John sitting down at the front of the wagon. "I suppose I should, I'll see ya later tonight," Josiah pressed a kiss onto Belle's pink cheek with a cheeky smile and rushed out of the kitchen and up to the wagon. Belle placed a hand over her cheek with a lovestruck smile plastered over her face, this wasn't the first time that Josiah had kissed her cheek before, but every time, it felt like the first.

And she couldn't get enough.